It Is Not Permissible For Pregnant And Breastfeeding Women To Break The Fast Unless They Fear For Themselves Or Their Children
EsinIslam
Ramadan
The Awqaf -
Living Shariah
I read a hadeeth in which the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Allaah has
waived the fast for pregnant and breastfeeding women."
Does that mean that fasting is not obligatory for them
whether it entails hardship or not?.
Praise be to Allaah.
This hadeeth was narrated by Abu Dawood, 2408;
al-Tirmidhi, 715; al-Nasaa'i, 2315; and Ibn Maajah,
1667. It says that the Prophet (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) said: "Allaah has relieved the
traveller of half of the prayer and of the duty to
fast, and He has relieved pregnant and nursing mothers
(of the duty to fast)." It was classed as saheeh by
al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood.
This hadeeth is general in meaning and applies to
every pregnant woman, but the scholars limited it to
cases of hardship, based on the reason for which this
ruling – namely pregnant women not fasting – was
prescribed.
This is similar to the reference to the sick in the
verse (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]
This applies to everyone who is sick, no matter how
mild his illness. Some of the salaf, such as ‘Ata',
applied it in general terms, and this was the view
favoured by al-Bukhaari. But the scholars, including
the four Imams, rejected that general application and
restricted it to cases of sickness where fasting
causes hardship, based on the reason for which the
ruling of not fasting was prescribed.
There are texts narrated from the scholars which state
this restriction; indeed it was narrated that there
was unanimous agreement among the scholars on this
point, as we shall see below.
1 – Narrations from the salaf
Abu Dawood (2318) narrated that Ibn ‘Abbaas said,
concerning the verse "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]: This is a
concession granted to old men and old women who are
able to 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). Al-Nawawi
said: Its isnaad is hasan.
So here Ibn ‘Abbaas restricted the concession granted
to pregnant and breastfeeding women to cases where
they feared harm, whether the harm was to themselves
or to their children.
Al-Shaafa'i narrated in al-Umm: Maalik told us,
narrating from Naafi', that Ibn ‘Umar was asked about
a pregnant woman, if she fears for her child. He said:
She should not fast, and she should feed one poor
person for each day, giving a mudd of wheat.
Imam al-Bukhaari said:
Chapter on the words, "Exempt days"… 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. End quote.
This restriction of the ruling was narrated from Ibn
‘Abbaas, Ibn ‘Umar, al-Hasan and al-Nakha'i among the
salaf.
2 – The madhhabs of the four imams.
They were also agreed upon this restriction of the
ruling.
(i) The Hanafi madhhab
Al-Jassaas said in Ahkaam al-Qur'aan, 1/244, after
quoting the words of the Prophet (peace and blessings
of Allaah be upon him): "Allaah has relieved the
traveller of half of the prayer and of the duty to
fast, and He has relieved pregnant and nursing mothers
(of the duty to fast).":
It is known that this concession – granted to pregnant
and breastfeeding women – is limited to cases where
they fear for themselves or for their children.
He also said (1/252):
Either pregnant and breastfeeding women will
themselves be harmed by fasting or their children will
be harmed. In either case, not fasting is better for
them and fasting is not allowed in their case. If
fasting will not harm them or their children, then
they have to fast and it is not permissible for them
to break the fast.
It says in al-Bahr al-Raa'iq (2/308):
If pregnant and breastfeeding women fear for
themselves or their children, they may are allowed to
break the fast in order to ward off any hardship.
i.e., they may break the fast so as to ward off 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.
(ii) The Maaliki madhhab
It says in Sharh Mukhtasar Khaleel (2/262):
If a pregnant woman fears that her child may die, or
be severely harmed, then she must break her fast. If
she fears that sickness may happen, it is permissible
for her to break her fast according to the correct
view. And it was said that she must break her fast if
she fears sickness. The same applies to the
breastfeeding woman, if she fears that her child may
die or be severely harmed, she must break her fast,
and if she fears sickness, it is permissible for her
to break her fast. This is subject to the condition
that her child will not accept the breast of any other
woman, otherwise she is obliged to fast,
(iii) The Shaafa'i madhhab
Imam al-Shaafa'i said in al-Umm:
If a pregnant woman fears for her child, she should
break her fast. The same applies if a breastfeeding
woman fears that her milk supply will be adversely
affected. But if that is bearable then she should not
break her fast. The fast may reduce the breast milk
but it may be a bearable reduction, but if it is
extreme, then she should break her fast.
Al-Nawawi said in al-Majmoo' (6/274):
Our companions said: If pregnant and breastfeeding
women fear that fasting may harm them, they should
break the fast and make it up later on, and they do
not have to offer any fidyah, as in the case of one
who is sick. There is no difference of opinion on any
of that. If they fear for themselves and their
children, the same applies and there is no difference
of opinion. This was stated by al-Daarimi, al-Sarkhasi
and others. If they fear for their children but not
for themselves, they should break the fast and make it
up later on, and there is no difference of opinion on
that…
(iv) The Hanbali madhhab
Ibn Muflih said in al-Furoo' (3/35):
It is makrooh for pregnant and breastfeeding women to
fast if there is the fear that they or their children
may be harmed.
Ibn ‘Aqeel said that if a pregnant or breastfeeding
woman fears for the pregnancy or the nursing infant,
it is not permissible to fast, and she must offer the
fidyah. If there is no such fear then it is not
permissible for her not to fast.
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah said in Majmoo'
al-Fataawa (25/218):
If a pregnant woman fears for her foetus, she may
break the fast…
(v) The Zaahiri madhhab
Ibn Hazm said in al-Muhalla (4/411):
The fast is addressed to pregnant and breastfeeding
woman and old men. The Ramadaan fast is obligatory for
all of them, but if a breastfeeding woman fears that
she may have too little milk for her child and there
is no one else to feed the child, or if he will not
take the breast of any other woman, or if a pregnant
woman fears for her foetus, or if an old man is unable
to fast because of his age, then they may break the
fast… end quote.
It says in al-Mawsoo'ah al-Fiqhiyyah (28/55):
The fuqaha' are agreed that pregnant and breastfeeding
women may break the fast in Ramadaan, so long as they
fear sickness or an increase in sickness for
themselves or their children, or they fear harm or
death. In the case of a pregnant woman, the foetus is
regarded as part of her body, so the fear for him is
like the fear of damage to any of her limbs or
physical faculties.
Al-Shawkaani said in Nayl al-Awtaar (4/273),
commenting on the hadeeth which says that pregnant and
breastfeeding women are allowed not to fast:
This hadeeth indicates that it is permissible for
pregnant and breastfeeding women not to fast. This was
the view of the fuqaha', if a breastfeeding woman
fears for her nursing infant or if a pregnant woman
fears for the unborn child. They said: They may
definitely break the fast. End quote.
It says in Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa'imah (10/226):
With regard to the pregnant woman, she must fast
whilst pregnant, unless she fears that fasting may
harm her or her unborn child, in which case she is
granted a concession allowing her not to fast, and she
should make up the fasts after she delivers and her
nifaas has ended. End quote.
See also question no. 50005.
These texts from the scholars indicate that it is not
permissible for pregnant and breastfeeding women to
break the fast so long as fasting is not difficult for
them.
And Allaah knows best.
Ramadan Team
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