Question Summary:
1. Is it true that a breastfeeding lady does not have to catch up the fardh rozas that she missed during the time she was breastfeeding?… 2. are insects halaal? I ask this in respect of shellac (E904) which is found in some sweets

Question Detail:

I have two questions:
 1. Is it true that a breastfeeding lady does not have to catch up the fardh rozas that she missed during the time she was breastfeeding?
 2. are insects halaal? I ask this in respect of shellac (E904) which is found in some sweets and chocolates. I have recently heard that Cadbury whispers, anytimes and tumbles are not halaal because they contain this ingrediant.

Answer :

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Assalaamu `alaykum waRahmatullahi Wabarakatuh
 
A nursing (breastfeeding) mother will be exempted from Fasting if she fears any danger to herself or the child. However she will have to make up for the fasts missed.
ومنها حبل المرأة وإرضاعها الحامل والمرضع إذا خافتا على أنفسهما أو ولدهما أفطرتا وقضتا ولا كفارة عليهما كذا في الخلاصة
(الفتاوى الهندية، كتاب الصوم، باب فى الأعذار التى تبيح الإفطار، ومنها حبل المرأة وإرضاعها، العلمية، ج1، 228 )
(فتاوي رحيمية، كتاب الصوم، باب ما يتعلق بما يبيح الافطار، دار الإشاعة، ج7، ص270)
In regards to the topic of Shellac please refer to Fatwa number 18147 reproduced below.
 
And Allah knows best
Wassalaamu `alaykum
Ml. Mohammed Moola,
Student Darul Iftaa
Checked and Approved by:
Mufti Ebrahim Desai
Darul Iftaa, Madrassah In'aamiyyah
 
Fatwa number 18147
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Assalaamu `alaykum waRahmatullahi Wabarakatuh
 
In principle, it is not Halaal to consume any insect or any part of it. Shellac is the secretion of the female lac bug. This secretion will be regarded as Halaal based on the analogy on the honey produced by a bee. However, during the process of manufacturing it into a glazing agent for sweets, chocolates etc, if there are traces/particles of this bug in any item (sweets, chocolates, etc), it will not be permissible to consume such items.
فما لا دم له مثل الجراد والزنبور والذباب والعنكبوت والخنفساء والعقرب والببغاء ونحوها لا يحل أكله إلا الجراد خاصة وكذلك ما ليس له دم سائل مثل الحية والوزغ وسام أبرص وجميع الحشرات وهو أم الأرض من الفأر والجراد والقنافذ والضب واليربوع وابن عرس ونحوها الفتاوى الهندية - (ج 5 / ص 289(
And Allah knows best
Wassalaamu `alaykum
Ml. Rayhaan Docrat,
Student Darul Iftaa
Checked and Approved by:
Mufti Ebrahim Desai
Darul Iftaa, Madrassah In'aamiyyah