This excerpt is taken from the book of Fadhilat al-Shaykh Mubashir Ahmad Rabbani, may Allah have mercy on him, Ahkam and Masail of Ramadan.
I cannot fast due to the illness of epilepsy :.
Question :.
I suffer from epilepsy, which prevents me from fasting during Ramadan. I have to take medication three times a day. I fasted for two days but could not complete it. I am retired and receive only 83 dinars monthly as a pension. I also have a wife, and apart from the pension, I have no other source of income. In these circumstances, what is the ruling of Sharia regarding me if I cannot feed thirty poor people during Ramadan? What amount do I need to pay?
Fatwa :.
Regarding the illness you mentioned, it is hoped that one day, Insha Allah, you will recover. You should wait until you are healed, then you can fast. As Allah Almighty has stated:
وَمَن كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَى سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِنْ آيَامٍ أُخَرَ
Reference: (البقرہ : 185)
"And whoever is ill or on a journey, then a number of other days (should be completed)."
However, if this illness is permanent with no hope of recovery, then it is necessary for you to feed a poor person for each day of fasting missed, and it is permissible to prepare one meal for the poor either at noon or in the evening and invite the same number of poor people as the days of Ramadan you missed, thus fulfilling your obligation. I do not believe that anyone lacks the ability to do this by the grace of Allah, and if you do not have the capacity to feed that many people at once in a month, you can feed some of them this month and others in subsequent months as you are able.
