It is not permissible for pregnant and breastfeeding women to break the fast unless they fear for themselves or their children

This hadeeth was
narrated by Abu Dawood, 2408; al-Tirmidhi, 715; al-Nasaa’i, 2315; and Ibn
Maajah, 1667. It says that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah
be upon him) said: “Allaah has relieved the traveller of half of the
prayer and of the duty to fast, and He has relieved pregnant and nursing
mothers (of the duty to fast).” It was classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in
Saheeh Abi Dawood. 

This hadeeth is general
in meaning and applies to every pregnant woman, but the scholars limited it
to cases of hardship, based on the reason for which this ruling – namely
pregnant women not fasting – was prescribed. 

This is similar to the
reference to the sick in the verse (interpretation of the meaning): 

“and whoever is ill or
on a journey, the same number [of days which one did not observe Sawm
(fasts) must be made up] from other days”

[al-Baqarah 2:185]

This applies to everyone
who is sick, no matter how mild his illness. Some of the salaf, such as
‘Ata’, applied it in general terms, and this was the view favoured by
al-Bukhaari. But the scholars, including the four Imams, rejected that
general application and restricted it to cases of sickness where fasting
causes hardship, based on the reason for which the ruling of not fasting was
prescribed. 

There are texts narrated
from the scholars which state this restriction; indeed it was narrated that
there was unanimous agreement among the scholars on this point, as we shall
see below.

 1 – Narrations from the
salaf 

Abu Dawood (2318)
narrated that Ibn ‘Abbaas said, concerning the verse “And as for those
who can fast with difficulty, (e.g. an old man), they have (a choice either
to fast or) to feed a Miskeen (poor person) (for every day)” [al-Baqarah
2:184]: This is a concession granted to old men and old women who are
able to fast, allowing them to break the fast and to feed one poor person
each day instead of fasting. (And this concession is also granted to)
pregnant and breastfeeding women, if they fear (harm). Al-Nawawi said: Its
isnaad is hasan. 

So here Ibn ‘Abbaas
restricted the concession granted to pregnant and breastfeeding women to
cases where they feared harm, whether the harm was to themselves or to their
children. 

Al-Shaafa’i narrated in
al-Umm: Maalik told us, narrating from Naafi’, that Ibn ‘Umar was
asked about a pregnant woman, if she fears for her child. He said: She
should not fast, and she should feed one poor person for each day, giving a
mudd of wheat. 

Imam al-Bukhaari said: 

Chapter on the words,
“Exempt days”… al-Hasan and Ibraaheem said concerning breastfeeding or
pregnant women: If they fear for themselves or their children, they should
break the fast then make it up. End quote. 

This restriction of the
ruling was narrated from Ibn ‘Abbaas, Ibn ‘Umar, al-Hasan and al-Nakha’i
among the salaf. 

2 – The madhhabs of the
four imams. 

They were also agreed
upon this restriction of the ruling. 

(i)The Hanafi madhhab

Al-Jassaas said in
Ahkaam al-Qur’aan, 1/244, after quoting the words of the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him): “Allaah has relieved the
traveller of half of the prayer and of the duty to fast, and He has relieved
pregnant and nursing mothers (of the duty to fast).”: 

It is known that this
concession – granted to pregnant and breastfeeding women – is limited to
cases where they fear for themselves or for their children. 

He also said (1/252): 

Either pregnant and
breastfeeding women will themselves be harmed by fasting or their children
will be harmed. In either case, not fasting is better for them and fasting
is not allowed in their case. If fasting will not harm them or their
children, then they have to fast and it is not permissible for them to break
the fast. 

It says in al-Bahr
al-Raa’iq (2/308): 

If pregnant and
breastfeeding women fear for themselves or their children, they may are
allowed to break the fast in order to ward off any hardship. 

i.e., they may break the
fast so as to ward off harm… but this is restricted to cases of fear, i.e.,
when they think that is most likely to happen… because if they do not fear
harm there is no concession granted to them. 

(ii)The Maaliki madhhab

It says in Sharh
Mukhtasar Khaleel (2/262): 

If a pregnant woman fears
that her child may die, or be severely harmed, then she must break her fast.
If she fears that sickness may happen, it is permissible for her to break
her fast according to the correct view. And it was said that she must break
her fast if she fears sickness. The same applies to the breastfeeding woman,
if she fears that her child may die or be severely harmed, she must break
her fast, and if she fears sickness, it is permissible for her to break her
fast. This is subject to the condition that her child will not accept the
breast of any other woman, otherwise she is obliged to fast, 

(iii)The Shaafa’i madhhab

Imam al-Shaafa’i said in
al-Umm: 

If a pregnant woman fears
for her child, she should break her fast. The same applies if a
breastfeeding woman fears that her milk supply will be adversely affected.
But if that is bearable then she should not break her fast. The fast may
reduce the breast milk but it may be a bearable reduction, but if it is
extreme, then she should break her fast. 

Al-Nawawi said in
al-Majmoo’ (6/274):  

Our companions said: If
pregnant and breastfeeding women fear that fasting may harm them, they
should break the fast and make it up later on, and they do not have to offer
any fidyah, as in the case of one who is sick. There is no difference of
opinion on any of that. If they fear for themselves and their children, the
same applies and there is no difference of opinion. This was stated by
al-Daarimi, al-Sarkhasi and others. If they fear for their children but not
for themselves, they should break the fast and make it up later on, and
there is no difference of opinion on that… 

(iv)The Hanbali madhhab

Ibn Muflih said in
al-Furoo’ (3/35): 

It is makrooh for
pregnant and breastfeeding women to fast if there is the fear that they or
their children may be harmed. 

Ibn ‘Aqeel said that if a
pregnant or breastfeeding woman fears for the pregnancy or the nursing
infant, it is not permissible to fast, and she must offer the fidyah. If
there is no such fear then it is not permissible for her not to fast. 

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn
Taymiyyah said in Majmoo’ al-Fataawa (25/218): 

If a pregnant woman fears
for her foetus, she may break the fast…  

(v)The Zaahiri madhhab

Ibn Hazm said in
al-Muhalla (4/411): 

The fast is addressed to
pregnant and breastfeeding woman and old men. The Ramadaan fast is
obligatory for all of them, but if a breastfeeding woman fears that she may
have too little milk for her child and there is no one else to feed the
child, or if he will not take the breast of any other woman, or if a
pregnant woman fears for her foetus, or if an old man is unable to fast
because of his age, then they may break the fast… end quote. 

It says in
al-Mawsoo’ah al-Fiqhiyyah (28/55): 

The fuqaha’ are agreed
that pregnant and breastfeeding women may break the fast in Ramadaan, so
long as they fear sickness or an increase in sickness for themselves or
their children, or they fear harm or death. In the case of a pregnant woman,
the foetus is regarded as part of her body, so the fear for him is like the
fear of damage to any of her limbs or physical faculties. 

Al-Shawkaani said in
Nayl al-Awtaar (4/273), commenting on the hadeeth which says that
pregnant and breastfeeding women are allowed not to fast: 

This hadeeth indicates
that it is permissible for pregnant and breastfeeding women not to fast.
This was the view of the fuqaha’, if a breastfeeding woman fears for her
nursing infant or if a pregnant woman fears for the unborn child. They said:
They may definitely break the fast. End quote. 

It says in Fataawa
al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah (10/226): 

With regard to the
pregnant woman, she must fast whilst pregnant, unless she fears that fasting
may harm her or her unborn child, in which case she is granted a concession
allowing her not to fast, and she should make up the fasts after she
delivers and her nifaas has ended. End quote. 

See also question no.
50005. 

These texts from the
scholars indicate that it is not permissible for pregnant and breastfeeding
women to break the fast so long as fasting is not difficult for them. 

And Allaah knows best.