Darulifta Ahlesunnat
(Dawateislami)
Question
What do Islamic scholars state about the following issue: A woman suckles a
baby due to which she suffers a lot; she is very weak and there is fear she may
fall ill. In this condition, will she be allowed to miss a fast?
بِسْمِ اللہِ
الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ
اَلْجَوَابُ بِعَوْنِ الْمَلِکِ
الْوَھَّابِ اَللّٰھُمَّ ھِدَایَۃَ الْحَقِّ وَالصَّوَابِ
If there is a genuine fear that by observing a fast a suckling woman, her
child, a pregnant woman or her (unborn) baby can face a health risk, fall ill
or encounter insurmountable hardship, such a woman has permission to not keep a
fast. One can discern this through three manners of overriding assumption:
There must be symptoms clearly visible, she must have previous personal
experience or a Muslim doctor who does not commit sins openly and who is an
expert in his profession has informed her.
Bear in mind mere thoughts of illness or death do not suffice; it is needed
to have a presumption according to any of the three conditions previously
specified. If the act of suckling a baby truly causes this kind of condition
and one of the three manners of overriding assumptions mentioned previously is
found, she is allowed to miss a fast. Otherwise she
cannot.
The final Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ
وَسَلَّم has said,
إن الله تعالى وضع عن المسافر الصوم وشطر الصلاة وعن
الحامل أو المرضع الصوم
Translation: Allah Almighty has undoubtedly lifted fasting and a portion of salah from travellers.
He has also lifted fasts from pregnant women and women who breastfeed.
In Multaqā al-Abḥur:
حامل او مرضع خافت علی نفسھا او ولدھا تفطر
وتقضی
In Fatāwa Razawiyyah,
Imam Aḥmad Razā Khān رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه explains “Both breastfeeding and pregnant women are allowed not to fast, only in the case when there is a fear established
via overriding assumption that she or her child can categorically face danger
to their health.
Mentioning the conditions in which unwell, pregnant or breastfeeding women
can miss fasts, Mufti Amjad ʿAli ʿAẓami رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه writes:
These scenarios are specified by overriding assumption. Mere thoughts or
misgivings are not enough. There are three manners in which overriding
assumption can be determined:
1. Apparent symptoms are
visibly seen
2. The individual has personal
experience beforehand
3. An expert, mastūr (non-fasiq; one who
does not sin openly) Muslim doctor informs them.
وَاللہُ
اَعْلَمُ عَزَّوَجَلَّ وَرَسُوْلُہ اَعْلَم صَلَّی
اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم
Answered By: Abu
Hudhayfah Muhammad Shafiq Attari Madani
Verified by: Mufti Muhammad Qasim Attari
Ref No: PIN-6932
Date: 15 Shaʿbān 1439/2nd May,
2018