Does vomiting break my fast?

What the Prophet ﷺ said

The rule comes from a clear hadith. The Prophet ﷺ said that whoever is overcome by vomiting does not have to make up the fast, but whoever vomits on purpose must make it up (Sunan Abi Dawud 2380). Most scholars follow this, so the difference is simply whether you chose to vomit or not.

Accidental vomiting

If you throw up because of a stomach bug, morning sickness, a bad smell or travel sickness, your fast is still valid. You did not choose it, and Islam does not blame you for what you can't control.

• Rinse your mouth with water and spit it out. Try not to swallow the water.
• Don't swallow the vomit back on purpose. If some of it returns to your throat and you deliberately swallow it, most scholars say the fast is broken.
• If you feel too ill to continue, you are allowed to break the fast and make it up later, because you are sick.

For long journeys where travel sickness is a problem, see Is it okay to fly while fasting?

Deliberate vomiting

Putting a finger down your throat or doing something else to make yourself sick breaks the fast, and that day must be made up later. Some scholars, especially in the Hanafi school, say the fast is only broken if it is a mouthful, but the safer view is to make up the day either way.

There is no extra penalty (kaffarah) for this. Kaffarah, the heavy expiation of fasting 60 days, is only for deliberate intercourse during a Ramadan fast, according to the majority.

Small things that are fine

Burping, a bit of acid reflux, or a sour taste in your mouth does not break the fast, as long as you don't deliberately swallow anything that came up. The same goes for your own saliva. See Does swallowing my spit break my fast? And yes, you can still clean your teeth after being sick. See Can I brush my teeth while fasting?

If you vomit often during the day, for example in pregnancy or because of an illness, talk to your doctor. Fasting may not be safe for you right now, and that is a valid reason not to fast.