Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Is it required of a nursing mother to observe fasts during the month of Ramadhan ?

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Can a nursing mother observe fasts during the month of Ramadan?

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and who-ever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

If the nursing mother, genuinely fears that her health, or the health of her baby might be affected by her keeping the fasts, then there is no harm is missing the fasts of Ramadan; but she will have to make up for the fasts later.  

But if the woman feels that the fasts will not affect her or the baby, then it is best she observes the fasts in the blessed month of Ramadan.   

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said in an authentic narration that if one leaves a fast in the month of Ramadan for no valid reason, and then fasts even for the rest of the year as an atonement, the blessings of that one day’s fast of Ramadan cannot be attained.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me.  Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan