Fasting During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding: Insights from Fiqh and Science
This is a series of articles surrounding the intricacies of fasting while 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 about fasting for pregnant and breastfeeding women and to encourage one another in good.
We aim to present inshaAllah an earnest effort to collate all the available knowledge and information regarding fasting during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
We have shared an overview of the various standpoints in fiqh that we had access to and then turned 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 a 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 wiped over the wrapping, and washed 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. Essentially, it is our duty to fast; it is safe to do so, and the minimum requirement is for us to TRY.
We hope to fulfill 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 everyone reap the barakah and unimaginable rewards of the blessed month of Ramadaan.
May Allah s.w.t purify our intentions, 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
