Fatwa ID: 08288

 

 

Written by Muftiyah Shireen Mangera-Badat

 

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:

 

In the Hanafi madhhab, a breastfeeding mother is exempt from fasting if she fears harm to herself or her child due to fasting.[1]

 

If your sister finds that fasting negatively affects her milk supply, and her child still depends on breast milk, then she is permitted—even required—not too fast to prevent harm to herself and her child.

 

She can breastfeed up to two years as mentioned in the Quran as she has the exemption of the fast which she will have to make up later.

 

If she believes her baby benefits from the milk as the main source of sustenance, she can continue breastfeeding without feeling that she is committing any sin.

 

Mothers may breastfeed their children for two complete years for whoever wishes to complete the nursing.” (Surah al-Baqarah:233).[2]

 

But if it seems that it is detrimental to her own health, then she should cease the breastfeeding, provide alternate arrangement for the child and compromise with her husband.

 

 

Only Allah knows best.

Written by Muftiyah Shireen Mangera-Badat

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham

 

 

 

 

[1] وَعَوَارِضُ الصَّوْمِ الَّتِي قَدْ يُغْتَفِرْ لِلمُرِءِ فِيهَا الفُطْرُ تُسِعٌ تُسْتَطَرْ حَبَلٌ وَإِرْضَاعٌ وَإِكْرَاهُ سَفَرْ مَرَضٌ جِهَادٌ جَوْعُهُ عَطَشُ كِبْرُ

رد المختار ٣/٤٠٢

 

 

[2] ۞ وَٱلْوَٰلِدَٰتُ يُرْضِعْنَ أَوْلَـٰدَهُنَّ حَوْلَيْنِ كَامِلَيْنِ ۖ لِمَنْ أَرَادَ أَن يُتِمَّ ٱلرَّضَاعَةَ ۚ وَعَلَى ٱلْمَوْلُودِ لَهُۥ رِزْقُهُنَّ وَكِسْوَتُهُنَّ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ ۚ