Question:
- Is it permissible for a breastfeeding woman to break her fast? When does she make it up? Does she have to feed anyone?
Answer:
- The breastfeeding woman, if she fears for her child because of her fast, ex; her mild not being plentiful to the point that the child is harmed, then she can break her fast. But she makes up that day after that, becasue she is like the sick person that Allah said about him {Whom so ever is sick or traveling, then they must make it up on different days, Allah wants for you ease and he does not want for you hardship} (2:185). So when the reason for her breaking her fast has passed, then she makes up those days. As far as the days then it can be during the winter when the days are short and the days are cold. Or if she does not do it in the winter, then she can do it in the year to come. As far as her feeding the poor, then this is not permissible except in the case that the thing that prevented her from fasting, or her excuse is something that is ongoing. This means that it is not thought that she would be cured from this situation. So only in this situation would feeding the sick person be a substitute for fasting.
[Taken from Fatawah Arkan al Islam by Sheikh Uthaimeen]
[Translated by Abu Abdillah Abdul Lateef]
