There are still many Muslims who misunderstand the meaning of paying fidyah. They think that if they have paid the fidyah, then the Ramadan fasting debt has been paid off. In fact, this ruling is only justified for people who are unlikely to pay the fasting debt (qada) in the future. For example, the elderly or the terminally ill who are dependent on medication. Meanwhile, pregnant and/or breastfeeding women or sick people who can still recover, still have the obligation to make up their fasts at a later time instead of paying fidyah alone.
So, who are the categories of people who can pay the fidyah only without having to make up the fast? Are pregnant and/or breastfeeding women excluded? Or are they actually obliged to pay fidyah and make up their fast at a later date? Check out the explanation below, Friends!
People Who May Pay Fidyah Only, Not Required to Qada Puasa
Basically, Islam is a religion of rahmatan lil ‘alamin and love. One of the forms of love in Islam is that Allah does not burden His servants beyond their abilities. This includes the obligation to fast in the month of Ramadan.
Older people who are physically weak and unable to fast are not required to fast. Instead, they are required to pay fidyah to the poor for the number of days of fasting that they missed. And, they are not required to make up the fast. This is because the older a person gets, the more physically weak he becomes.
This is based on the words of Allah Swt in surah Al-Baqarah:
“…and it is obligatory for those who find it difficult to observe it (if they do not fast) to pay a fidyah, (namely): feeding a poor person.”
(QS. al-Baqarah: 184)
Apart from the elderly, the group of people who may pay the fidyah alone without having to make up the fast in the future are the sick. Sick people here are those who do not have the potential or difficult to recover. For example, someone who has a critical illness and is dependent on medication. They are allowed to pay the fidyah only, because they may not have the opportunity to make up the fast in the future.
Ruling on Pregnant and/or Breastfeeding Women Paying Fidyah
The scholars differed on the ruling on pregnant and/or breastfeeding women: either they should pay the fidyah only, or they should make up the fasts only, or they should do both. The following are the opinions of the four madhhabs regarding this matter:
Maliki school
The Maliki school of thought is of the view that pregnant and/or breastfeeding women who fear for themselves, or fear for their children, or fear for both, may not fast. However, the pregnant and/or breastfeeding woman must make up her fasts outside of Ramadan.
According to the Maliki school of thought, pregnant women are not obliged to pay the fidyah, but must make up the fast. Meanwhile, breastfeeding women must pay the fidyah and make up the fast.
Hanafi school
The Hanafi school is of the opinion that pregnant and/or breastfeeding women who are worried about their own condition, or the condition of their child, or the condition of both, are allowed not to fast. Consequently, the pregnant and/or breastfeeding woman is obliged to make up the fasts outside the month of Ramadan, and she is not obliged to pay the fidyah.
Hambali School
This madhhab is of the view that a pregnant and/or breastfeeding woman who fears for her own well-being, the well-being of her child, or the well-being of both of them, may not fast in Ramadan. Consequently, a pregnant and/or breastfeeding woman who fears for herself, or fears for both herself and her child, must make up the fast, but she does not have to offer a fidyah. On the other hand, for a pregnant and/or breastfeeding woman who fears for her child only, she must make up the fast and pay the fidyah.
Shafi’i school of thought
The Shafi’i school of thought is that pregnant and/or breastfeeding women who fear for themselves, their children, or both, may not fast in Ramadan. The consequence for a pregnant and/or breastfeeding woman who fears for her own condition, or the condition of herself and her child, is that she must make up the number of days that she missed. As for the pregnant and/or breastfeeding woman who fears for her own well-being, or for that of both her and her child, she is obliged to make up the fast and pay the fidyah for the number of days that she missed.
Based on the opinions of the four madhhabs, all of them agree that if a pregnant and/or breastfeeding woman fears that there will be harm if she fasts, and the harm is more directed at herself, such as fear of illness, then it is permissible not to fast, but she is obliged to make up the fast. However, if the fear is directed at the child, then it is permissible for her not to fast, but she must make up the fast and pay the fidyah.
The majority of scholars regarding the payment of fidyah by pregnant and breastfeeding women
According to the majority of scholars, pregnant and/or breastfeeding women are obliged to pay fidyah and make up the fast, if they do not fast because they fear for the condition or safety of their children only. However, if they fear for their own safety, or the safety of both themselves and their children, then they may not fast and only have to make up the fasts.
Opinion that Pregnant Women Should Pay Fidyah Only
The great Muslim scholar and intellectual Yusuf al-Qardhawi is of the opinion that it is permissible for pregnant and/or breastfeeding women to pay the fidyah only without having to make up the fast on another day if they do not fast in Ramadan. This ruling applies to women who are pregnant and/or breastfeeding who may not have the opportunity to make up the fast. For example, a woman goes through a period of pregnancy, then breastfeeds, and this cycle repeats itself (after becoming pregnant and giving birth, she becomes pregnant again shortly afterwards).
This is what is required of a pregnant and/or breastfeeding woman if she does not have the opportunity to make up her fasts on another day. If they are burdened with making up the fasts, it will be difficult because they will have to fast for several consecutive years after the pregnancy and breastfeeding period is over.
Conclusion
In general, the scholars took the ruling on pregnant and/or breastfeeding women to be similar to that of the sick and those who are unable to fast. They are allowed not to fast, because it has the potential to cause harm to themselves and their children. This is certainly prohibited by religion, because Islam will not burden Muslims.
However, some scholars also took the ruling that pregnant and breastfeeding women may not fast to be similar to those who are unable to fast. If this is the case, pregnant and breastfeeding women may only pay the fidyah without making up the fast. As Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning)
“And it is obligatory for those who find it difficult to observe it (if they do not fast) to pay a fidyah, (namely): feeding a poor person.”
(QS. al-Baqarah: 185)
Wallahu a’lam bishawab… By learning the provisions of paying fidyah and making up fasts for pregnant and breastfeeding women above, you can adjust it to the conditions that are being experienced. May Allah bless us and guide us to do the right thing. Don’t forget, pay your fidyah through Dompet Dhuafa!
