Fatwa #262645 September 2013United States of America
Does sickness exempt one from fasting?
Question
I have been trying to fast for the past few days, and everyday I get very sick...vommiting headache weakness etc. even after it is ime to break fast, I am unable to eat anything. I also have to take care of my child, I was wondering if its permissible for me to be excused from fasting and if so, what do I have to do to compensate my missed fasts.
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykumwa-rahmatullāhiwa-barakātuh.
In principle, if one fears that one will become sick by fasting or one’s sickness will be aggravated by fasting, then such a person is excused from fasting. However, such a person will be obligated to keep one Qadha fast for each missed fast.[1]
You state that you experience vomiting, headaches, weakness, etc while fasting; therefore you are exempted from fasting. You should compensate for the missed fasts as soon as possible by keeping one Qadha fast for every missed fast.
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Mufti Ismail Desai,
Darul Iftaa
Durban, South Africa
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
1او مريض خاف الزيادة أو ابطاء البرء او فساد عضو بحر او وجع العين او جرا حة او صداع او غيره (رد المحتار، ص 422، ج 2)
و صحيح خاف المرض (تنوير، ص 422، ج 2)
و المرض الذي يبيح الفطر ما يخاف منه الموت او زيادة علة (الفتاوي التاتارخانية، ص 222، ج 1)
لمن خاف زيادة المرض الفطر (كنز الدقائق، ص 281، ج 2)
و الصحيح الذي يخشي ان يمرض بالصوم فهو كالمريض (بحر الرائق، ص 281، ج 2)