Question:
During the month of Ramadan, I was pregnant and did not fast due to my condition. Later, I made up for the missed fasts over a period of two months, fasting one day at a time, but I did not give any charity (fidya). Is there anything due upon me, or was my action correct?
Answer:
If a pregnant woman fears harm for herself or her unborn child due to fasting, she is allowed to refrain from fasting. Later, she is only required to make up (qada) for the missed fasts, and no fidya (charity) is necessary. Her ruling is similar to that of a sick person who is unable to fast or fears harm due to fasting.
Allah Almighty says in the Qur’an:
وَمَنْ كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ
"And whoever is ill or on a journey, then the same number (of days) from other days (should be made up later)."
(Surah Al-Baqarah: 185)
Thus, your action of making up the fasts without giving fidya was correct.
— Permanent Committee for Islamic Research and Ifta (اللجنۃ الدائمۃ)
