What are the obligations for a pregnant or nursing woman who breaks her fast out of fear for herself or her child?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Fasting
Primary text
A pregnant or nursing woman who breaks her fast fearing harm only to herself is required only to make up the fast (qada'); there is no known difference of opinion among scholars on this, as they are considered similar to a sick person fearing for themselves. If she breaks the fast fearing harm to her child, she must make up the fast (qada') and feed one poor person (miskin) for each day missed. This is narrated from Ibn Umar and is the well-known position in the Shafi'i school. The required amount of feeding is one Mudd of wheat, or half a Sa' of dates or barley, consistent with the amount required for the Kaffarah (expiation) of sexual intercourse during fasting.
Supporting text
Al-Layth stated that expiation (Kaffarah/feeding) is obligatory only upon the nursing mother, not the pregnant woman, as the nurse can arrange for someone else to nurse her child, unlike the pregnant woman whose fetus is part of her. 'Ata', al-Zuhri, Al-Hasan, Sa'id ibn al-Musayyib, Al-Nakh'i, and Abu Hanifah state that no Kaffarah is due, based on the Hadith from Anas ibn Malik stating Allah exempted the traveler from half the prayer and exempted the pregnant and nursing woman from the fast, without mentioning Kaffarah. Ibn Umar and Ibn Abbas stated that qada' is not required, based on the verse {And upon those who are able [to fast, but have difficulty] - a ransom [as substitute] of feeding one poor person per day} (Quran 2:184), arguing the verse only mandates feeding. However, the dominant view is that qada' is mandatory because they are capable of making up the fast later, unlike a menstruating woman.