Ameer ul-Mu’mineen, Abu Hafs `Umar ibn al-Khattaab (r.a), said:

I heard the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) say: “Actions are but by intentions and every man shall have only that which he intended…”

The intent of our work is two-fold: to clarify common misconceptions on the status of fasting for pregnant and breastfeeding women, and to encourage one another in good.

What we aim to present here inshaAllah is an earnest effort to collate all the available scriptural knowledge and medical information that we have, with regards to fasting in pregnancy and whilst breastfeeding.

We begin with recounting the virtues of fasting, as a reminder to ourselves, but also as a resource for midwives and medical professionals, to further understanding on the status of fasting for Muslim patients. We then share an overview of the various standpoints in Islamic law (fiqh) and turn to scientific literature to assess any potential risk, precautionary measures and advice.

Throughout our collection we bear in mind the hadith of Jabir (r.a) warning us that we need to have mercy and exercise caution whenever this is applicable:

Jabir (r.a) said, “We were on a journey and one of us got injured. Later, he had a wet dream. He asked his companions, ‘Can I perform tayammum?’ They said, ‘No, not if you have water.’ He performed ghusl and died. When they came to the Messenger of Allah, they informed him of what had transpired. He said, ‘They killed him, Allah will kill them. Do you not ask if you do not know? The rescue of the ignorant person is the question. He could have performed tayammum and dropped water on his wound or wrapped it with something and wipe over the wrapping, and wash the rest of his body.” (Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, and others)

Our intention is therefore not to push those already in genuine hardship into fasting. It is clear that at times women can be pressured or 'guilted' into fasting, when they do not feel well enough to do so. There are equally instances of women in good health being told not to fast, or worse, made to feel they are making poor choices for their child by fasting. In both cases, women's agency is taken from them, with potential implications for their mental and physical health.

The following pages are an encouragement for healthy sisters, and an attempt at raising awareness surrounding the Islamic and scientific standpoints on fasting. In essence, this is that fasting remains an obligation upon those of us in otherwise good health, it is safe to do so, and the minimum requirement upon us is to try.

We hope to fulfil the responsibility presented to us by the Prophet s.a.w. upon each other: “None of you will truly believe until you love for your brother what you love for yourself.” May each and every one of us reap the barakah and unimaginable rewards of the blessed month of Ramadan.

May Allah s.w.t purify our intentions and accept this work from us and make it a means of salvation for all who contributed to it, ameen.

Umm Hasan bint Salim & Hafsah Sayeed

Sha’baan 1434/ July 2013