Fasting for Pregnant and Nursing Women

Q1. Is a woman who is pregnant or is a nursing mother allowed not to fast during Ramadan?

A1. Allah says in the Qur’an about fasting in the month of Ramadan, “So every one of you who is present (at his home) during this month should spend it in fasting. But if any one is ill, or on a journey, the prescribed period should be made up by days later” (Al-Baqarah 2:185). People who are sick or who fear that fasting may endanger their lives are allowed to postpone fasting to a later time. Thus if a pregnant woman sincerely feels or her doctor has told her that fasting may harm her or harm her fetus, and/or a nursing woman feels that fasting will cause hardship for her and her baby, then these women are allowed not to fast during Ramadan. They, however, have to make up the missed fasts of Ramadan later as soon as possible.

What is Fidayah? How much and where should it be paid?

Q2. My wife is pregnant. She could not fast. Could you please tell me how much the fitra is per one roza? I live in the U.S. Should I pay in dollars or rupees? And where to pay (in Pakistan or U.S)? (Wajid Khan)

A2. According to the Shari’ah, it is permissible for a pregnant woman who finds it hard or who is advised by a doctor not to fast, to postpone her Ramadan fasting. However, she has to make up the missed fasts later after delivering the baby. Fidyah (not fitra) is for those people only who are unable to fast at any time. Very old people, those who are terminally ill and do not expect to recover after the Ramadan, should give Fidyah. The “Fidyah” is a substitute for fasting. It is one day’s meal or its value to be given to those who are poor and needy. We estimate about $10 dollars per fast here in United States. Those who are living in the United States should pay according to the US rate and in dollars. However, the money can be given here or any other place, but it must be given to the poor and needy people. Fitrah is a different charity, which is given at the end of Ramadan. It is mandatory for every person who has the Nisab of Zakat to give this charity also before the Eidul Fitr prayer. The head of the house has to pay on behalf of himself/herself and all his/her dependants. Its amount is about $5 dollars per person in America.

How to make up for missed fasts?

Q3. I fast now regularly during Ramadan, but in the past I missed many fasts of Ramadan without any excuse. I regret that very much and I want to make up for the days that I missed. Please tell me how can I do that.

A3. Fasting during the month of Ramadan is an obligation (fard) upon every adult Muslim who is not sick or on a journey. It is a major sin to miss the fasts of Ramadan without any excuse. The Prophet - peace be upon him- said, “Whosoever broke even one fast of Ramadan without an excuse or sickness, even if he/she fasted the whole life after that it will not compensate what he/she missed.” (Tirmidhi, Kitab al-Sawm, Hdith no. 655) Since you regret your negligence, I suggest that you repent sincerely and ask Allah’s forgiveness. Allah has promised that those who repent sincerely, Allah accepts their repentance and forgives them. You should also try to make up for your missed days. Calculate how many days of Ramadan you missed. Make qada’ for those days by fasting one day for each day that you missed. If you cannot then give the Kaffarah, which is a day’s meals or its value to be given to a needy person. We estimate about ten dollars per day for each day’s fast. Thus by doing these deeds, you may not be able to compensate totally for the missed days of Ramadan, but at least you will express your sincere repentance and effort to fulfill the commands of Allah.

Blood Test during Fasting

Q4. Are we allowed to have blood test done during fasting? Does it break fast?

A4. Blood tests normally entail drawing a very small amount of blood from a person. There is no harm in giving a small amount of blood for a blood test. This does not break fast. However, blood donation during fasting is not recommended, because it may harm a person or it may lead to his/her breaking the fast.

Use of Sprays during Fasting

Q5. Is it allowed for an asthma patient to use mouth or nose spray during fasting? Does it invalidate fast?

A5. Many contemporary jurists have allowed the use of such sprays for the patients during fasting. They say that these sprays are only to help the patients to breathe easily and they do not contain any food or nutrients. Thus the use of such sprays is permissible and they would not invalidate fasting.

Fasting: Why do Muslims fast during the daytime?

Q 6. My fellow staff member asked me a question about the Fasting in Islam and I could not answer his question because I don’t know the answer. The question is “Why Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset? What is the logical reason behind this? Why not during the night time?”

A 6. Most people fast during the nighttime. When people are sleeping they do not eat. That is why the first meal of the morning is called “breakfast”. Fasting during night does not need much effort or discipline. The real benefit of fast comes when one controls one’s self during the daytime.