Permission to Break the Fast for the Sick

Question

If a person suffers from episodes (of a mixed nature), and his condition is such that he cannot recover without medication; and during prayer his state is sometimes such that instead of four rak'ahs he performs five, and instead of two prostrations he makes three or four; and during the fast of Ramadan his condition is even worse, to the point of impaired consciousness and reason — what should he do regarding the fasts of Ramadan? He is completely unable to fast.

Answer

If a person is unable to fast due to illness, and there is fear that fasting will worsen the illness, then the Shariah permits him to refrain from fasting in the blessed Ramadan and to make it up (qada) after recovery. If he dies while still ill, without having recovered, then neither qada nor fidyah is obligatory upon him.

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