Fasting whilst Pregnant: Is it Safe to Fast?* ❝ MOST women worry about the potential adverse effects of fasting, both for themselves and their unborn children. This is especially true for pregnancies in the first and last trimesters when the greatest demands on the body take place. Many women are unwilling to take any risks when it comes to their babies. This is certainly a most praiseworthy attitude with regards to our health and children, but not one we can freely apply when it comes to fasting. In essence, pregnant and breastfeeding women are obliged to fast unless they fear harm for themselves or their child. This rukhsa (dispensation) is based upon the hadith: “Verily, Allah has lifted half of the prayers and fasting from the traveller, and [fasting] from those pregnant and nursing.” (Tirmidhi 649, Abu Dawud 2056, Nasa’i 2237, Ibn Maja 1657, Ahmad 18270, with different wordings and narrations) This is confirmed by other ahadith, where it is explicitly limited to “if they fear" and the commentators and fuqaha have agreed that this exemption is conditional on fear of harm to the mother or child, and not applicable to all pregnant and nursing women. ❞ ~Saudi Life
Posted on: Wed, 31 Jul 2013 15:04:53 +0000
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