The Practising Muslim · Fiqh of Fasting

Fasting Considerations in Islam

Explore rulings on fasting for specific conditions and scenarios.

5 questions · Medium · about 3 minutes

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1. What should a breastfeeding mother do if fasting may harm her child?

  • She should not fast if she fears harm to the child. (correct answer)
  • She must stop breastfeeding immediately so she can fast.
  • She must fast no matter how it affects the child.
  • She should replace breastfeeding with formula in every case.

Why

If a breastfeeding mother fears harm to herself or her child, it is better for her not to fast. She should not stop breastfeeding merely in order to fast if that would harm the child or deprive the child of needed natural breastfeeding.

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2. What should a woman do if continuous bleeding is due to illness and is not menstrual blood?

  • Pray and fast, washing the blood away and doing wudu for each prayer. (correct answer)
  • Stop praying and fasting for the whole month.
  • Treat all bleeding as menses regardless of cause.
  • Pray without cleaning or doing wudu.

Why

If doctors determine that continuous bleeding is due to sickness and not menses, she is considered pure. She should pray and fast, wash the blood away, use a pad, and do wudu when the time for each prayer begins.

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3. If a woman has abnormal bleeding but knows her usual menstrual cycle, what should she do during those usual period days?

  • Refrain from fasting and praying during her usual period days. (correct answer)
  • Continue fasting and praying during the usual period days.
  • Stop fasting and praying for the entire month.
  • Fast but stop praying only.

Why

For abnormal bleeding, the known usual period is still treated as menses. During those days she does not pray or fast. When those days end, she does ghusl and resumes praying and fasting even if the abnormal bleeding continues.

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4. What should someone do if fasting causes heavy bleeding that leads to anemia or clear physical harm?

  • Seek treatment, and make up missed fasts later if recovery is hoped for. (correct answer)
  • Keep fasting even if clear harm occurs.
  • Feed one poor person immediately in every case.
  • Skip fasting permanently because of ordinary tiredness.

Why

If fasting causes heavy bleeding and clear harm such as anemia, the person should seek treatment. If recovery is expected, missed fasts are made up later. If there is no hope of fasting without harm, then feeding one poor person for each day applies. Ordinary lethargy, lightheadedness, or mild headaches alone are not enough to skip fasting.

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5. What should someone do if they must work at night and must take medicine during the day that prevents fasting?

  • Try to find a daytime option first; if not possible, they may miss the fast and make it up when able. (correct answer)
  • Skip the medicine and fast no matter what.
  • Work at night, take the medicine during the day, and never make up the fasts.
  • Break the fast freely for the whole month without checking necessity.

Why

The person should first try to find work that allows fasting and taking medicine at night. If that is not possible, and the night work is needed for livelihood while the medicine must be taken during the day, this is an excuse not to fast. If recovery is hoped for, the missed days are made up later; if the sickness is permanent, feeding one poor person for each missed day applies.

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A note on these answers

These questions are for learning and self-testing. Explanations are drawn from the sources linked on each question and are not a fatwa. For a ruling on your own circumstances, please consult a qualified scholar.

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