Fatwa ID: 08394
Answered by: Maulana Nuski Cassim
Question:
My sister is breastfeeding her 17 month old baby and has decided that fasting is too difficult as she is an under supplier of breast milk and has always found breastfeeding difficult.
Her son relies on more milk than solids. However her husband has said he wants her to stop feeding the son especially because she is not fasting and he believes the baby can do without breast milk and that she should fast regardless of the fact Allah has exempted breastfeeding mothers during Ramadan. This is making her feel like she is committing a sin and she would like advice on what she should do.
She wanted to feed her son for a full 2 years but her husband thinks it’s better she stops in Ramadan so she may fast.
She is torn between the responsibility of being a mother and feeding her son, obeying her husband and Allah. Should she listen to her husband and stop breastfeeding and start fasting or should she not fast and continue to breastfeed regardless of her husband’s opinion that she is being disobedient to Allah.
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
Dear sister, you mention that your sister has been breastfeeding her child for 17 months (1 year and 5 months), and in addition to this she is an under supplier of breastmilk—hence she has always found breastfeeding to be difficult.
It is true that women who are breastfeeding their child can opt to forgo the fasts of Ramadhan and make up for them later. Nevertheless, this is when breastfeeding and fasting simultaneously poses harm to the mother or will result in a lack of milk supply.
As you have pointed out, your sister is an under supplier of breastmilk both in the month of Ramadhan as well as outside of it—seeing that she has been breastfeeding for 17 months now. And as such, due to the inadequacy, I am certain that baby formula is used to top up the feeding. Moreover, her husband also feels like their son can do without breastmilk and that she should fast during Ramadhan.
Breastfeeding one’s child for the duration of the entire two years is not an obligation, but rather something recommended and permissible. Because breastfeeding is difficult for your sister, and the child is near the end of the weaning period, she should go with what her husband is saying and fast during Ramadhan.
References:
1.
قوله وهي هنا ثمانية إلخ) نظمها المقدسي في بيت واحد فقال
سقم وإكراه وحمل وسفر … رضع وجوع وعطش وكبر
والأولى إنشاده خاليا من الضرورة هكذا:
مرض وإكراه رضاع… والسفر حبل كذا عطش وجوع والكبر
[البحر الرائق، ج. ٢، صفحة ٣٠٢، دار الكتب الاسلامي]
فإنه أباح الفطر لكل مريض لكن القطع بأن شرعية الفطر فيه إنما هو لدفع الحرج وتحقق الحرج منوط بزيادة المرض أو إبطاء البُرْء أو إفساد عضو ثم معرفة ذلك باجتهاد المريض والاجتهاد غير مجرد الوهم، بل هو غلبة الظن عن أمارة أو تجربة أو بإخبار طبيب مسلم غير ظاهر الفسق
[البحر الرائق، ج. ٢، صفحة ٣٠٣، دار الكتب الاسلامي]
والحامل والمرضع إذا خافتا على ولديهما أو نفسيهما أفطرتا وقضتا لا غير
[الاختيار لتعليل المختار، ج. ١، صفحة ١٣٥، مطبعة الحلبي]
والحامل والمرضع لا تخلوان من أن يضر صومهما بالولد أو لا يضر، فإن لم يضر: لم يجز لهما الإفطار، وإن كان يضر بالولد: لم يكن الصيام خيرا لهما
[شرح مختصر الطحاوي للجصاص، ج. ٢، صفحة ٤٣٩، دار البشائر الاسلامية]
Only Allah knows best.
Written by Maulana Nuski Cassim
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
