Fasting Ramadan: Pregnancy, Breastfeeding & You
This is series of articles surrounding the intricacies of fasting whilst pregnant and breastfeeding, both from a scientific point of view, looking at studies that have been published over recent years on the subject, and also from a fiqh point of view.
We pray the articles are of benefit.
This is a project by Umm-Hasan bint Salim & Umm-Eesa bint Sayeed.
The full website and related articles can be found here.
Preface
Ameer ul-Mu’mineen, Abu Hafs `Umar ibn al-Khattaab (r.a), said:
I heard the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) say: “Actions are but by intentions and every man shall have only that which he intended…”
The intent of this site is two-fold: to clarify common misconceptions on the status of fasting for pregnant and breastfeeding women, and to encourage one another in good.
What we aim to present here inshaAllah is an earnest effort to collate all the available knowledge and information that we have with regards to fasting in pregnancy and whilst breastfeeding.
We have shared an overview of the various standpoints in fiqh that we had access to and then turn to scientific literature to assess any potential risk, precautionary measures and advice.
Throughout our collection we bear in mind the hadith of Jabir (r.a) warning us that we need to have mercy and exercise caution whenever this is applicable:
Jabir (r.a) said, “We were on a journey and one of us got injured. Later, he had a wet dream. He asked his companions, ‘Can I perform tayammum?’ They said, ‘No, not if you have water.’ He performed ghusl and died. When they came to the Messenger of Allah, they informed him of what had transpired. He said, ‘They killed him, Allah will kill them. Do you not ask if you do not know? The rescue of the ignorant person is the question. He could have performed tayammum and dropped water on his wound or wrapped it with something and wipe over the wrapping, and wash the rest of his body.” (Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, and others)
Our intention is not to push those already in genuine hardship into fasting; rather, the following pages are an encouragement for healthy sisters and an attempt at raising awareness surrounding the Islamic and scientific standpoints on fasting. In essence, this is that it is our duty to fast, it is safe to do so and that the minimum requirement upon us is to TRY.
We hope to fulfil the obligation presented to us by the Prophet s.a.w. upon each other: “None of you will truly believe until you love for your brother what you love for yourself.” May each and every one of us reap the barakah and unimaginable rewards of the blessed month of Ramadaan.
May Allah s.w.t purify our intentions and accept this work from us and make it a means of salvation for all who contributed to it, ameen.
Umm-Hasan bint Salim & Umm-Eesa bint Sayeed
Sha’baan 1434/ July 2013
