Chapter: The ruling for one who breaks the fast because of advanced age or illness

Allah, Exalted is He, has imposed the fast of Ramadan on the Muslims—immediate performance (adaʾ) for those without excuses, and making it up (qadaʾ) for those who have an excuse yet are able to fast on other days. There is, however, a third category that can neither fast during the month nor make it up later: the very elderly and the chronically ill for whom recovery is not expected. For this group Allah has granted relief, requiring them, in place of fasting, to feed one needy person for every day—half a saʿ of staple food.

Allah says, “Allah does not burden a soul beyond its capacity” (Q 2:286). He also says, “And upon those who can fast only with hardship is a ransom: feeding a needy person” (Q 2:184). Ibn ʿAbbās (may Allah be pleased with them) commented, “This verse concerns the elderly person who is unable to fast,” a report recorded by al-Bukhārī.

The chronically ill person whose recovery is deemed unlikely falls under the same ruling as the elderly: he must feed one needy person for each day he does not fast.