Fatwa ID:05089

Answered by: Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Question

My question is related to the fast, as the month of Ramadan is approaching and I want to fast regularly but I’m suffering from a health problem. I’m suffering from colitis due to which I’m having per rectal bleeding for few months I’m under medication but there is not any improvement as fasting causes constipation and that may increase bleeding so I’m not of the consequences as I haven’t fasted in this condition before I want to fast in this month of Ramadan please let me know whether I can fast in this condition or no reply as soon as possible

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer

Allah (SWA) in the Holy Qur’an has said “…should anyone of you be sick or on a journey, then a number from other days (i.e. do qadha on another day) (Surah Baqarah v.184)

Allah (SWA) has given the concession to a sick person and to a traveler in the matter of fasting. The word sick here refers to a person who cannot fast without an unbearable hardship or has strong apprehension that his illness will be aggrieved by fasting. (Maariful Qur’an p.455 v.1)

However, it should be borne in mind that the aforementioned concession does not apply for headaches or fevers unless the individual has had some past experience that by having headaches he would get so ill that there is unbearable hardship or his illness increases. Generally, this is not the case for such illnesses.

With regards to your question, if you feel that your illness may be aggravated by fasting it will be permissible for you not to fast. (Fatawa Darul Uloom Deoband p.474 v.6) You should try and do qadha of them at another time during the year, maybe during the shorter days.  If this is not possible then you are considered incapable of fasting and thus it will be permissible for you to forgo your fasts and pay fidyah instead.  (Maraqi Falah p.453)

The fidyah for each fast is similar to how much one gives for sadaqah fitr.  This is to give 1.6 kg of wheat or 3.2 kg of barley or the equivalent of the above in cash (£3 – £4).  (Raddul Muhtar p.532 v.2)

It must be remembered if the patient somehow becomes capable of fasting again, all the missed fasts will have to be made up again, even if you have already paid fidyah for them.  (Fatawa Hindiyyah p.207 v.1)

Only Allah Knows Best

Written by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham