Can a woman who is breastfeeding perform fasting? Can fasting cause her milk to dry up? Can her fasting harm the baby?

Dear Brother / Sister,

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding:

In Durru'l-Mukhtar, the following is written:

“A pregnant woman who is afraid that her life or her child’s life will be endangered, or according to zahiru'r riwaya, a breastfeeding woman whether she is the mother or wet nurse does not have to fast." (Ibn Abidin, IV, 338).

What is essential here is that, whether pregnant or breastfeeding, the danger of destroying their bodies or their children. As a matter of fact, the following is stated in Fatawa al-Hindiyya:

"If pregnant or breastfeeding women are afraid that they or their children can be destroyed they do not have to fast or they can break their fast. Kaffarah (fasting for 60 days as a punishment of breaking fast intentionally) is not necessary; they can fast later one day for each day” (ibid, I, 207).

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