Dar Al-Iftaa issued a fatwa which indicates that the fast of people suffering from Alzheimer disease who eat or drink while forgetting that they are fasting, is valid. They do not need to make up the fast or make expiation.

Dar Al-Iftaa explained in a fatwa that Alzheimer is a disease that affects the mind. An Alzheimer patient experiences many symptoms and goes through several stages starting with forgetfulness, diminished memory and finally a complete loss of memory. The fatwa added that the opinion chosen for fatwa is that an Alzheimer patient who eats or drinks absentmindedly during the fasting hours of Ramadan does not need to make up his fast or make expatiation and that his fast is valid.

The fatwa stated that since Islamic law does not deem the fast of a person in good health who eats or drinks absentmindedly invalid, then a fortiori the fast of a person who forgets. An Alzheimer’s patient who eats and drinks while forgetting that he is fasting during the fasting hours of Ramadan takes the same ruling as a person who forgets due to the numerous general previous accounts on this matter and because the type of forgetfulness mentioned therein is general.