Critical Conditions of the Fasting Person: Travel, Illness, Pregnancy, and Menstruation

All praise is due to Allah. Peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Final success belongs to the righteous. As-Salaamualaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakaatuh. Fasting in Ramadan is an obligation built on mercy and wisdom. Allah did not legislate it to break people, but to purify them. Because of this, the Sharia recognizes real hardship and gives lawful concessions. These rulings are not loopholes: They are acts of obedience when applied correctly. This article explains the critical conditions that affect fasting and the evidence behind each verdict. 1. Fasting While Traveling: Travel permits breaking the fast, even if the person is capable of fasting. Allah says: “Whoever is sick or on a journey, then an equal number of other days.” (Surah Al Baqarah 2:185) This is a clear text; the traveler is allowed to break the fast and make up the days later, and from the Sunnah, Hamzah ibn Amr asked the Prophet ﷺ about fasting while traveling. He said, “Fast if you wish, and break your fast if you wish.” (Sahih al Bukhari 1943, Sahih Muslim 1121) Key rulings: Breaking the fast during travel is permitted even if one can fast; fasting during travel is valid if there is no hardship, and if hardship appears, breaking the fast is better. The Prophet ﷺ saw a man exhausted from fasting during travel and said: “It is not righteousness to fast while traveling.” (Sahih al Bukhari 1946, Sahih Muslim 1115) The ruling follows hardship. 2. Fasting While Sick: If fasting worsens the sickness or delays recovery, breaking the fast is permitted, and making up the days later is required. Allah says: “Whoever is sick or on a journey, then an equal number of other days.” (Surah Al Baqarah 2:185) The condition is real harm or credible medical judgment, not discomfort alone.  Illness is of two types. Temporary illness. Chronic illness: (this is what the first paragraph contain) Chronic Illness: If a person cannot fast permanently and recovery is not expected, then fasting is lifted, and feeding one poor person per day is required if he/she's capable. This is based on the practice explained by Ibn Abbas regarding those unable to fast due to permanent weakness, reported by (Al-Bukhari in his Sahih 4505). No makeup fast is required when the ability is permanently absent.  3. Pregnancy and Breastfeeding: Pregnant and breastfeeding women fall under hardship when fasting harms the mother or child, and they are permitted to break the fast. From the Hadith narrated by Anas Bin Malik that Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: “Allah has lifted fasting from the traveler, and from the pregnant and breastfeeding woman.” (Sunan Abi Dawud 2408, At-Tirmidhi 715, An-Nasai 2274, graded authentic by many scholars). Though scholars differed on what is required after breaking the fast, the strongest, well-known positions among the Salaf-based scholars are: If she fears harm for herself, she breaks the fast and makes up the days. If she fears harm for the child, she breaks the fast and makes up the days. Some companions also held that feeding is added in this case. This is reported from Ibn Abbas and Ibn Umar. Because of the difference, the safer path is: Make up the days or feeding if financially able, when the break was purely for the child’s risk. 4. Menstruation and Postnatal Bleeding: A menstruating woman or a woman with postnatal bleeding is not allowed to fast; her fasting is invalid if she fasts in that state.  Evidence from the Hadith of Aisha رضي الله عنها: “We used to menstruate during the time of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and we were ordered to make up the fasts and not ordered to make up the prayers.” (Sahih al Bukhari 321, Sahih Muslim 335) Key rulings: Fasting during menstruation or postnatal bleeding is prohibited; those days must be made up later. Prayer is not made up. Fasting is made up. If bleeding stops before Fajr and she becomes pure, she fasts that day. If bleeding begins during the day, the fast is invalid for that day. A Principle of Mercy All these rulings return to one foundation. Allah says: “Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship.” (Surah Al Baqarah 2:185) Using the concession when its cause exists is submission, not weakness. Rejecting a concession out of self-burden is not piety.  Following revelation is piety. Pause and Reflect: Do you burden yourself where Allah gave ease Do you take concessions without a valid cause Do you learn the ruling before acting Worship is not built on emotion. It is built on evidence. In the next article, in shaa Allah, we will address the ruling of Qadaa (repay fasting and Fid’ya (feeding).  If you have any feedback, send us an email (T&Cs apply):   support@nurquest.com May Allah grant us understanding in the religion, acceptance in our fasting, and sincerity in all acts of worship.