Questions about fasting for sick people

Question: Can a sick person fast?

Answer: If fasting would worsen a person’s illness or delay their recovery, it is permissible not to fast [1]. If a person’s condition becomes severe—such as experiencing intense pain or high fever—while fasting, they are allowed to break their fast. Similarly, if a patient is bedridden and unable to stand for prayer, they may also break their fast [2]. In such cases, one should rely on experience or the advice of a qualified doctor. After recovery, the missed fasts must be made up. Allah says in the Qur’an:

فَمَنْ كَانَ مِنْكُمْ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَى سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ

“But if any of you is ill or on a journey, the same number (should be made up) from other days.” [3]

However, not every illness justifies breaking the fast in Ramadan. In some cases, fasting may even be beneficial for the illness, as scientific studies have shown that fasting can help with certain medical conditions [4].

Question: Is it allowed for elderly people or those with chronic illness to not fast?

Answer: Elderly people who cannot fast at any other time of the year, and those with chronic (lifelong) illnesses, are permitted not to fast [5]. They are not required to make up the missed fasts. Instead, they must provide food (equivalent to two meals—breakfast and dinner) to a poor person for each missed day, as is done for expiation [6]. Allah says:

وَعَلَى الَّذِينَ يُطِيقُونَهُ فِدْيَةٌ طَعَامُ مِسْكِينٍۖ

“But those who can only fast with difficulty (such as the elderly or chronically ill) should feed a poor person (two meals or its equivalent in money) for each day.” [7]

Ibn Abbas explained this as referring to elderly men and women who are unable to fast [8].

Fidya is the amount of food (on average, two full meals) that would satisfy a person for a day [9]. The fidya can be calculated according to the amount given for zakat al-fitr. It may be given at the beginning or end of Ramadan [10].

The fidya for several days can be given to one person or divided among several people. This charity should be distributed to the poor, large low-income families, or people with disabilities in need. If someone cannot afford to pay fidya, they are excused from it and should seek Allah’s forgiveness [11].

If a sick person later recovers from their chronic illness or regains strength, the excuse is no longer valid and the fidya previously given is no longer sufficient [12]. In this case, they must make up the missed fasts, as fidya is only allowed if the person’s weakness or illness continues until death [13].

Question: What should a person with diabetes do if they cannot fast?

Answer: Illness is one of the valid reasons for not fasting. Imam Nasafi wrote in “Kanz al-Daqa’iq”: “If there is fear that the illness will worsen, it is permitted to break the fast” [14].

However, illnesses are divided into two categories:

1. First: Temporary illnesses. In this case, it is allowed to break the fast, but the missed days must be made up after recovery. Allah says in Surah al-Baqarah, verse 184: “But if any of you is ill or on a journey, the same number (should be made up) from other days.”

2. Second: Chronic illnesses that make fasting impossible. In this case, the person does not fast but gives fidya for each missed day. Allah says in the continuation of the above verse: “But those who can only fast with difficulty (such as the elderly or chronically ill) should feed a poor person for each day.”

From the book “Fatwas on Ramadan Fasting”

• [1] “Radd al-Muhtar”, 3/403-404.

• [2] “Al-Fatawa al-Tatarkhaniyya fi al-Fiqh al-Hanafi”, 2/114.

• [3] Surah al-Baqarah, verse 184.

• [4] Abdulhamid Mahmoud Tuhmaz, “al-Fiqh al-Hanafi fi Thawbihi al-Jadid”, 1/437.

• [5] “Radd al-Muhtar”, 3/410. Abdulhamid Mahmoud Tuhmaz, “al-Fiqh al-Hanafi fi Thawbihi al-Jadid”, 1/442.

• [6] “Al-Hidaya Sharh Bidayat al-Mubtadi’ ma’a Sharh al-Allama Abdulhai al-Laknawi”, 2/270. “Radd al-Muhtar”, 3/410.

• [7] Surah al-Baqarah, verse 184.

• [8] al-Tahanawi, “I’la’ al-Sunan”, 6/2891. Bukhari, No. 4505.

• [9] “Fatawa al-Tatarkhaniyya”, 2/117.

• [10] “Radd al-Muhtar”, 2/427. “Al-Bahr al-Ra’iq Sharh Kanz al-Daqa’iq”, 2/308.

• [11] Abdulhamid Mahmoud Tuhmaz, “al-Fiqh al-Hanafi fi Thawbihi al-Jadid”, 1/442-443.

• [12] “Al-Fatawa al-Hindiyya”, 1/227.

• [13] “Al-Hidaya Sharh Bidayat al-Mubtadi’ ma’a Sharh al-Allama Abdulhai al-Laknawi”, 2/270. “Radd al-Muhtar”, 3/410.

• [14] “Kanz al-Daqa’iq”, p. 28.