Breast-feeding woman uses formula milk for her baby so that she can fast

15-6-2014 | IslamWeb

Question:

What is the ruling concerning a woman who abandons fasting during Ramadan due to breast-feeding? Can she use formula milk for her baby in order to be able to fast?

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that none is worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and messenger.

 

A breast-feeding woman who fears for herself or for her baby can abandon fasting, and then she has to make up for the missed days later. The Prophet, sallaallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Allah has exempted the travelers from fasting and half of the prayer, and the pregnant and breast-feeding women from fasting.” [Ahmad and others]

But if she does not have this fear, then she is not allowed to abandon fasting.

As for using formula milk for her baby in order to be able to fast, it is permissible to do so, provided that it is not harmful to the baby. In such a case, a woman is obliged to fast, as the excuse for her abstention from fasting is no longer there.

 Allah Knows best.