Most-asked question
Who is excused from fasting because of illness or old age?
46 fatawa in the archive answer questions on this, from 6 South African Darul Iftas (AskImam, Mufti Online, Ibn Masood, MUBZ, Amjadi, Camperdown). Below, each Darul Ifta’s answer is quoted word for word from the opening of one of its fatawa.
Based on the fatawa linked below. Please read the sources and double-check with a Darul Ifta for your situation.
Consult a mufti for your situation. Fatawa SA is a read-only archive and issues no rulings of its own.
What the Darul Iftas say
“If it becomes very difficult for a person to fast due to severe illness for example severe diabetes, that is, the probability of death is inevitable, or if there is a real fear that the disease will progress or the recovery period will be prolonged, then it will be permissible for such a patient not to fast in Ramadaan.”
“Fasting in Ramaḍān is a Divine and merciful obligation on every person who is able to do so. The principal ruling is, that if, a competent Muslim doctor advises one not to fast or if one genuinely fears, due to previous experience, that one will become sick by fasting or one’s sickness will be aggravated by fasting, then such a …”
“In principle, if a person is unable to fast due to a chronic illness, he will be excused from fasting. If the person is expected to recover from such an illness, then it will be necessary to perform Qadhaa for each missed fast. However, if there is no hope of recovery, then the Fidyah must be paid for every missed fast.”
“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 have to keep Qadha fast for each missed fast in the future when one is able to do so.”
Quotes are the opening words of each answer as published; the full answer, its conditions and references are on the fatwa page. Answers depend on the exact details of each question.
Read the fatawa
- CF-Related Diabetes and Fasting MUBZ · 17 Jun 2026
- Fasting for a Chronically ill Person Camperdown · 19 Feb 2026
- Chronic Illness And Fasting Ibn Masood · 18 Feb 2026
- Chronic medication and fasting AskImam · 3 Mar 2025
- Fasting For One Who Is A Severe Diabetic Etc. Amjadi · 2 Apr 2022
- Being unable to give fidyah for not fasting due to illness Mufti Online · 30 Apr 2014
- Not Fasting in Ramaḍān Due to Illness MUBZ · 17 Jun 2026
- Taking Sublingual Medication While Fasting Ibn Masood · 17 Jul 2024
- Elderly person intending to perform Sunnah I’tikaaf without fasting AskImam · 15 Apr 2023
- Trying to fast in Ramadhaan despite one's ill-health Mufti Online · 22 Feb 2025
- Entering medication through the back passage whilst fasting Ibn Masood · 4 Apr 2022
- My mother is unable to fast due to illness. Is there any way to compensate by giving some sadaqa or zakat? AskImam · 3 Apr 2023
- Being unable to fast during Ramadhaan due to illness Mufti Online · 17 Jun 2019
- I broke my fast due to severe illness - How many Qadha do i keep? AskImam · 1 May 2021
- Breaking one's fast due to illness Mufti Online · 17 Jul 2018
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