What if I am unable to fast during Ramadahan due to illness?

19 Aug 2020 -

What if I am unable to fast during Ramadahan due to illness? Question: Salamu aleikum Imam, I am having difficulty keeping the food down as 2 years ago I have a stomach surgery which removed most of it. Usually on non fasting days during the year I eat several meals to keep myself healthy and in good strength. During this Ramadan i find it really difficult to get through the day (as this is the first ramadan after the surgery, I wanted to make an effort to complete the whole month this year) . When Iftar comes I eat 1 date followed by veg and fish or a light dish. Unfortunately I find myself vomiting back all of the iftar and try to drink as much as I can and eat 1 piece of bread before going to sleep. I tried as well waking up for suhur to eat fruit but when I go back to sleep I feel like the food is repeating on me. The next day I am really really weak. I did fast so far as I tried to “endure” it. Yesterday though after the iftar and vomiting I was so weak that I could not get up from the couch and when I tried to stand up I felt like I was about to faint. My question to you is the following: Is it permitted to skip fasting when I feel this way and give fidyah? I am so disappointed in myself as I should be enjoying this month and please Allah but I am find this really hard. Thank you for your help and counselling in advance Imam. May Allah bless you and protect you. Answer: In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh. May Allah protect you and grant you a swift and complete recovery. You may opt not to fast in such conditions but cover up for them later in the year or during winter months when the fasts are shorter. If you not able to fast at all in the year, and have no hope of making up these fasts in the future either, you you may give fidya in place of fasting. [1] And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best Concurred by: Hanif Patel Mu‘adh Chati Asmar Akram Approved by: Mufti Siraj Sitponi Falahi