Cravings (Al-Waḥam) In Pregnant Women: Jurisprudential Rulings And Observed Etiquettes (In Consideration Of Natural Dispositions, Preservation Of The Family Environment, And In Pursuit Of Psychological And Medical Treatment)

Abstract

A large number of pregnant women experience behavioral disturbances during pregnancy, the most well-known of which is al-waḥam (cravings), wherein the pregnant woman’s mood may change, and she may mistreat her husband. In some cases, this gestational cravings (waḥam) leads to divorce and the disintegration of the family. A pregnant woman experiencing waḥam may crave certain types of fruits and foods that a poor husband may be unable to afford. She may also exhibit unusual behaviors, such as eating clay, soil, or sand. All of these effects require jurisprudential and behavioral regulation.

The research aimed to achieve several objectives, the most important of which are:

1. Providing Islamic legal answers to the questions of husbands and wives regarding the symptoms and effects of gestational cravings (waḥam).
2. Collecting various scattered rulings and regulations related to this topic in one place.
3. Demonstrating the ability of Islamic Sharia to provide appropriate solutions for emerging issues in people's lives.

This study concluded with a number of findings and recommendations, which were presented at the end of the paper.