Pregnancy, Fasting and Fidya

Q: I am 3 months pregnant. I cannot fast because I am weak due to the fact that I cannot eat a lot. Can I give Fidyah?

A: If you have been advised by a Muslim gynaecologist or doctor that fasting will endanger your life or the life of your baby, then you may leave out the fasts. You will then have to observe the aadhaa of these fasts when you are clean after the pregnancy.

Fidyah is only for those who leave out the fast because of a sickness, and do not have hope of ever recovering from that sickness. In fact, even if such a person who had no hope of recovery paid the Fidyah and thereafter recovered, he or she will have to observe qadhaa of the missed fasts. Fidyah is also for those who due to old age cannot observe the fast.