Fasting during Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

This is a very common question of a pregnant and breastfeeding woman, “Do I have to fast during Ramadan if I am pregnant or breastfeeding?’ This article answers all your questions regarding fasting during pregnancy and breastfeeding from the Islamic perspective.

Fasting for pregnant and breastfeeding women

The Islamic ruling regarding pregnant and breastfeeding mother for fasting during Ramadan consider two major points:

You are pregnant and breastfeeding and you are healthy, and fasting will not have any harmful effect on your or your baby’s health, then you have to fast without any excuse.
But if you are pregnant and breastfeeding and you are healthy, and fasting will affect you or your baby’s health adversely, then it is allowed to not fast.

Most of the Ulema explain, that pregnant and nursing women’s example is like the one who is sick or a traveler, so she is allowed to break her fast if required.

Here are a few of the references from the Quran and Hadith:

“Observing Saum (fasts)] for a fixed number of days, but if any of you is ill or on a journey, the same number (should be made up) from other days.” [Verse 185, Surah Al Baqrah]

Prophet SAWS said: “Allaah has relieved the traveler of half of the prayer and of the duty to fast, and He has relieved pregnant and nursing mothers (of the duty to fast).” [Abu Dawood, 2408; al-Tirmidhi, 715; al-Nasaa’i, 2315; and Ibn Maajah, 1667]

“And as for those who can fast with difficulty, (e.g. an old man), they have (a choice either to fast or) to feed a Miskeen (poor person) (for every day)” [al-Baqarah 2:184]

Abu Dawood (2318) narrated that Ibn ‘Abbaas said, concerning the verse This is a concession granted to old men and old women who can fast, allowing them to break the fast and to feed one poor person each day instead of fasting. (And this concession is also granted to) pregnant and breastfeeding women, if they fear (harm).

Imam al-Bukhaari said: “al-Hasan and Ibraaheem said concerning breastfeeding or pregnant women: If they fear for themselves or their children, they should break the fast then make it up.” This restriction of the ruling was narrated from Ibn ‘Abbaas, Ibn ‘Umar, al-Hasan, and al-Nakha’i among the salaf.

If pregnant and breastfeeding women fear for themselves or their children, they may be allowed to break the fast to ward off any hardship., explained in al-Bahr al-Raa’iq (2/308)

That means they may break the fast to avoid the harm but this is restricted to cases of fear, i.e., when they think that is most likely to happen because if they do not fear harm there is no concession granted to them.

This explains, how women can decide depending upon their strength and health about fasting. This poses another question that if a woman doesn’t fast in Ramadan because of pregnancy and breastfeeding, she should make up the fast or feed a poor person or do both?

Making up the Missed Fasts:

There is a difference of opinion among ulema regarding this issue.

Should Fast to make up the days

Some of the Ulema are of the opinion that such women should fast to make up the days.

“The pregnant woman is obliged to fast during her pregnancy unless she fears that fasting may affect her or her fetus, in which case she is allowed not to fast, and she should *make up the fasts* after she gives birth and becomes pure from nifaas.”

(Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah (10/226) explained by Ulama like Ibn Baaz and others

Should pay Fidyah Only

Some Ulama including Shaikh Bazmool, Shaikh al-Albaani, etc think that the women who are pregnant or nursing should pay the fidyah only i.e to feed one poor person for each day of missed fast.

Prophet SAWS said, “Indeed Allah has lifted(the obligation) of fasting from the pregnant woman and the one nursing and or suckling.

Thus, the conclusion is that it is permissible for every pregnant woman and every woman nursing and/or suckling to break her fast and feed a poor person (for each missed day), and there is no making up of the days, just this (the feeding).” (Fataawa Shaikh al-Albaani)

Should Fast and Give Fidyah also

Now as some of the Ulema are of the opinion to make up for missed fasts and some others explained to give fidyah only and do not make up for the missed fasts.

Some of the Shuyookh such as Kareem Abu Zayd and Salah as-Sawy said shows us the middle ground to avoid this confusion

Shaikh Salah as-Sawy explained: “Some scholars are of the opinion that if many missed days accumulate on a woman due to unbroken excuses, e.g. unbroken (continuous) pregnancy, and breast-feeding for many years, then she is exempted from making up for the missed days, and she should only feed a poor person(s). However, it would be prudent to make up for the missed days when the excuse ceases to exist, and she can fast. Nonetheless, if the missed days accumulate to the extent you become unable to make up for them, then the *obligation to make up for missed days turn into feeding.” (AMJA Fatwa# 79980)

Conclusion:

If you are healthy and can easily fast during pregnancy and breastfeeding, you should not miss fasting during Ramadhan
If you fear for your or your baby’s health due to pregnancy and breastfeeding, you should not fast. And if you can easily make up for the fasts than you should make up for the missed fast later
If the number of missed fasts are accumulated and it is difficult for you to make up for the fasts, then you do not have to fast and give fidyah instead i.e. to feed one person for each day of missed fasts

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