Darul Iftaa Mahmudiyyah

Can a breastfeeding wife break her fast earlier?

· 19 Dhuʻl-Qiʻdah 1438 AH2 min readFatwa 38491English

Question

Assalam O Alaikum,

I am living in Germany and here the the fasting are 19 to 20 hours in Ramadan.

I have recently read a Fatwa from Jamaa Azhar a Darul Afta Egypt where they have written that if the fasting is more that 18 hours then it is not good for health as medically proven so in this case you are eligble to start fasting in the time of Sohoor according to you country and then Break it with Mecca as it is Ummul Qura.

So my question is Alhamdu Lillah I personally prefer fasting 19 to 20 hours as I am young and energetic but in case of My Wife she is feeding the baby and also want to fast even with breast feeding and she dont want to leave fasting in Ramadan so can you please give me some guidance on this issue. Can we follow that Fatwa as explained? I am sending the link for reference. or what should I do?

Jazakallah Khair and will appreciate a quick response.

May Allah give you strength and knowledge.

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

May the almighty Allah keep you steadfast on practicing on Deen in Germany. Aameen.

If your attribution of the fatwa of Jamia Al-Azhar, Darul iftaa, Egypt is correct, then we disagree with the fatwa.

One cannot commence ones fast with the suhoor time of Germany and break it with the iftaar time of Makkah Mukaraamah. Whilst Makkah Mukarammah is indeed Ummul Qurrah, it is incorrect to use that as a basis to break ones fast.[1]

According to Shariah, a breastfeeding mother is exempted from fasting if the fasting is detrimental to her or the child. If that is the situation due to the long fast in Germany, your wife should consider practicing on the concession granted by the Shariah and make qadha (make up) for the missed fasts later.

Allah Taalah states in the Holy Quraan;

Allah desires ease for you (by allowing travellers and the ill to fast at a later stage) and does not desire hardship for you.

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Muhammad IV Patel

Student Darul Iftaa
Lusaka, Zambia

Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.

References (Arabic / Urdu sources)

يُرِيدُ الله بِكُمُ اليسر وَلاَ يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ العسر

ـــــ-

[1] وقال تعالي: "ثُمَّ أَتِمُّوا الصِّيَامَ إِلَى اللَّيْل" (2:187)

“Complete the fast until the sunset”

صحيح البخاري ١٩٥٤

حَدَّثَنَا الحُمَيْدِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامُ بْنُ عُرْوَةَ، قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ أَبِي، يَقُولُ: سَمِعْتُ عَاصِمَ بْنَ عُمَرَ بْنِ الخَطَّابِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ، قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «إِذَا أَقْبَلَ اللَّيْلُ مِنْ هَا هُنَا، وَأَدْبَرَ النَّهَارُ مِنْ هَا هُنَا، وَغَرَبَتِ الشَّمْسُ فَقَدْ أَفْطَرَ الصَّائِمُ»

Rasulullah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: “When the night approaches from this side (i.e., the east) and the day retreats from that side (i.e., west) and the sun sets, then it is time for a person observing Saum (fasting) to break his fast.”

الحجة على أهل المدينة (1/ 399)

قَالَ ابو حنيفَة رَضِي الله عَنهُ فِي امْرَأَة خَافت على وَلَدهَا وَاشْتَدَّ عَلَيْهَا الصَّوْم فِي شهر رَمَضَان فلتفطر وَعَلَيْهَا الْقَضَاء وَلَا صَدَقَة عَلَيْهَا وانما هَذَا مرض من الامراض فَلَيْسَتْ فِيهِ صَدَقَة

الأصل المعروف بالمبسوط للشيباني (2/ 245)

قلت أَرَأَيْت الْمَرْأَة الْحَامِل والمرضع الَّتِي تخَاف على الصَّبِي أَو الْحَامِل تخَاف على نَفسهَا قَالَ يفطران ويقضيان يَوْمًا مَكَان كل يَوْم وَلَا كَفَّارَة عَلَيْهِمَا قلت فالشيخ الْكَبِير الَّذِي لَا يُطيق الصَّوْم قَالَ يفْطر وَيطْعم لكل يَوْم نصف صَاع من حِنْطَة وَلَا شَيْء عَلَيْهِ غير ذَلِك

Answered by
Muhammad IV Patel
Checked & approved by
Mufti Ebrahim Desai
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Source: Darul Iftaa Mahmudiyyah — https://askimam.org/public/question_detail/38491
Fatawa SA: https://fatawa.co.za/fatwa/askimam-38491

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