Other Categories of People who are Allowed to Break the Fast: Pregnant & breastfeeding women and Elderly & Permanently Sick [AL-SIYAAM]

Other Categories of People who are Allowed to Break the Fast: Pregnant & breastfeeding women and Elderly & Permanently Sick [AL-SIYAAM]

ASSEMBLED BY MALLAM ABBA ABANA, KUBWA, ABUJA, NIGERIA

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Saturday 5 Ramadan 1442 AH and 17 April 2021 CE

Bismillah Walhamdulillah Was Salaatu Was Salaam 'ala Rasulillah. As-Salaam Alaikum WA-Rahmatullahi Wa-Barakatuhu.

Praise be to Allaah; we seek His help and His forgiveness. We seek refuge with Allaah from the evil of our own souls and from our bad deeds. Whomsoever Allaah guides will never be led astray, and whomsoever Allaah leaves astray, no one can guide. I bear witness that there is no god but Allaah, and I bear witness that Muhammad (ﷺ) is His slave and Messenger.

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “A person who leads others to doing what is good will earn the same reward as those who do it.” (Muslim, 1893)

“Do not lose hope, nor be sad. You will surely be victorious if you are true in Faith.” And do not mix the truth with falsehood or conceal the truth while you know [it].” Holy Quran Chapter Al Imran Ayah 139

“If Allah should aid you, no one can overcome you; but if He should forsake you, who is there that can aid you after Him? And upon Allah let the believers rely.”
Holy Quran Chapter Imran Ayah 160

Preamble

‘’Fasting is for a fixed number of days, and if one of you be sick, or if one of you be on a journey, you will fast the same number of other days later on. For those who are capable of fasting (but still do not fast) there is a redemption: feeding a needy man for each day missed. Whoever voluntarily does more good than is required, will find it better for him; [This act of extra merit could either be feeding more than the one person required or both fasting and feeding the poor] and that you should fast is better for you, if you only know.[Here ends the early injunction with regard to fasting which was revealed in 2 A.H. prior to the Battle of Badr. The verses that follow were revealed about one year later and are linked with the preceding verses since they deal with the same subject - Tafseer]. (Holy Quran Al-Baqarah 2:184)’’

THE ELDERLY

The very elderly who have lost their strength and are getting weaker every day as death approaches, do not have to fast, and they are allowed not to fast so long as fasting would be too difficult for them. Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) used to say, concerning the aayah (interpretation of the meaning), “And as for those who can fast with difficulty (e.g., an old man, etc.), they have (a choice either to fast or) to feed a poor person (for every day)” [Quran al-Baqarah 2:184]: “This has not been abrogated. It refers to the old man and the old woman who cannot fast, so they should feed a poor person for every day.” (Al-Bukhaari, Kitaab al-Tafseer, Baab Ayaaman Ma’doodaat…)

Those who have become senile and confused do not have to fast or do anything else, and their family does not have to do anything on their behalf, because such people are no longer counted as responsible. If they are of sound mind sometimes and confused at other times, they have to fast when they are OK and they do not have to fast when they are confused. (See Majaalis Shahr  Ramadaan by Ibn ‘Uthyameen, p. 28). 

 For those who are fighting an enemy or are being besieged by an enemy, if fasting would make them too weak to fight, they are allowed to break the fast, even if they are not travelling. If they need to break their fast before fighting, they can break their fast. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said to his Companions once, before fighting: “In the morning you are going to meet your enemy and not fasting will make you stronger, so do not fast.” (Reported by Muslim, 1120, ‘Abd al-Baaqi edn. This is also the preferred opinion of Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah. The scholars of Damascus also issued fatwas to the same effect when their city was attacked by the Tatars)

If a person’s reason for not fasting is obvious, such as illness, there is nothing wrong with him eating or drinking openly, but if the reason is hidden, such as menstruation, it is better to eat and drink in secret, so as not to attract accusations and the like.

Pregnant And Breastfeeding Women Who Missed Their Fasts In Ramadān

The scholars have differed as to whether a woman who missed fasts due to her pregnancy or breastfeeding should make up the days she has missed (i.e. make qadā’) or feed a poor person for each day missed (i.e. give fidyah) and not make up. Or, is she to both make up the fast, and feed a poor person for each day missed? Over this, the scholars have presented their views based on their evidences.re missed due to

1. Ibn ‘Abbās (radiyallāhu ‘anhumā) said: “If the pregnant woman fears for herself, or the breastfeeding woman for her child in Ramadān, then they are to break their fast and in place feed a poor person for each day and they are not to make up the missed days.”[Its chain of narration is sahīh. Reported by At-Tabari in his Tafsīr (2/136, Dar Al-Fikr)]

2. Ibn ‘Abbās (radiyallāhu ‘anhumā) saw the mother of his child who was either pregnant or breastfeeding, so he said: “You are from those who fasts with much difficulty. Upon you is to feed in the place of your fast, a poor person for each day missed, and there is no making up the missed days upon you.”[Its chain of narration is sahīh. Reported by At-Tabari in his Tafsīr (2/136), Ad-Dāruqutni in his Sunan (2/206), and he said, “Its isnad is sahīh.”]

This is considered a “mudd”: both hands cupped together.

3. Ibn ‘Umar (radiyallāhu ‘anhumā) was asked about a pregnant woman who fears for her unborn child, so he responded: “Let her break her fast and feed a poor person for each missed day one mudd of wheat.”[Its chain of narration is sahīh. Reported by Ash-Shāfi’i in Al-Musnad, with the tartīb of As-Sindi (1/278), Al-Bayhaqi in his Sunan Al-Kubra (4/230).]

4. Ibn ‘Umar (radiyallāhu ‘anhumā) said: “The pregnant and breastfeeding women break their fast and they do not make Qadā (i.e. they do not make upon what is missed).”[Its chain of narration is hasan. Reported by At-Tabari in his Tafsīr (2/136), Ad-Dāruqutni in his Sunan (2/207), and he declared it sahīh.]

5. A pregnant woman asked Ibn ‘Umar (radiyallāhu ‘anhumā) about her fast, so he said: “Break your fast and feed for each missed day a poor person and do not make up the days.”[The chain of narration is hasan, reported by Ad-Dāruqutni in his Sunan (2/207).]

6. Sa’īd bin Al-Musayyib (rahimahullāh, died 94AH) commented on the verse:

أَيَّامًا مَّعْدُودَاتٍ ۚ فَمَن كَانَ مِنكُم مَّرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ ۚ وَعَلَى الَّذِينَ يُطِيقُونَهُ فِدْيَةٌ طَعَامُ مِسْكِينٍ ۖ فَمَن تَطَوَّعَ خَيْرًا فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّهُ ۚ وَأَن تَصُومُوا خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ ۖ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ

“Fasting is for a limited number of days. So, whoever among you is ill or on a journey during them―then an equal number of days are to be made up. And upon those who are able to fast, but with hardship, for them is a recompense [fidyah] of feeding a poor person for each day.”[Quran Al-Baqarah: 184.]

Ibn Al-Masayyib (rahimahullāh) said: “It refers to the old man who used to fast, but his old age has prevented him from it. And it is for the pregnant woman upon whom fasting is not obligatory. So, upon each of them is to feed a poor person a mudd of wheat for each day until their Ramadān fasts are fulfilled.”[Its chain of narration is hasan. See Tafsīr At-Tabari, (2/137)]

7. Anas Ibn Mālik (radiyallāhu ‘anhu) stated that he would not fast during Ramadān because he had become old. So, he would feed a person for each day instead.[With a sahīh chain of narration. Mentioned by Al-Bukhāri in a disconnected form in Kitābut-Tafsīr, Chapter: أَيَّامًا مَّعْدُودَاتٍ. And connected by Ibn Hajr (rahimaullāh) in Fat-hul-Bāri (8/180), Ta’līq At-Ta’līq (4/177-178) to ‘Abd bin Humaid. It was reported by Ad-Dāruqutni (2/207-208), with a sahīh chain]

8. Anas Ibn Mālik (radiyallāhu ‘anhu) said: “A rider from Allah’s Messenger came to us. So, I went to the Prophet (salallāhu ‘alaihi wasallam) and found him taking lunch. He said to me: “Come and eat.” I said: “I’m fasting.” So, he said: “Come and I will narrate to you about fasting: Indeed, Allah alleviated from the traveller half the prayer, and He alleviated the fast from the pregnant and breastfeeding woman.” By Allah, the Prophet (salallāhu ‘alaihi wasallam) said one of them or both of them. And woe to me because I did not eat from the meal of the Prophet (salallāhu ‘alaihi wasallam).”[Hadeeth declared hasan by Al-Albāni, Sahīh Sunan Ibn Mājah (1/279), Sahīh Sunan An-Nasā’i (2/484), Sahīh Sunan At-Tirmidhi (1/218).]

At-Tirmidhi said regarding this hadeeth: “Some of the people of knowledge acted upon this [hadeeth], whilst others said: “The pregnant and the breastfeeding women may break their fast, make up their missed days and feed a poor person for each day.” And this was the saying of Sufyān, Mālik, Ash-Shāfi’i and Ahmad. Yet others said: “They break their fast and feed a poor person [for each day], and they are not to make up the day. And if they wish, they can make up the days and they do not have to feed.” And that was the saying of Ishāq.”[See Sahīh Sunan At-Tirmidhi (1/218)]

That which is more correct is that the pregnant woman and the breastfeeding woman if they fear for themselves, they break their fast, and feed a poor person for each missed day, and there is no making up the missed days (i.e. no qadā).

A mudd is both hands cupped together which equates to 600 grams. So, a Prophetic sā’ is 2.4kg, and half a sā’ is 1.2kg.[Reference: Al-Allāmah Ahmad bin Yahyā An-Najmi (rahimahullāh) dated: 27/7/1425H. I have a copy of this document from our Shaikh, may Allah have mercy upon him.]

Note: Fidyah is not paid in cash, it is given in food as described above.

Permission For The Elderly To Break The Fast And The Permanently Sick

Ibn ‘Abbās (radiyallāhu ‘anhumā) stated: “Permission was granted to the old man that he may break his fast and instead to feed a poor person for every day missed, and not to make up the fasts.”[Ad-Dāruqutni (2/205) and Al-Hākim (1/440) both of whom graded it sahīh and Adh-Dhahabi agreed in his At-Talkhīs (1/440).]

So this is another type of allowance. The old man who is not able to fast and is of sound mind is commanded to pay fidyah (recompense). This fidyah is to feed a poor person for each day missed with half a sā’ which is 1.2 kilograms [Source: Al-‘Allāmah, Ash-Shaikh Ahmad bin Yahyā An-Najmi (rahimahullāh) dated 27/7/1425 AH] of staple food (per day). There is no qadā (making up) of the fast for him because he is unable just as Allah (the Most High) stated:

وَعَلَى الَّذِينَ يُطِيقُونَهُ فِدْيَةٌ طَعَامُ مِسْكِينٍ

“And as for those who can only fast with difficulty (an old man, etc.), they have to feed a poor person for each day.”[Al-Baqarah: 184]

This also applies to those who are permanently sick, and recovery is not expected ―so upon them, too, is the command, “they have to feed a poor person for each day.” And fidyah (compensation) replaces the fast.

As for the one who is expected to recover from his illness, then he must make up the fasts (qadā) that he has missed in accordance with the saying of Allah (the Most High):  

وَمَن كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ ۗ يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ وَلِتُكْمِلُوا الْعِدَّةَ

“And whoever is ill or on a journey, the same number of days which one did not observe fasts must be made up from other days. Allah intends for you ease, and He does not want to make things difficult for you. He wants that you must complete the same number of days.”[Quran Al-Baqarah: 185]

These are the categories of people who are allowed to break the fast:

1. The traveller, who must make up what he has missed (qadā).
2. The sick person who is expected to recover. He must also make up what he has missed (qadā).
3. The sick person who is not expected to recover from his illness. His fidyah (compensation) is to feed a poor person for each day missed with 1.2 kilograms of staple food.
4. The old man or woman who can break their fast (or not fast to begin with) ―they each feed a poor person for every day they missed (fidyah) and they do not make up the fast.
5. The menstruating woman or the one who is bleeding after childbirth (postpartum blood). It is forbidden for them to fast, and they must make up whatever days they have missed (qadā). And if they fast, their fast is invalidated.

From this discussion, it is clear that those who are allowed to break the fast fall into one of two categories:

1. They break the fast and make qadā (make up the days missed at a later stage).

2. Break the fast and do not make up the fast but instead give fidyah in the form of staple food to the poor (not cash).

Note: Fidyah is not paid in cash, it is given in food