The Law of Half-Day Fasting for Young Children, Pregnant Women, Breastfeeding Mothers, and the Sick
The law of half-day fasting for young children
What is the law of half-day fasting for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers? Is it only concerning the baby, concerning themselves, or both?
What is the law for sick people who break their fast in the middle of the day?
The law of half-day fasting due to heavy work
FAQ on half-day fasting: Can a breastfeeding mother fast for half a day? When sick, is it permissible to fast for half a day? If already of age, is it permissible to fast for half a day?
Many young children in Indonesia are starting to learn about worship by practicing half-day fasting or until the time of Dhuhr prayer arrives. This tradition is considered an effective early step in introducing physical endurance and discipline in worship to their children. However, the question arises as to how this rule applies from the perspective of Islamic law, especially for those who are already adults?
In Islamic Sharia, the term half-day fasting is not actually known as a valid form of worship. Fasting, by definition, is abstaining from things that invalidate it from dawn to sunset.
However, there are exemptions for certain people, such as pregnant or breastfeeding mothers and the sick. Want to know the complete explanation about the ruling, detikers? See more below!
The main points:
Half-day fasting is only permitted as a means of education for children who have not reached the age of puberty and have not been burdened with the obligations of Sharia.
Pregnant, breastfeeding, and sick people do not fast for half a day, but are allowed to break their fast completely for the safety of their lives.
For adults who break their fast due to illness, it is obligatory to make up for it by fasting on another day or paying fidya according to the provisions.
The Law of Half-Day Fasting for Young Children
Quoted from the book Fikih Keseharian by Hafidz Muftisany, in Sharia, children who have not reached the age of puberty are not actually required to perform the obligatory fast. This is stated in a hadith narrated by Aisyah RA:
رُفِعَ الْقَلَمُ عَنْ ثَلَاثَةٍ عَنِ الصَّبِيِّ حَتَّى يَحْتَلِمَ وَعَنِ النَّائِمِ حَتَّى يَسْتَيْقِظَ وَعَنِ الْمَجْنُونِ حَتَّى يُفِيقَ
Meaning: “The pen is lifted from three people: from a child until he reaches puberty, from a sleeping person until he wakes up, and from a mad person until he recovers.” (HR Ahmad, Abu Daud, Nasai, and Ibn Majah).
Because the ‘pen’ or record of obligations does not apply to them, then the half-day fast performed by children is not considered a valid fast in terms of Islamic law, but rather as a method of practice. Sheikh Yusuf Qaradhawi argues that even though it is not obligatory, children should start getting used to fasting from an early age.
Parents can refer to the guidelines for prayer education, where children start being invited to worship at the age of seven. Through half-day fasting, children learn to endure hunger gradually without any coercion or threats, so that they are ready to perform a full fast voluntarily when they are adults.
What is the Law of Half-Day Fasting for Pregnant and Breastfeeding Mothers?
For pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, Islam provides very humane exemptions. If they feel it is difficult to fast for a whole day, they can choose to break their fast for the safety of themselves, not by fasting for half a day.
Quoted from the book Rahasia Puasa Menurut 4 Mazhab by Dr. Thariq Muhammad Suwaidan, according to the agreement of the four schools of thought (Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi’i, and Hanbali), the law of breaking the fast can become obligatory if it actually threatens the safety of the mother or her baby.
Pregnant and breastfeeding mothers can also break their fast if they are concerned that the fast will trigger illness or worsen their health condition. However, this cancellation has legal consequences that must be fulfilled later:
Only Concerned About the Baby
If breaking the fast is only due to concern for the baby’s condition, the mother is obliged to make up for the fast on another day (qadha) and pay fidya according to the Shafi’i and Hanbali schools of thought.
Concerned About Themselves or Both
If the cancellation is due to concern for their own safety or both (mother and baby), then the mother is only obliged to make up for the fast without having to pay fidya (according to the Hanafi, Shafi’i, and Hanbali schools of thought).
This exemption also applies to women who are breastfeeding voluntarily or who are hired if there is indeed a danger that threatens. However, according to the Maliki and Hanbali schools of thought, if there is another woman who can replace the breastfeeding position and is suitable for the baby, then the first mother is not allowed to break her fast.
What is the Law for Sick People Who Break Their Fast in the Middle of the Day?
In addition to pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, another group that receives exemptions is sick people. If the illness they suffer from suddenly worsens or feels very painful during the day, Sharia allows them to break their fast for the sake of safety and recovery.
Here is an explanation of the provisions for sick people who are unable to continue fasting until sunset:
According to the explanation of KH Muhammad Habibillah in the book Kitab Terlengkap Panduan Ibadah Muslim Sehari-hari, for people who suffer from an illness with the expectation of recovery according to medical diagnosis or community custom, breaking the fast in the middle of the day is permitted. This condition applies if the fast will actually worsen the pain or hinder the healing process. This exemption is clearly stated by Allah SWT in the Quran through His word:
فَمَن كَانَ مِنكُم مَّرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ
Meaning: “…So whoever of you is sick or on a journey, then he shall fast an equal number of days later.” (QS. Al-Baqarah: 184).
Through this verse, people who are sick while fasting are allowed to break their fast and are not considered sinful. As