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Fatwa CenterIt is invalid to make up for a fast that one is yet to miss
Question
I am pregnant and my delivery is expected to be in the first or second week of Ramadan. I have a few questions. Firstly, is it permissible for me to fast the days that I am going to miss in Ramadan in advance? Now, we are in Rajab, and Sha‘baan is next, can I fast the days that I will miss in Ramadan in these two months?
Secondly, I am feeling so sad because I am going to miss the opportunity of praying, fasting, and reciting the Quran in Ramadan, due to my delivery. Would it be enough for me to say supplications and tasbeeh (saying sobhaanAllah) only?
Thirdly, I have heard that the supplication made by a pregnant woman at the time of labor shall be answered. Is this restricted to the moment of forcing the baby out or is it applied each time the pregnant woman experiences contractions? Is there any sharia evidence to support this?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and messenger.
It is invalid to make up for a fast that has not yet become due and before the person becomes liable for it. This is only permissible after the end of Ramadan. This is a clear and well known fact. That being said, you cannot currently fast for the coming Ramadan. Rather, if Ramadan comes, and you are not able to fast it because you are sick or experiencing post-partum bleeding, then you may break the fast and make up for the days that you miss later on. Allaah says (what means): {So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey—then an equal number of other days.} [Quran 2: 185]
As for missing the opportunity of fasting because of giving birth, this is something that Allaah decreed upon women, thus, you have to submit to the decree of Allaah Almighty. ‘Aa'ishah 
said:
We set out with the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, for Hajj. I came to experience menses after we reached (the valley of) Sarif. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, came upon me while I was crying. He asked me, “Why are you crying; perhaps you are having menses?” I said, “Yes!” He said, “This is something that Allaah has decreed upon women...” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
This Hadeeth implies that menstruation is something that women have to experience as per Allaah's decree. Rather, women should accept it and submit to it. The same applies to pregnancy and child-birth. A woman's sincere wish to be able to fast and pray in Ramadan and her experiencing such conditions that prevent her from doing so allow her to attain the reward of fasting and prayer. As for thikr (remembrance of Allaah) in Ramadan, including tasbeeh, tahleel (saying laa ilaaha illAllaah), takbeer (saying Allaahu akbar), and so on, it involves great rewards. Nevertheless, thikr alone does not substitute for making up for the fasts and prayers that you are going to miss. According to the predominant opinion, a woman in her menstrual or postnatal period is allowed to recite the Quran, unless this causes her to touch the mus-haf (a copy of the Quran).
Allaah Knows best.
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