Fatwa ID: 06587

Answered by: Alimah Aabedah Khatun

Question:

I am breastfeeding my one-year-old child and I have tried my best recently to make up fasts from last year after I had my baby, by missing a day or two between fasts. However, it is affecting my milk supply and I am developing weakness and pain in my body which is made worse by a condition that I have.

I wasn’t sure at the time whether I had to fidya as well, but with Ramadhan approaching, I am worried about what to do.

I feel I’ll struggle to fast the entire month this year, as much as I’ve really been wanting to, and how it would affect my overall health and my child’s nutrition. I also have two other disabled children who require full-time care and I worry about how well I’ll be able to care for them too due to my own weakness.

Please can you clarify if I can exempt myself from fasting again this year and if I need to pay fidya or make up the fasts later when my child is less reliant on my milk.

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer:

According to Hanafi scholars, if you are breastfeeding then it is permissible for you to not fast if you fear for your child.

ومنها حبل المرأة وإرضاعها: الحامل والمرضع إذا خافتا على أنفسهما أو ولدهما أفطرتا و قضتا ولا كفارة عليهما كذا في الخلاصة

(Fatawa Hindiyyah – volume 1 – page 228 – Darul Kutub Ilmiyah)

You could later make up for these fasts once you are able to (e.g. when you stop breastfeeding).

Only Allah knows best.

Written by Alimah Aabedah Khatun

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham