Answer: This is a question that has been asked in many different ways. Some people asked about elderly individuals who are not necessarily sick but find fasting extremely difficult. Others asked about specific illnesses such as type 1 diabetes. There were also questions about conditions like sihr (magic) and waswasa (whisperings from Shaytan). To address all these concerns, we have combined them into a single discussion on who is exempt from fasting.
To understand this issue, we will first look at statements from scholars regarding the limits of illness as an excuse for breaking the fast, and then we will summarize the matter in a simple way.
Ibn Qudāmah, in Al-Mughnī, said:
وَالْمَرَضُ الْمُبِيحُ لِلْفِطَرُ هُوَ الشَّدِيدُ أَلَّذِي يَزِيدُ بِالصَّوْمِ أَوْ يُخْشَى تَبَاطُ أُبْرِئِهِ
The sickness that permits a person to break their fast is one that is severe (shadīd), meaning that fasting will either make it worse or significantly delay recovery. This shows that not every illness is an excuse for breaking the fast.
Imam Ahmad was asked about fever, and he included it among the illnesses that permit breaking the fast. So we see that some illnesses allow it, while others do not.
Ibn Qudāmah also mentioned another category:
وَالصَّحِيحُ الَّذِي يُخْشَى أَلْمَرَضُ بِالصِّيَامِ كَالْمَرِيضِ أَلَّذِي يَخَافُوا زِيَادَتَهُ فِي إِبَاحَةِ الْفِطْرِ
This refers to a healthy person who fears that fasting will make them sick. If this fear is genuine and based on medical reasoning—such as someone with diabetes who knows that fasting could lead to complications—then they are treated the same as a sick person who fears that fasting will worsen their condition.
Imam al-Nawawi, in Al-Majmūʿ, stated that a person who is temporarily sick and expects to recover does not have to fast. However, for fasting to be excused, there must be clear hardship and harm. A mild illness is not a valid reason to break the fast. He said:
وَأَمَّا الْمَرَضُ الْيَسِيرُ الَّذِي لَا يَلْحَقُ بِهِ مَشَقَّةٌ ظَاهِرَةٌ لَمْ يَجُزْ لَهُ الْفِطْرُ بِلَا خِلَافٍ عِندَنَا
A minor illness that does not cause significant hardship does not permit breaking the fast, and there is no disagreement among the scholars on this.
Shaykh Ibn ʿUthaymīn gave examples of mild illnesses that do not allow a person to break their fast. These include having a cold, a mild headache, or slight tooth pain. Such minor ailments do not significantly impact fasting, and a person is not permitted to break their fast because of them.
From all this, we can divide sickness into two categories:
- Minor illnesses – such as a mild headache, a slight cold, or feeling a little unwell. These do not permit breaking the fast.
- Severe illnesses – where fasting worsens the condition, delays recovery, or causes extreme hardship. These permit breaking the fast.
Allah says:
يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ بِكُمُ ٱلْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ ٱلْعُسْرَ
"Allah intends ease for you, and He does not intend hardship for you." (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:185)
If a person faces extreme harm, hospitalization, or serious health risks, they should not fast. On the other hand, those with minor discomfort should not break their fast.
There are three main situations where a person is excused from fasting:
- An illness that will significantly worsen due to fasting or delay recovery.
- An illness that causes great hardship for the person while fasting.
- A real and justified fear of becoming sick—not just an assumption, but a medically valid reason to believe that fasting will lead to serious illness.
While it is not always required for a person to get a doctor's opinion, many scholars recommend consulting a doctor, especially if one is unsure whether their illness justifies breaking the fast. However, if consulting a non-Muslim doctor, it is important to phrase the question carefully. Many (non-Muslim) doctors may not fully understand the religious importance of fasting and might advise against it unnecessarily. Instead of asking whether one should fast, it is better to ask:
- "Will fasting cause me serious harm?"
- "Will my condition significantly worsen if I fast?"
- "Is there a way to adjust my medication so that I can fast safely?"
If the doctor confirms that fasting will cause significant harm, then the person is excused from fasting.
Regarding waswasa (whisperings from Shaytan) and sihr (magic), these cases require extra caution. A person suffering from these conditions should not make the decision to break their fast on their own, as Shaytan may influence them to abandon fasting unnecessarily. Instead, they should consult a knowledgeable person or a raqi (someone who performs ruqyah). In many cases, fasting is actually beneficial for someone affected by waswasa or sihr, as it weakens the influence of Shaytan.
For those with chronic illnesses, such as type 1 diabetes, where fasting is not possible and there is no expectation of recovery, they are not required to make up missed fasts. Instead, they must give fidya (feeding a poor person) for each day missed. Scholars have estimated this as approximately 1.5 kg of food per missed fast.
A question may arise: What if someone initially believed they could never fast due to a chronic illness, but later found a treatment that allowed them to fast? In this case, the strongest scholarly opinion is that they do not have to make up previous fasts, as they were excused at the time. The fidya they paid is sufficient. However, from the moment they become able to fast again, they must do so.
In summary, a person is exempt from fasting if:
- Fasting will significantly worsen their illness or delay recovery.
- Fasting will cause them severe hardship.
- They have a genuine medical reason to believe that fasting will make them seriously ill.
Those suffering from sihr or waswasa should not decide on their own but should seek guidance from a person of knowledge. Those with chronic illnesses that prevent fasting must give fidya instead of making up the fasts.
We hope this answers the question regarding when a person is excused from fasting due to illness.
And Allah knows best.
— Answered by Ustadh Muhammad Tim Humble
