Fatwa ID: 01454

Answered by: Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Question

My question is regarding my wife's pregnancy and fasting. My wife is 7.5 months pregnant and we have decided that she doesn't have to fast this year because it's the main stage of her pregnancy and it could be risky. So how much money or people do we feed for every fast?

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم

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

Answer:

If a woman is in the early stages of her pregnancy and by fasting, it would not affect the health of the mother, nor of the unborn child, then it is obligatory upon her to fast. However, if the woman genuinely fears harm or sickness for herself or for the unborn child only then it is permissible for her not to fast.  There must have been a previous experience where at that time in her pregnancy it affected her or the unborn child’s health. Also if a god-fearing, qualified, Muslim doctor advises her not to fast, then she is also exempt from fasting.

(Fatawa Hindiyyah p.207 v.1)

With regards to your question, after she gives birth, has recovered and is clean from her postnatal bleeding, it is obligatory for her to do qadha of the fasts of Ramadhan. She will not be allowed to give compensation for the missed fasts. Compensation for missed fasts (fidyah) is given by those who cannot fast at all such as a very old man or woman where there is no hope of him getting better.

(Maraqi Falah p.453)

The conclusion to the answer is that it is obligatory for your wife to do qadha of her fast.

Only Allah knows best

Written by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham