Question:
A woman suffered from a psychological illness, including fever and nervous disorder, due to which she did not fast for approximately four years. In such a situation, is she required to make up (qada) for the missed fasts, or is she exempt? What is the ruling regarding her case?
Answer:
If she was unable to fast due to her illness, then she is required to make up for the missed fasts once she regains the ability to do so. Allah Almighty says in the Qur’an:
وَمَنْ كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ وَلِتُكْمِلُوا الْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُوا اللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَاكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
"And whoever is ill or on a journey, then the same number (of days) from other days (should be made up later). Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship, and He wants you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that to which He has guided you, and perhaps you will be grateful."
(Surah Al-Baqarah: 185)
However, if medical reports confirm that her illness is chronic and there is no hope of recovery, and she remains permanently incapable of fasting, then she is not required to make up for the missed fasts. Instead, she should feed one needy person for each missed fast, giving half a sa' (approximately 1.5 kg) of wheat, dates, rice, or any staple food that her family normally consumes.
Her ruling is similar to that of an elderly man or woman who is unable to fast due to weakness or severe difficulty.
— Permanent Committee for Islamic Research and Ifta (اللجنۃ الدائمۃ)
