Fasting: Missed Two Ramadans Due to Pregnancy — Is Qadā’ Enough or Is Kaffārah Required?
Practical Laws of Islam as per the teachings of Imam Khamenei
Fasting: Missed Two Ramadans Due to Pregnancy — Is Qadā’ Enough or Is Kaffārah Required?
English:
Question #802:
A woman was pregnant during two consecutive Ramadans and could not fast during those two years. Now that she is able to fast, what is her duty? Does she only have to perform the qaḍā’ for the two months, or does she have to carry out the twofold kaffārah as well? What is the rule concerning her delaying the fasting?
Answer #802:
If a pregnant woman, whose delivery is imminent fears that fasting will harm her foetus or herself, fasting is not obligatory for her. In the first case (harmful for the fetus) she must pay one mudd of food (wheat, barely, etc.) as fidyah to the needy for each day and make up for it in qaḍā’ after the month of Ramadan as well. In the second case (harmful for herself), she should make up for the missed fasts in qaḍā’ and, according to caution, pay the fidyah as well. In case of a woman whose delivery is not imminent, the ruling of paying fidyah is based on obligatory caution.
If a breastfeeding woman (whether she is the baby’s mother or another woman hired or not for this job) fears of harm to the baby due to a decrease in the quantity of milk or its drying up caused by fasting, she is not obligated to fast but she should pay fidyah for each day and make up for the missed fasts in qaḍā’ later on. However, if fasting is harmful for the woman herself, her paying fidyah is, by obligatory caution, mandatory.
In both cases mentioned above, if she does not make up for the missed fasts till the next Ramadan, then if it was due to carelessness, she should, in addition to making up in qaḍā’, observe kaffārah of delay (i.e. to pay one mudd (about 750 gm.) food for each day to the needy), but if her delay was due to an excuse, there is no need for kaffārah of delay. However, if the excuse is due to fear that fast will harm her baby, she must make up for the missed fasts in qaḍā’ whenever she can, but if it is due to fear of harm for herself, she is not required to make up in qaḍā’ but should pay fidyah for each missed fast.
-Imam Khamenei, Practical Laws of Islam, Importance and Conditions of Fasting