Is it obligatory for a breastfeeding mother to fast?
Published as Fasting and Breastfeeding
Question
Is it obligatory for a breastfeeding mother to fast?
Answer
As salām ʿalaikum wa raḥmatullāhī wa barakātuhū
In the Name of Allāh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
In principle, it is obligatory for a breastfeeding woman to fast in the month of Ramaḍān. Hence, a breastfeeding woman should adopt a diet and lifestyle, based on the advice of medical professionals and experienced nursing women, that would be conducive to fasting whilst breastfeeding.
If, however, through definitive signs, relevant past experience, or the advice of an expert and outwardly upright Muslim doctor there is a fear that fasting would impact her health, milk supply, or the health of the child, she would be exempt from fasting.
If a breastfeeding woman exercises the leeway of exemption and misses any Ramaḍān fasts, she will make Qaḍā of those fasts.
And Allāh Taʿālā knows best.
References (Arabic / Urdu sources)
الفتاوى العالمكيرية المعروفة بالفتاوى الهندية— جماعة من العلماء (1/207)
ومنها حبل المرأة وإرضاعها الحامل والمرضع إذا خافتا على أنفسهما أو ولدهما أفطرتا وقضتا ولا كفارة عليهما كذا في الخلاصة
تحفة الفقهاء — علاء الدين محمد السمرقندي (٥٣٩ هـ) (1/358)
والأعذار التي تبيح الإفطار للصائم ستة السفر والمرض الذي يزداد بالصوم أو يقضي إلى الهلاك وحبل المرأة وإرضاعها إذا أضر بها أو بولدها
الأصل — أبو عبد الله محمد بن الحسن بن فرقد الشيباني (ت ١٨٩ هـ) (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
فتاوي رحيمية — باب ما يتعلق بما يبيح الافطار – سيد عبد الرحيم لاجبوري (١٤٢٢ه ) ) 7/270(
مرضعہ جن کو روزہ سے اپنی جان یا بچہ کو ایذا وتکلیف پہنچنے کا اندیشا ہو – رفع عذر کے بعد قضا لازم ہے
Where scholars differ, it’s safer to take the more cautious view.
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Source: Darul Ifta, Madrasah Urwah bin Az-Zubayr — https://ifta.mubz.co.za/2024/06/13/fasting-and-breastfeeding/
Fatawa SA: https://fatawa.co.za/fatwa/mubz-7644
People also ask
Must a pregnant or breastfeeding woman fast?
“It is permissible for the pregnant woman to break her fast. She should make up for the broken fast once she is able to do so. An additional kaffarah will not be required.”
Ask Imaam · 52 fatawa from 6 Darul Iftas on this
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