by Asma bint Shameem
ANSWER
If it is DIFFICULT for someone to fast, because of old age or disease etc or other valid shar’ee reasons, then they should NOT fast.
In fact, it may be Makrooh (disliked) or even haraam for someone to fast if fasting is harmful for them.
Allaah has given the sick, and elderly permission to give fidyah instead of fasting if the person would be affected by fasting and if fasting is harmful for them in some way.
🍃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”[al-Baqarah 2:185]
So for example, if someone suffers from diabetes or kidney disease or other debilitating diseases, that would get worse by fasting, then it is BETTER that they should NOT fast.
They should take the concession given by Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala and NOT be “stubborn” about it.
Similarly, if someone is elderly, and they get really weak by fasting, then they don’t have to force themselves to fast; rather, it is permissible for them to not fast and give Fidyah instead.
And no, they will NOT be sinful for that.
Our Deen is EASY Alhamdulillaah.
Allaah is not “mean”, A’oodhu Billaah that He would “force” someone to do something that’s harmful to them or make them do something that’s beyond their capacity.
🍃 Allaah says:
“Allaah does not burden any soul with more than it can bear.”
(al-Baqarah 2:286)
🍃 Ibn Qudaamah said:
“The kind of sickness in which it is permitted to break the fast is intense sickness which will be made worse by fasting or it is feared that recovery will be delayed.
It was said to Imaam Ahmad:
“When can the sick person break his fast?”
He said:
“When he unable to fast.”
It was said:
“Such as a fever?”
He said:
“What sickness is worse than fever?”
(al-Mughni 4/403)
So if a person will be harmed by fasting, it is recommended and better for him NOT to fast.
📌Proof:
🍃 The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Allaah loves His concessions to be accepted just as He hates for acts of disobedience to be committed.”
(Ahmad 5832; saheeh by al-Albaani in Irwa’ al-Ghaleel, 564)
🍃 And Aa’ishah radhi Allaahu anhaa said:
“The Messenger of Allaah
ﷺ was never given the choice between two things but he would choose the easier of them, unless it was a sin.
If it was a sin he would be the furthest away from it.”
(al-Bukhaari 6786, Muslim 2327)
🍃 Imaam al-Nawawi said:
“This shows that it is RECOMMENDED to choose the easier and gentler option, so long as it is not haraam or makrooh.
Rather it is MAKROOH for one who is sick to fast if fasting is too difficult for him.
His fasting may be HARAAM if there is the fear that he may be harmed because of fasting.”
🍃 Shaikh Ibn Uthaymeen said:
“Sickness is of various kinds:
1. That which does not affect the fast, such as a light cold or mild headache or toothache, and the like.
In this case it is not permissible to break the fast, even though some of the scholars permitted that.
But we say that this ruling is based on a reason, which is that not fasting is easier.
If that is the case, then we would say that not fasting is better, but if fasting does not have an effect on him then it is not permissible to break the fast, and he has to fast.
2. If fasting is difficult for the sick person, but it does not harm him, then it is makrooh for him to fast and it is Sunnah for him to break his fast.
3. If fasting is difficult for him and will cause him harm, such as a man who has kidney disease or diabetes and similar cases where fasting will cause harm.
In this case fasting is haraam.
Hence we may see that some mujtahids and sick people make a mistake when fasting is difficult for them and may harm them, but they refuse to break their fast.
We say that they are mistaken because they refuse to accept the kindness of Allaah and the concession that He has given to them, and they are harming themselves, although Allaah says:
“And do not kill yourselves”[al-Nisa’ 4:29]”
(al-Sharh al-Mumti’, vol. 6, 352-254)
And Allaah knows best
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