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Fatwa CenterRuling on fasting for a woman who cannot bear hunger and thirst
Question
My wife has a sickness in her stomach. She throws up blood. Last year, her doctor advised her not to fast because she would not have been able to stand hunger and thirst. My question is whether or not my wife is required to fast this year.
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.
If your wife is still suffering the sickness because of which the doctor asked her to refrain from fasting last year and the doctor is trustworthy and expert in their profession, then your wife must not fast. Allaah Almighty says (what means): {So whoever among you is ill or on a journey [during them]—then an equal number of days [are to be made up].} [Quran 2: 184] Allaah also says (what means): {... and (He) has not placed upon you in the religion any difficulty.} [Quran 22: 78] Allaah also says (what means): {And We charge no soul except [with that within] its capacity.} [Quran 23: 62]
That being said, if your wife's sickness is curable, then she is required to make up for the days of fasting that she is going to miss this Ramadan after she gets well. Allaah says (what means): {... then an equal number of other days.} [Quran 2: 185] If your wife's sickness is incurable—may Allaah add her suffering to her record of good deeds—then she should feed a poor person for each day of fasting that she misses.
Allaah Knows best.
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