Kamelia Basir-Rodriguez tried to join other Muslims in last year's
fasting from food and drinking from dawn to sunset during the
Ramadan. Her doctor simply advice her to stop when contractions and
blackouts came into play.
The 34 year old former soldier, who is now breastfeeding her
nine-month-old daughter, contemplated whether she should go through
this year's fasting which was held on Wednesday (Aug.11) or skip it
altogether. Fasting would dehydrate her and would definitely dry up
her milk supply much needed by her baby.
She sought the imam's advice and looked for information online.
She found out that most scholars agree that pregnant and nursing
women are exempted by Islam from fasting. They can make up for it and
perform it on a later date. Her actual concern was the other Muslim
women who may criticize her as being soft.
"There are some sisters who will look down upon other sisters
who don't fast," said Basir-Rodriguez, of Springfield, Va.
"Finally, my husband cleared it up. He said, 'God gives you the
exemption as a mercy, it would be rude not to accept.'"
Basir-Rodriguez is not the only one who has this kind of struggle,
reconciling piety and being a nursing mother. A considerable number
of women would rather fast than take the exemption. Some say they
would like to fast as a part of a community rather than doing it on a
later date, alone.
Muslim women like Pamela Taylor, a progressive Muslim activist in
Cincinnati who skipped the fast while pregnant and nursing her three
children, now 20, 16, and 11. She said you'll feel left out when you
are not fasting.
This kind of concern is not for Muslim women alone, similar
debates are also present in Judaism. Judaism has four major fast days
and pregnant and nursing women are exempted from fasting on three of
the four fasting days. Yom Kippur, allows only women in childbirth
and experiencing post-childbirth bleeding from fasting.
Fasting is a serious health issue for both mothers and babies.
Recent medical research found that breast milk supplies essential
antibodies for an infants immune system, as well as the needed
vitamins and nutrients. Most mothers are required to breastfeed their
newborns for at least six months. Even the Quran advises women that
they should nurse for two years.
There are some medical studies that have found fasting having
minimal effect on fetal development and milk production. Others have
identified fasting to reduced fetal breathing, induced labor, and
dehydration. Physicians say breastfeeding mothers should look at the
baby's age, health, and the dependency of the baby's diet on breast
milk
Some medical studies have found that fasting has minimal impact on
fetal development and milk supply, but others have linked fasting to
reduced fetal breathing, induced labor and dehydration. Doctors say
nursing mothers should consider the baby's age, health, and how much
of the baby's diet is reliant on breast milk.
A family physician and spokeswoman for the Muslim Woman's League
in Los Angeles, Laila Al-Marayati, explained that pregnant and
nursing women can have their caloric requirements during "iftar,"
the Ramadan sunset meal that breaks the fast, and "suhur,"the
pre-dawn breakfast most Muslims take for them to have energy to
survive the fast.
According to Al-Marayati iftar and suhur, on the other hand, can't
make up for fluids, which is essential for pregnant and nursing
mothers. She dissuades pregnant women from fasting since Muslim
fasting is a complete fast that forbids even the drinking of water.
This would put them at risk for kidney infections, (premature) birth,
and other complications.
The exemption is based on several hadith, or saying of the Prophet
Muhammad, according to scholars. There is also a verse in the Quran
that allows the sick not to fast.
Interpretations differ, though. The most lenient view allows
pregnant or nursing women to discontinue fasting if they feel they
are already harming themselves and the babies. To some, not accepting
"a mercy" exemption from Allah would be a sin. The most
common opinion is women can decide and choose according to their
situations.
A lot of Muslim women sneak behind their husbands back and still
decide to fast even if their significant others asked them to stop
fasting.
Opinions of pregnant and nursing women varies. Some accepts the
exemption for the sake of their health and their babies, others still
continue to fast and take the risk due to sheer fear, wanted to be
blessed, or don't want to be left out and would rather fast with the
community.