Is It Permissible for a Pregnant Woman to Break Her Fast during Ramadan? – Shaykh Bassem Itani

Answered by Shaykh Bassem Itani

Question

Is it permissible for a pregnant woman to break her fast during Ramadan, and what is required of her if she does?

Answer

All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and blessings and peace be upon our master Muhammad, his Family, and all his Companions.

It is permissible for a pregnant woman to break her fast during Ramadan if she fears, based on strong likelihood, for herself or her unborn child. If she breaks her fast, she is only required to make up the missed days later; there is no expiation or fidya (expiatory charity) required. If the next Ramadan arrives and she has not made up the missed days, she should fast Ramadan and then make up her missed days afterward, with no penalty.

How Does a Pregnant Woman Determine Whether to Break Her Fast during Ramadan?

This strong likelihood can be established through one of three means:

1. Signs

The appearance of physical signs such as extreme fatigue, facial pallor due to pregnancy, severe exhaustion, dizziness, nausea, or vomiting indicate a need to break the fast.

2. Experience

Based on past pregnancy experiences, if she has previously experienced similar symptoms that worsened without breaking the fast, she may choose to break her fast.

3. Consultation with a Doctor

If a trusted, religiously observant Muslim female doctor advises that fasting would be harmful to her or her fetus, or both, she is permitted to break her fast. [Ibn ‘Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar]

Ease

Islamic law compassionately considers the condition of pregnant women, recognizing the challenges they face from the start of pregnancy until childbirth. It allows them the concession to break their fast during Ramadan to alleviate any hardship. Allah (Most High) says:

“Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship” [Quran, 2:185]

The only requirement is to make up the missed days later, with no expiation or fidya (expiratory charity) necessary. The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said:

“Allah has relieved the traveler of half of the prayer and the fast, and from the pregnant and nursing woman.” [Abu Dawud]

Thus, the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) equated the ruling for pregnant and nursing women to that of travelers, who break their fast and later make it up without any expiation or fidya.

Important Note

Some may mistakenly believe that any pregnant woman can break her fast. This is incorrect. A pregnant woman who does not suffer from medical conditions and can consume adequate food and fluids during suhur and iftar, meeting her and her baby’s nutritional needs, should fast during Ramadan, as there is no harm to her or her fetus.

May Allah grant success in making the correct decisions.

[Shaykh] Bassem Itani

Shaykh Dr. Bassem Hussayn Itani was born in Beirut, Lebanon, in 1965. He earned his Ph.D. in Islamic Studies in 2005. Among his mentors were Shaykh Muhammad Taha Sukkar, Shaykh Adib al-Kallas, Shaykh Mulla Abdul ‘Alim al-Zinki, Shaykh Abdul Rahman al-Shaghouri, Shaykh Abdul Razzaq al-Halabi, Shaykh Dr. Mustafa Dib al-Bugha, Shaykh Dr. Wahba al-Zuhayli, Dr. Muhammad al-Zuhayli, and others, may Allah have mercy on them all. 

Shaykh Itani has a rich background in both academic and administrative fields. He has held significant positions in many governmental and non-governmental institutions in Lebanon and abroad. This includes his role as a member of the Academic Committee at SeekersGuidance and a senior teacher with the free online global seminary.

From 2020 to 2021, he served as the Dean of the College of Da‘wa – University for Islamic Studies (Lebanon) – Postgraduate Studies. He was the Director of Dar Iqra for Islamic Sciences from 1998 to 2018. Shaykh Itani is a well-versed teacher in several academic subjects, including Fiqh, Usul, Aqida, and Tafsir. He has supervised and examined numerous Master’s and Doctoral theses at various universities and colleges in Lebanon.

His contributions to Islamic sciences are also evident in his writings and research. His notable works include “The Relied-upon Statements of Imam Zufar in the Hanafi School,” “Collective Ijtihad: The Sublimity of Thought in the 21st Century,” and “Custom and its Impact in Islamic Jurisprudence.” Shaykh Itani has actively participated in numerous scientific conferences and seminars, both in Lebanon and internationally. He is linguistically adept, excelling in Arabic, proficient in French, and comfortably conversant in English.