Is it permissible for a breast-feeding woman to break her fast? And when should she make up for it? And may she feed (poor people instead of fasting)?
Answer:
If the breast-feeding woman fears that the fasting will harm her child by reducing the milk, then she may break her fast, but she must make up for it later, because she is similar to a sick person, about whom Allaah says:
وَمَن كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَى سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ يُرِيدُ اللّهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلاَ يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ
...and whoever is ill or on a journey, the same number [of days which one did not observe Saum (fasts) must be made up] from other days. Allaah intends for you ease, and He does not want to make things difficult for you. [al-Baqarah 2:185]
...and whoever is ill or on a journey, the same number [of days which one did not observe Saum (fasts) must be made up] from other days. Allaah intends for you ease, and He does not want to make things difficult for you. [al-Baqarah 2:185]
Then once the danger is past, she may make it up for, either during the winter, when the days are shorter and the weather is cooler, or, if she is unable to do it in the winter, then in the following year. But as for feeding (poor people), it is not permissible except in a situation where the thing which prevents her from fasting or the excuse for not fasting is continues, and it is not expected that it will be removed, in these circumstances, she may feed (poor people) instead of fasting.
Shaykh Muhammad bin Saalih al-'Uthaymeen
Fataawaa Arkaanul-Islaam
Darus-Salaam Vol.2, pg. 643
Question:
If a man still had some days to make up from the month of Ramadaan and he did not make them up before the start of the next Ramadaan, what should he do?
Answer:
It is well known that Allaah, the Most Glorified, the Most High says:
Shaykh Muhammad bin Saalih al-'Uthaymeen
Fataawaa Arkaanul-Islaam
Darus-Salaam Vol.2, pg. 643
__________
Question:
If a man still had some days to make up from the month of Ramadaan and he did not make them up before the start of the next Ramadaan, what should he do?
Answer:
It is well known that Allaah, the Most Glorified, the Most High says:
فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ وَمَن كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَى سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ
So whoever of you sights (the crescent on the first night of) the month (of Ramadaan i.e. is present at his home), he must observe Saum (fasts) that month, and whoever is ill or on a journey, the same number [of days which one did not observe Saum (fasts) must be made up] from other days. [Al-Baqarah 2:185]
So whoever of you sights (the crescent on the first night of) the month (of Ramadaan i.e. is present at his home), he must observe Saum (fasts) that month, and whoever is ill or on a journey, the same number [of days which one did not observe Saum (fasts) must be made up] from other days. [Al-Baqarah 2:185]
So, this man, who broke his fast for some valid legal reason, is obliged to make up for it, in obedience to the Command of Allaah, the Most Glorified, the Most High. He must make it up in that year, and he should not delay it until after the following Ramadaan. ‘Aa'ishah, may Allaah be pleased with her, said:
”I had days to make up from Ramadaan, and I was unable to make them up until Sha’ban (i.e. the month before the following Ramadaan).” [1]
This is due to the Messenger of Allaah’s relationship with her, so her saying ’I was unable to make them up until Sha’baan’ is a proof that they must be made up for before the start of the next Ramadaan.
But if he delayed it after the following Ramadaan, he should seek forgiveness from Allaah and repent to Him, and be remorseful for what he has done, and make up for these days. The obligation to make it up for is not removed merely because it has been delayed, so he should make up for these days even if it was after the next Ramadaan. And Allaah is the Granter of Success.
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[1] Reported by Al-Bukhari in the Book of Fasting, in the Chapter: When the Missed Days of Fasting Should be Made up for (1950).
Shaykh Muhammad bin Saalih al-'Uthaymeen
Fataawaa Arkaanul-Islaam
Darus-Salaam Vol.2, pg. 673
Question:
Regarding the pregnant woman and the breastfeeding woman; if they fear for themselves or upon the child during the month of Ramadhaan – such that they eat, what then is due upon them? Should they eat and feed others (i.e. to the poor) and make up the fasts or should they eat and make up the fasts and not feed others or should they eat and feed others not make up for them? What is correct from these three?
Answer:
If the pregnant woman fears for herself or for her baby for the reason of fasting during Ramadhaan; then she should eat and upon her is to make up for them only. Her state in that is similar to the state of the one who is sick and is unable to find strength to fast – or that he fears some harm upon himself.
Allaah The Most High says:
Likewise is the case for the breastfeeding woman if she fears for herself when she breastfeeds her child during Ramadaan. Or that she fears upon her child if she were to fast and not breastfeed him – then she is to eat and upon her is to make up for them only.
Permanent Committee for Research and Verdicts
Shaykh `Abdul-`Azeez Bin Baz
Shaykh `Abdullah bin Ghudayaan
Shaykh `Abdur-Razzaaq al-`Afeefee
Fataawaa Al-Lajnah ad-daa'imah vol. 10 page 220 question two of fatwa number 1453
Translated by Aboo Haatim Muhammad Farooq
”I had days to make up from Ramadaan, and I was unable to make them up until Sha’ban (i.e. the month before the following Ramadaan).” [1]
This is due to the Messenger of Allaah’s relationship with her, so her saying ’I was unable to make them up until Sha’baan’ is a proof that they must be made up for before the start of the next Ramadaan.
But if he delayed it after the following Ramadaan, he should seek forgiveness from Allaah and repent to Him, and be remorseful for what he has done, and make up for these days. The obligation to make it up for is not removed merely because it has been delayed, so he should make up for these days even if it was after the next Ramadaan. And Allaah is the Granter of Success.
____________________
[1] Reported by Al-Bukhari in the Book of Fasting, in the Chapter: When the Missed Days of Fasting Should be Made up for (1950).
Shaykh Muhammad bin Saalih al-'Uthaymeen
Fataawaa Arkaanul-Islaam
Darus-Salaam Vol.2, pg. 673
__________
Question:
Regarding the pregnant woman and the breastfeeding woman; if they fear for themselves or upon the child during the month of Ramadhaan – such that they eat, what then is due upon them? Should they eat and feed others (i.e. to the poor) and make up the fasts or should they eat and make up the fasts and not feed others or should they eat and feed others not make up for them? What is correct from these three?
Answer:
If the pregnant woman fears for herself or for her baby for the reason of fasting during Ramadhaan; then she should eat and upon her is to make up for them only. Her state in that is similar to the state of the one who is sick and is unable to find strength to fast – or that he fears some harm upon himself.
Allaah The Most High says:
وَمَن كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَى سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ
((And whosoever is sick or is upon a journey; then the period is made up from other days…)) [Soorah Al-Baqarah: 185] Likewise is the case for the breastfeeding woman if she fears for herself when she breastfeeds her child during Ramadaan. Or that she fears upon her child if she were to fast and not breastfeed him – then she is to eat and upon her is to make up for them only.
Permanent Committee for Research and Verdicts
Shaykh `Abdul-`Azeez Bin Baz
Shaykh `Abdullah bin Ghudayaan
Shaykh `Abdur-Razzaaq al-`Afeefee
Fataawaa Al-Lajnah ad-daa'imah vol. 10 page 220 question two of fatwa number 1453
Translated by Aboo Haatim Muhammad Farooq
