Ruling on Fasting for a Woman Suffering from Brain Hemorrhage or Heart Attack
Source: Fatāwā Arkān al-Islām
What is the ruling for a woman suffering from brain hemorrhage or a heart attack, if doctors have advised her not to fast?
All praise is due to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. To proceed:
Allah the Almighty says:
﴿شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِي أُنزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ هُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَاتٍ مِّنَ الْهُدَىٰ وَالْفُرْقَانِ ۚ فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ ۖ وَمَن كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ...﴾
(Surah al-Baqarah: 185)
"The month of Ramadan is the one in which the Qur'an was revealed—a guidance for mankind, with clear proofs of guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong). So whoever among you witnesses the month, let him fast it. But whoever is ill or on a journey, then (let him fast) an equal number of other days. Allah intends ease for you and does not intend hardship for you..."
If the illness is of a type from which recovery is not expected, then the person is obligated to feed one poor person for each missed day of fasting.
The method of feeding can be as follows:
◈ Distribute cooked rice as food to the needy
◈ Preferably, include meat or curry with the rice
◈ Alternatively, invite the poor and serve them a full meal either at lunch or dinner
This ruling applies to patients who are chronically ill with no hope of recovery.
As for the woman described in the question—who is suffering from a brain hemorrhage or heart attack and advised by doctors not to fast—
she falls under the category of patients for whom recovery is unlikely.
Hence, it is obligatory for her to feed one poor person for each missed day of fasting.
🖋 This is what I hold, and Allah knows best what is correct.
Source: Fatāwā Arkān al-Islām
Question
What is the ruling for a woman suffering from brain hemorrhage or a heart attack, if doctors have advised her not to fast?
Answer
All praise is due to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. To proceed:
Allah the Almighty says:
﴿شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِي أُنزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ هُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَاتٍ مِّنَ الْهُدَىٰ وَالْفُرْقَانِ ۚ فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ ۖ وَمَن كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ...﴾
(Surah al-Baqarah: 185)
"The month of Ramadan is the one in which the Qur'an was revealed—a guidance for mankind, with clear proofs of guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong). So whoever among you witnesses the month, let him fast it. But whoever is ill or on a journey, then (let him fast) an equal number of other days. Allah intends ease for you and does not intend hardship for you..."
Ruling for the Sick Person
If the illness is of a type from which recovery is not expected, then the person is obligated to feed one poor person for each missed day of fasting.
The method of feeding can be as follows:
◈ Distribute cooked rice as food to the needy
◈ Preferably, include meat or curry with the rice
◈ Alternatively, invite the poor and serve them a full meal either at lunch or dinner
This ruling applies to patients who are chronically ill with no hope of recovery.
Application to the Present Case
As for the woman described in the question—who is suffering from a brain hemorrhage or heart attack and advised by doctors not to fast—
she falls under the category of patients for whom recovery is unlikely.
Hence, it is obligatory for her to feed one poor person for each missed day of fasting.
🖋 This is what I hold, and Allah knows best what is correct.
