Fatwa ID: 09262
Answered by Maulana Iqtidar Ahmed
Question:
Assalamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu,
If a person fasts, he develops severe headaches during the day (this is something he knows from experience).
Will he be excused from fasting?
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
He should know for sure, and investigate what is the issue. If it is simply not drinking enough water or eating properly outside the fasting hours then they must address that first. He should take medical advice from a doctor to figure out what the issue is. If the issue is confirmed by a trustworthy doctor etc. to be such that not breaking the fast will worsen their condition, then it is a valid excuse. If this is urgent then in the meantime they can break the fast based on previous real experience which they are fairly sure of until they sort it out [1].
They would need to make them up (Qada) if it the excuse is temporary [2]. If the issue is long term then they would need to give fidya [3].
Only Allah ﷻ knows best.
Written by Maulana Iqtidar Ahmed
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
References:
[1]
Ibn Abidin, Radd Al-Muhtar Ala Ad-Durr Al-Mukhtar, vol 2, p.421, Kitab As-Sawm (Dar Al-Kutub Al-Ilmiya).
خافت الضعف بغلبة الظن بأمارة أو تجربة أو بأخبار طبيب حاذق مسلم
[2]
Ibn Abidin, Radd Al-Muhtar Ala Ad-Durr Al-Mukhtar, vol 2, p.421, Kitab As-Sawm (Dar Al-Kutub Al-Ilmiya).
الفطر يوم العذر إلا السفر كما سيجيء وقضوا لزوما ما قدروا بلا فدية
[3]
Al-Quran 2:184
وَعَلَى الَّذِينَ يُطِيقُونَهُ فِدْيَةٌ طَعَامُ مِسْكِينٍ