I am a young man who suffers from an illness which I have had for a number of years. I use medicine that I cannot do without, even during the day in Ramadaan, because if I stop taking my medication I would be in a lot of pain and would be putting my health at risk. Is there a sin upon me in doing so and what do you advise me to do?
The questioner did not mention the type of medicine that he uses, if it is in the form of injections then this does not harm or break his fast.
If however it is something you eat or drink, and the illness that you suffer from is always with you, and you do not believe you will be cured, in such a case you take the ruling of the old person who is unable to fast, you are obligated to feed a poor person for every day missed and fasting is not an obligation in your case due to the saying of Allaah the Elevated:
{
So keep your duty to Allaah and fear Him as much as you can} [At Taghaabun: 16]
Ibn ‘Abbaas may Allaah be pleased with him, stated concerning Allaah’s statement:
{
And as for those who can fast with difficulty, (e.g. an old man), they have (a choice either to fast or) to feed a Miskeen (needy person) (for every day). } [Al Baqarah: 184]
He said: He is the Shaykh (i.e old man), If he is unable to fast, he is to feed a poor person for every day missed.
He is to feed the amount of one Saa’ for every five people, and likewise until the end of the month and Allaah is the Granter of success.
