Fasting during pregnancy can pose health risks to both the mother and the unborn child. If medical professionals (such as a midwife or doctor) advise against fasting to ensure the baby’s growth and health, Islam permits the mother to break the fast. In this situation, questions often arise regarding how to offer compensation (Fidyah) and whether other acts of worship, like Tarawih, remain applicable

Here are the guidelines based on Islamic rulings regarding your specific questions.

1. Rules for Paying Fidyah (Compensation)

When a pregnant woman misses fasting due to fear for her baby’s health, she may be required to feed a poor person for each day missed (depending on the specific school of thought followed). Regarding the logistics of this payment:

  • Recipients: It is permissible to give the compensation to one person or to distribute it among several people. There is no requirement to find a different person for each day.
  • Lump Sum Payment: It is fully permissible to calculate the total cost for the entire month (30 days) and provide it as a lump sum of money or food.
  • Eligibility: The most important condition is that the recipient must be needy and lacking basic necessities like food.
  • Location: While it is often preferred to help those locally, if you cannot find needy individuals in your current location (e.g., the UK), it is permissible to send the money to needy people overseas.

2. Participating in Tarawih Prayers

Missing the fast does not mean one is excluded from the spiritual blessings of Ramadan.

  • Recommended Worship:Tarawih prayers are a recommended Sunnah, independent of the act of fasting. You are strongly encouraged to participate in Tarawih and other acts of worship (such as reading the Quran and making Dhikr) as much as you are physically able.
  • Physical Limits: As you are in the later stages of pregnancy, you should perform these prayers according to your physical capacity. Islam emphasizes ease; you may pray sitting down if standing is difficult, or pray fewer units (Rak’ahs) as your energy allows.