What is the obligation of one who broke her fast due to the excuse of pregnancy or breastfeeding?

Question:
We return to the message of one of our sister listeners from the United Arab Emirates. She says: Umm Mujahid, our sister, we presented some of her questions in a previous episode, and in this episode she has a question that took up only one page. Our sister says: When I was pregnant with my first child, which was nine years ago, I asked one of the brothers who calls to the methodology of the Salaf what I should do, as the month of Ramadan had entered and I could not fast due to the circumstances of pregnancy. He answered me that I did not have to fast, citing the hadith: , and also that there was no compensation. So I stopped fasting whenever I was pregnant or breastfeeding, for a period of four years—that is, until my fourth child. After that, I heard from one of the brothers that those like us owe only the compensation, citing the report that Ibn 'Abbas saw a woman who was his slave and was breastfeeding, and he said to her: "You are among those who are able to fast, so you owe the compensation and you do not owe making up the fast." So I took an amount of money to feed people as compensation for the four months I owed from Ramadan. But, O honorable Shaykh, I heard in the program (Nur 'ala al-Darb) from one of the distinguished scholars that those like us owe making up the fast, and if the making up is delayed, it is accompanied by expiation. So what should I do, O honorable Shaykh, as Ramadan is at the door, if Allah grants us life, and my due dates for delivery are days before it, and the fifth month will be a debt on me? My question is: What is the authenticity of the hadith and report mentioned by the brothers? And if I die before making up the one hundred and fifty days that I owe, will I be sinful for that? I ask for guidance so that my heart may be at peace. May Allah reward you with good. Then, I set aside an amount of money with the intention of feeding people, and one of the brothers in Allah, a traveler, passed by and spent all the money he had, so I gave it to him with the intention of expiation for breaking the fast. Is my action valid? Or should I feed people? Please guide us. May Allah reward you with good.

Answer:
The correct view in this matter is that the pregnant woman and the nursing woman owe making up the fast. What is reported from Ibn 'Abbas and Ibn 'Umar that the pregnant woman and the nursing woman owe feeding people is the weaker position, contrary to the evidence of the Shari'ah. Allah the Exalted says: [al-Baqarah: 185]. The pregnant woman and the nursing woman are in the ruling of the sick person, and they are not in the ruling of the old man who is unable to fast. Rather, they are in the ruling of the sick person; so they make up the fast if they are able to do so, even if the making up is delayed. And if the making up is delayed with a valid Shari'ah excuse, there is no feeding, only making up the fast. However, if she is lax and does not make up the fast while having the ability, she owes feeding people in addition to making up the fast. If another Ramadan comes and she has not made up the fast out of laxity and laziness, she owes making up the fast along with feeding people. But if the delay is due to breastfeeding or pregnancy, not out of laziness, she owes only making up the fast, and no feeding. What she has spent on feeding is in the path of Allah, and she has its reward, and it serves its purpose if she was lax in making up the fast; it serves its purpose, and you owe making up the fast. You fast according to your capacity, and you are not required to do so consecutively. You fast and break the fast until you complete it, if Allah wills. Allah is the helper of the servant and the one who makes things easy for him if the servant is sincere, and he is sincere to Allah and seeks His help, Mighty and Majestic. So Allah will help you and make the making up of the fast easy for you. So be glad with good, seek help from Allah, and be sincere. And Allah, Mighty and Majestic, is the one who grants success and guidance . Yes.

The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.