Expiation for breaking fast due to illness

7-3-2004 | IslamWeb

Question:

Sickness prevented me from fasting Ramadan. How much money should pay in expiation for my fast in U.S. dollars and where do I pay it?

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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 is His slave and Messenger.

 

If the disease that inflicted you is chronical and incurable and you cannot fast as a result of that, then you are obliged to feed a poor person for every day of fasting you missed. You are obliged to give the expiation to the poor. The quantity you have to give to a poor person is 750 grams from rice, wheat, etc.

Also, you may call thirty poor persons together and feed them. However, the preponderant opinion of the scholars is that giving cash (Dollars) instead of feeding is not sufficient since Allaah clearly mentioned feeding the poor in the verse (which means): {…And upon those who are able [to fast, but with hardship]-a ransom [as substitute] of feeding a poor person [each day]. And whoever volunteers good [i.e. excess] - it is better for him. But to fast is best for you, if you only knew.}[Quran 2:184]

Ibn 'Abbaas said while interpreting the above verse: “It is the elderly man and elderly woman who are not able to fast. Instead, they must feed one poor person on a daily basis.” [Al-Bukhari] The patient who has an incurable disease is like them.

But the person who does not suffer from a chronic disease and may be cured, feeding a poor person is not sufficient from him; rather, he is obliged to make up the days he broke the fast whenever he becomes able to do so. Allaah Says (what means): {…but if any of you is ill or on a journey, the same number (should be made up) from other days….} [Quran 2:184]

Allaah Knows best.