Fasting represents a unique faith environment to achieve piety, purify the soul, cleanse the spirit, escape from Hellfire, and draw closer to Allah SWT so leaving this obligation without a legitimate excuse is considered a major sin that Muslims must avoid. Therefore, many people wonder about the cases in which it is permissible to break the fast or not, desiring to perform this duty to the fullest without falling into the prohibited.
In this article, we will talk about fasting Ramadan during pregnancy, to clarify whether it is safe or not. We will mention all the rulings related to this matter according to the teachings of Islam, with a detailed explanation of the impact of fasting on the health of the mother and the fetus, based on scientific facts.
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Impact of Fasting on the Health of Pregnant Women and Fetuses
Fasting Ramadan during pregnancy can sometimes be a great challenge for the mother, as she may have fear and anxiety about the health of the fetus, which is a natural feeling resulting from motherhood. This may conflict with her strong desire to fast as pregnancy requires special care in terms of choosing healthy and varied foods, drinking enough fluids, and consuming essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals necessary for fetal development.
Therefore, fasting may affect the health of the fetus and the mother sometimes if it is not dealt with carefully and with prior planning, taking into account the individual needs of each pregnant woman. However, this matter may differ greatly according to several important factors, including the general health of the mother and fetus, and whether the mother suffers from any chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or even heart or kidney problems.
Also, the number of months of pregnancy that the woman has reached may be one of the most important factors affecting the extent to which fasting affects her and her fetus. In some stable health cases, the pregnant woman can fast without any health problems, and she can compensate her body for what it needs of nutrients during the period of Iftar and Suhoor.
There are other cases where she may be more prone to serious health complications in the event of fasting, and the severity of this matter is determined by the doctor responsible for monitoring the health status of the pregnant woman, who has the knowledge and experience necessary to assess potential risks.
Fasting Ramadan During Pregnancy
If the health of the woman and the fetus is good and stable, she can fast during Ramadan while pregnant, but she must consult the attending physician at the beginning of Ramadan to provide her with some important medical advice and instructions, and to determine whether she can fast or not based on her individual health condition, and to monitor her health throughout the pregnancy periodically and regularly.
This helps to avoid some of the potential risks that may occur as a result of fasting, such as dehydration or a decrease in the amount of fluid surrounding the fetus, which may result in premature birth, or the woman may suffer from some severe weakness and fatigue, which may make her feel faint and dizzy frequently, especially if she suffers from anemia or if the woman vomits continuously; Because this leads to the loss of many essential nutrients that the body needs, or if the woman takes certain medications regularly, fasting may affect the number of doses and the timing of taking them.
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Rulings on Fasting for Pregnant Women in Islam
Fasting Ramadan during pregnancy is not necessary if the woman fears for herself and her fetus from any harm, as it was reported from the Prophet PBUH that he said:
«إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى وَضَعَ عَنِ المُسَافِرِ الصَّوْمَ، وَشَطْرَ الصَّلَاةِ، وَعَنِ الحَامِلِ أَوِ المُرْضِعِ الصَّوْمَ أَوِ الصِّيَامَ»
“Indeed, Allah SWT has relieved the traveler of fasting and half of the prayer, and the pregnant or breastfeeding woman of fasting.”
In this case, she can break the fast and make up for the days she missed after the end of Ramadan. She can also feed a poor person for each day she breaks the fast as a kind of expiation for not fasting.
There is no disagreement among scholars in this matter, because a pregnant woman is considered a patient who fears for himself from death or worsening of the disease. However, if the woman is in good and stable health and does not fear for herself or her fetus from any potential harm, it is not permissible for her to break the fast.
This matter is determined by the specialist doctor. If the woman has already fasted but is very tired and cannot complete the fast, she can break the fast and there is no blame on her for doing so.
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How Does a Pregnant Woman Know If Fasting is Right for Her?
She can ask a specialist doctor about Fast during pregnancy in Islam to find out if it will negatively affect her or not. After that, she can try fasting for one day only and follow her health closely. She must inform the doctor immediately if she feels any annoying or abnormal symptoms.
When Should a Pregnant Woman Stop Fasting Immediately?
If a pregnant woman feels severe abdominal cramps, dizziness, frequent vomiting, or persistent nausea, or if she suffers from any chronic disease, she should avoid fasting completely so that her health does not deteriorate dangerously.
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The Best Foods for Pregnant Women to Eat During Ramadan
Fasting Ramadan during pregnancy may be a good option if the woman enjoys good health. It is preferable to eat large quantities of fresh fruits and vegetables such as bananas, apples, oranges, and strawberries rich in vitamins and minerals to compensate for the missing vitamins and nutrients that she loses during fasting.
She can also eat fish, eggs, red meat, poultry, and legumes such as peas and cowpeas rich in proteins, in addition to healthy carbohydrates such as brown bread, brown rice, and baked potatoes. She can diversify between these healthy foods to improve her appetite and be able to eat sufficient amounts of food.
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Preparation for Fasting During Ramadan in a Healthy Way
There are several important medical tips and guidelines that help in fasting during Ramadan during pregnancy without harming the health of the mother and the fetus, after consulting a specialist doctor to ensure that all health matters are in order. These tips include the following:
- It is preferable to eat a lot of healthy foods rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and essential minerals such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, and fatty fish rich in omega-3s.
- It is important to drink enough fluids and nutritious warm drinks during the night, such as water, natural juices, milk, and soups, to compensate her body for what it needs of fluids and essential nutrients, and avoid psychological stress, tension, and anxiety.
- Make sure to get enough sleep during the day and avoid carrying heavy things or exposure to direct sunlight for long periods so that this does not increase the amount of fluids lost from the body and make her more prone to dehydration and fatigue.
- Avoid being in places close to smokers or polluted places, because this greatly affects the health of the fetus and causes serious health problems, and go to periodic and regular follow-up sessions with the specialist doctor to ensure the stability of her health and the health of the fetus.
- Refrain from eating salty foods and foods that contain a high percentage of sodium so that you do not feel very thirsty during the day.
- It is also preferable not to eat too much sugar and fried foods with unhealthy hydrogenated oils.
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The Role of Vitamins and Supplements During Fasting for Pregnant Women
Vitamins and dietary supplements are one of the important and necessary things to maintain the health of the pregnant woman and the fetus, so that the fetus grows healthily and so that it does not suffer from any health problems after birth. Therefore, the specialist doctor may prescribe different types of medicines and dietary supplements for the mother, such as folic acid, iron, calcium, or vitamin D.
This matter varies depending on the months of pregnancy that the pregnant woman has reached. Fasting during Ramadan pregnant may increase the importance of these vitamins and dietary supplements, as the woman will need something to compensate her for the nutrients that she loses during fasting.
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FAQs
Is fasting beneficial for pregnant women?
Fasting Ramadan during pregnancy may be completely safe in some stable health cases, but in normal times when there is no fasting, fasting is never recommended for pregnant women, because the child needs a balanced and complete diet of nutrients to grow healthily.
How long can a pregnant woman go without eating?
This may depend on the health of the mother. Some believe that women can fast for 24 consecutive hours, but this may be accompanied by some serious complications and health problems. Others believe that women can fast for only 13 hours as a maximum.
What happens to the fetus when the mother fasts?
Fasting Ramadan during pregnancy may not negatively affect the mother and the fetus at all, and no health problems may occur at all, because the mother can set for herself a healthy and balanced nutritional routine after consulting a specialist doctor, to eat all the essential nutrients she needs during the night, starting from the time of Iftar after sunset until the time of Suhoor before the call to Fajr prayer, but it is stipulated that both of them are in good condition, because if the fetus is already weak, this may worsen if the mother fasts.
