Hazardous effects on health due to ...

Egypt's Dar Al-Ifta

Hazardous effects on health due to fasting, what should I do?

Question

I am a British Muslim women, 44 years old and have been fasting Ramadan since 1991. In 1992 I was diagnosed with Systemic Lupus Erthymatosis. Lupus is an auto immune disease which is a hereditary illness triggered primarily by stress both emotional stress or physical strain on the body. It has been suggested to me that the fasting could be putting a strain on my body but I take my obligation seriously and have always fasted. Could you guide me on what I should do for next year?

Answer

Answer
Fasting is one of the obligations of Islam that Allah based on ability. If a Muslim is unable to fast, it is permissible for him to refrain from it based on the legal dispensation. Rather, it is obligatory to refrain from fasting if specialized physicians advised that fasting will harm the patient's health. If a Muslim is temporarily ill, he must make up the days on which he broke his fast upon regaining his health. If he suffers a chronic disease where there is no hope to recover, he does not have to make up the missed days. Rather, in this case he must compensate for it by feeding a poor person for each day he missed according to his financial ability. It is permissible to pay the value of the meal in cash. If this person is poor or his income hardly suffices him and his dependents, he is not to compensate for refraining from fasting.
May Allah grant you speedy recovery.
 

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