*RAMADAN
DAY 7*
*What
have you learnt?*
Alhamdulilah! Alhamdulilah!!
Alhamdulilah!!!
We thank Almighty Allah to spare our
lives to witness this miraculous month (Ramadan). Brothers and sisters in
Islam.
*I just want to remind myself and
yours about ‘’Ruling on fasting for pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers’’*
Question
Is it permissible for my wife who is
breastfeeding my ten-month-old son not to fast during Ramadaan?
Answer
With regard to breastfeeding mothers
– and also pregnant women – two scenarios may apply:
-1-
If the woman is not affected by
fasting, and fasting is not too difficult for her, and she does not fear for
her child, then she is obliged to fast, and it is not permissible for her not
to fast.
-2-
If the woman fears for herself or
her child because of fasting, and fasting is difficult for her, then she is
allowed not to fast, but she has to make up the days that she does not fast.
In this situation it is better for
her not to fast, and it is makrooh for her to fast. Some of the scholars stated
that if she fears for her child, it is obligatory for her not to fast and it is
haraam for her to fast.
Al-Mirdaawi said in al-Insaaf
(7/382):
It is makrooh for her to fast in
this case… Ibn ‘Aqeel said: If a pregnant woman or a breastfeeding mother fears
for her pregnancy or her child, then it is not permissible for her to fast in
this case, but if she does not fear for her child then it is not permissible
for her not to fast.
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah
have mercy on him) was asked in Fataawa al-Siyaam (p. 161):
If a pregnant woman or breastfeeding
mother does not fast with no excuse, and she is strong and in good health, and
is not affected by fasting, what is the ruling on that?
He replied:
It is not permissible for a pregnant
woman or breastfeeding woman not to fast during the day in Ramadaan unless they
have an excuse. If they do not fast because they have an excuse, then they have
to make up the missed fasts, because Allaah says concerning one who is sick
(interpretation of the meaning):
“and whoever is ill or on a journey,
the same number [of days which one did not observe Sawm (fasts) must be made
up] from other days”
[al-Baqarah 2:185]
Pregnant women and breastfeeding
mothers come under the same heading as those who are sick. If their excuse is
that they fear for the child, then as well as making up the missed fasts,
according to some scholars they also have to feed one poor person for each day
missed, giving wheat, rice, dates or any other staple food. Some of the
scholars said that all they have to do is make up the missed fasts, no matter
what the situation, because there is no evidence in the Qur’aan or Sunnah for
giving food in this case, and the basic principle is that there is no
obligation unless proof of that is established. This is the view of Abu
Haneefah (may Allaah have mercy on him) and it is a strong view.
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah
have mercy on him) was also asked in Fataawa al-Siyaam (p. 162) about a
pregnant women who fears for herself or her child, and does not fast – what is
the ruling?
He replied by saying:
Our answer to this is that one of
two scenarios must apply in the case of a pregnant woman.
The first is if she is healthy and
strong, and does not find fasting difficult, and it does not affect her foetus.
In this case the woman is obliged to fast, because she has no excuse not to do
so.
The second is where the pregnant
woman is not able to fast, either because the pregnancy is advanced or because
she is physically weak, or for some other reason. In this case she should not
fast, especially if her foetus is likely to be harmed, in which case it may be
obligatory for her not to fast. If she does not fast, then like others who do
not fast for a valid reason, she has to make up the days when that excuse no
longer applies. When she gives birth, she has to make up those fasts after she
becomes pure from nifaas. But sometimes the excuse of pregnancy may be lifted
but then immediately followed by another excuse, namely breastfeeding. The
breastfeeding mother may need food and drink, especially during the long summer
days when it is very hot. So she may need not to fast so that she can nourish
her child with her milk. In this case we also say to her: Do not fast, and when
this excuse no longer applies, then you should make up the fasts that you have
missed.
Shaykh Ibn Baaz said in Majmoo’
al-Fataawa (15/224):
With regard to pregnant women and
breastfeeding mothers, it is proven in the hadeeth of Anas ibn Maalik al-Ka’bi,
narrated by Ahmad and the authors of al-Sunan with a saheeh isnaad, that the
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) granted them a dispensation
allowing them not to fast, and he regarded them as being like travelers. From
this it is known that they may not fast but they have to make up the fasts
later, just like travelers. The scholars stated that they are only allowed not
to fast if fasting is too difficult for them, as in the case of one who is
sick, or if they fear for their children. And Allaah knows best.
It says in Fataawa al-Lajnah
al-Daa’imah (10/226):
The pregnant woman is obliged to
fast during her pregnancy, unless she fears that fasting may affect her or her
foetus, 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.
Source: Islam Q&A, 50005
And Allaah knows best.
May Allah Almighty accept our fast
and blessed us
May Almighty Allah reward us
abundantly and accept our Ibadaah. Ameen
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