10. I’m SICK.

by Asma bint Shameem

Should I make up the fasts or just pay fidyah?

Fasting in the month of Ramadhaan is is fardh on every adult, sane Muslim.

However, if someone is too weak or too sick to fast in Ramadhaan, they’re allowed NOT to fast.

If someone is sick, there are two scenarios:

1. The sickness is TEMPORARY and it is EXPECTED that will get BETTER in a few days.
Some examples: fever, flu, diarrhea, toothache, etc

For such people who are sick TEMPORARILY and are expected to get BETTER in a few days, paying the fidyah and feeding a poor person is NOT AN OPTION.

Rather they should MAKE UP the days that they missed, once they get well.

That’s because Allaah says:
“and whoever is ill or on a journey, the same number [of days which one did not observe Sawm (fasts) must be made up] from other days”(Surah al-Baqarah :185)

2. The sickness is PERMANENT and it doesn’t seem likely that they will recover.
Some examples: diabetes, cancer, kidney disease, people on dialysis, etc

For such people whose sickness is PERMANENT and ONGOING and they’re NOT expected to get better, they don’t have to make up the days later:
rather, they should pay the fidyah and feed one poor person for each day they miss of fasting

The fidyah should be in the form of FOOD according to the majority of the ulama.

Shaikh ibn Baaz said:

“If specialist doctors determine that this sickness of yours is one for which there is no hope of a cure, then you must feed one poor person for every day of Ramadhaan, and you do not have to fast.

The measure of that (food to be given) is half a saa’ of the local staple food, whether it is dates, rice or something else.

If you invite a poor person for a meal, lunch or dinner, that is sufficient.

But if the doctor determines that there is hope for recovery from your sickness, then you do not have to feed a poor person, rather you have to MAKE UP the MISSED FASTS when Allaah grants you healing from that disease.”
[Fataawa al-Shaykh Ibn Baaz (15/221)]

So it depends on the KIND of sickness that’s preventing you from fasting.

If you’re not fasting because of a sickness that you’re expecting to get over soon In shaa’ Allaah, then you have to make the fasts up, once you’re well and healthy.

And paying the fidyah will NOT BE VALID in this case.

But if you’re sick and are not expecting to get over the sickness then you should feed one poor person half a saa’ of the staple food where you live.

That is equivalent to about one and half kilo.

You may also give MONEY to an individual or organization who will FEED on your behalf and buy FOOD with that money.

A small group of ulama allow giving the fidyah as money IF money is of more BENEFIT to the poor person.

That comes to about $10/- in the US and Canada.

And Allaah knows best.