Amjadi Darul Ifta

Fasting For One Who Is A Severe Diabetic Etc.

· 1 Ramadan 1443 AH2 min readFatwa Fatwa 10 (FATAAWA MAAH E RAMADAAN)English
LiteratureBooksFATAAWA MAAH E RAMADAAN

Question

What is the Shariah Ruling concerning a person suffering from severe illness, e.g. severe diabetes and he is unable to fast due to his condition becoming very weak and frail?

Question Posed By: Muhammad Amin Raza, Phoenix, Durban, South Africa

Answer

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. Should there be hope of a healthy recovery in the future, then Fidya (expiation) will not be enough. After recovery, it will be necessary for the person to make up the fasts that were missed. It is stated in Fataawa Hindiyah:

Translation: If the patient is afraid that his life will be lost or paralysis may set in, then in such circumstances the ruling is unanimous that he should break his fast. If there is fear that the disease will escalate or last for a long period of time, then according to us the same rule will apply. If the fast is broken, then he will have to thereafter compensate. This is written in the scholarly book known as Hidaaya. (Fataawa, Hindiyah, Volume I, Page 227 Book of Fasting)

If there is no hope of a healthy recovery and the disease is likely to persist, i.e. the disease is such that there is no future chance of recovery, then such a sick person will come under the Shari’ah law pertaining to what is known as Shaikh e Faani. That is, it would be right for him to pay compensation in lieu of his fast. Thus, the compensation value for one fast is equivalent to the amount fixed for one Sadaqatul Fitr. It is mentioned in Fataawa Hindiyah:

Translation: If one is not in the condition to fast, then he should not fast, but feed one poor person for every fast missed. This is evident from Hidaayah. (Fataawa Hindiyah, Volume 1, Page 228) It is important to take note that if he recovers after paying the compensation, the compensation will become void and it will become Sadqa e Naafila and he will have to compensate the missed fasts through fasting. Similarly, it is stated in Fataawa Hindiyah:

Translation: If he is able to fast after paying the compensation, then the ruling is that the compensation will become null and void and fasting will become obligatory on him. Identically, such has been written in Nihaaya. (Fataawa Hindiyah, Volume I, Page 228 - Book of Fasting).

Answered by
A Humble Servant of Sacred Knowledge At Amjadi Darul Ifta, Mohammad Quaiser Ali Razvi Misbahi, Imam of Masjid e Khalid, Unit 9, Chatsworth, Durban, South Africa
Approved by
The Grandson of Huzoor Sadrush Shariah, The Propagator of Maslak e Aala Hazrat, Khalifa Huzoor Taajush Shariah wa Huzoor Muhad’dith e Kabeer Hazrat Allama Mufti Faizanul Mustafa Qadri Misbahi Sahab Qiblah Ghosi Shareef India, Founder & Director Jamia Imam Azam Abu Hanifa and Tajushariah Online Islamic Institute (Int.) Lucknow, India | The Propagator of Maslak e Aala Hazrat, Khalifa Huzoor Taajush Shariah wa Muhad’dith e Kabeer Hazrat Allamah Mufti Muhammad Afthab Cassim Razvi Sahab Qiblah founder and Head of Imam Mustafa Raza Research Centre Overport Durban South Africa | The Propagator of Maslak e Aala Hazrat, Khalifa Huzoor Taajush Shariah Hazrat Allamah Mufti Zulfaqar Khan Naimi Kakralvi, Darul Ifta Madina Masjid, Mohalla Ali Khan, Kashipur, Utar-Khand, India | The Propagator of Maslak e Aala Hazrat, Hazrat Allama Mufti Mahboob Raza, Shar’ee Board of Nepal
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