Frequently asked questions on Fasting in Ramadan
A general point about illness and fasting: chapter 2, verse
184 of the Qur’an makes it explicitly clear that people
who have an illness or medical condition of any kind that
makes fasting injurious to their health are exempt from
fasting. To compensate for the missed fasts, they must
fast later when they are healthy; if this is not possible due
to long-term illness, they must feed the poor. The latter
form of compensation is known as
fidyah
Q1 Should a person with diabetes fast?
People who have their diabetes under control, either
by diet or using tablets, may fast. However, their GP
may require them to make changes to their medication
in order to help them take tablets outside the times of
fasting. Those who need insulin to control their diabetes
are advised not to fast.
Q2 I get severe migraines when I skip meals and
they get worse when I fast. Should I fast at all?
Those with uncontrolled migraines are advised not
to fast. However, adequate control of migraines
is possible for most people with medication and
alterations to lifestyle, and hence such avenues
should be exhausted prior to deciding not to fast.
Please see your GP for further advice on better
control of your migraines.
Q3 Should a person with high or low blood
pressure fast?
Those with well-controlled high blood pressure may
fast with lifestyle alterations and/or medication.
Their GP may require a change to their medication
in order to help them take tablets outside the times
of fasting.
A person with so-called ‘low blood pressure’ who is
otherwise well and healthy may fast. An adequate
intake of fluid and salts in the diet is advised.
Q4 Is fasting harmful when a woman is
expecting a baby?
Is it compulsory to fast while
pregnant?
It is not compulsory to fast while pregnant, but the
woman will either need to make up those fasts
later or, if unable to do this, should perform
fidyah
*.
There is some medical evidence to show that
fasting in pregnancy is not advisable. If a pregnant
woman feels strong and healthy enough to fast,
especially during the early part of the pregnancy,
she may do so. If she does not feel well enough to
fast, Islamic law gives her clear permission not to
fast, and to make up the missed fasts later.
Q5 Is Ramadan a good time to quit smoking?
Yes. Smoking is wasteful and seriously injurious to
health. Allah has entrusted us with a healthy body,
and it is a violation to knowingly and willingly harm
it. Ramadan provides a great opportunity to amend
many bad habits, and smoking is very definitely one
of them.
Q6 From what age can children fast safely?
Children are required to fast from the age of
puberty, and this is not harmful. Fasting prior to
this age is tolerated differently depending on the
children’s general health, nutrition and attitude.
Fasting prior to the age of seven or eight years is
not advisable, although it is a good idea to make
young children aware of the practice of fasting in the
community around them, and to give them a ‘taste’
of fasting, eg for a few hours at a time. It is narrated
that the companions would distract young children
with toys if they were hungry near the time of
iftar
,
so that they would become accustomed to joining
the rest of the community in eating at sunset,
rather than eating just before sunset, during
Ramadan. (Sahih al-Bukhari)
Q7 Can I use an asthma puffer during
Ramadan?
Muslim jurists differ on this issue. Some leading
jurists argue that using an asthma inhaler is not
classified as eating or drinking, and is therefore
permissible during fasting. Others argue that
because the inhaler provides small amounts of
liquid medicine to the lungs, it breaks the fast.
Perhaps the former view is stronger, since the
inhaler assists with breathing and helps the
person to fast, which means abstaining from
food and drink.
According to the first view, asthmatics may fast
and use their inhalers whenever required during
fasting.
According to the second view, asthmatics with poor
control of their disease are advised not to fast until
good control is achieved. Others may alter their
inhalers to those of a longer-acting variety so that
fasting may be feasible. Please see your GP for
further advice.
Q8 Can I swim during fasting?
Yes, but do not drink the water. Having a bath or
shower or swimming has no effect on the fast.
Clearly, no water should be swallowed during any
of these activities, for that would break the fast.
Q9 Can a person fast if they are getting a blood
transfusion in hospital?
No. A person receiving a blood transfusion is
advised not to fast on medical grounds. They
may fast on the days when no transfusions
are required.
Q10 I am on regular medication. Can I still fast?
If such medication needs to be taken during
the time of fasting, you should not fast. If this
medication is required as treatment for a short
illness, you can compensate for missed fasts by
fasting on other days when you are well.
If medication is required on a long-term basis as
part of an ongoing illness or condition such as high
blood pressure or diabetes, then you may discuss
with your GP whether to change your medication
to a long- or short-acting variety as appropriate, to
enable you to take it outside the time of the fast.
If your disease is unstable or poorly controlled,
you are advised not to fast.Those who are unable to compensate later for
missed fasts, due to the long-term use of medication,
are advised to do
fidyah
*.
Q11 Does a breastfeeding woman have to fast?
No. Islamic law exempts a breastfeeding
mother from fasting. Missed fasts will need to
be compensated for by fasting or
fidyah
* once
breastfeeding has ceased.
Q12 Can a Muslim patient take tablets, injections,
inhalers or patches while fasting?
Taking tablets invalidates the fast. However,
injections, inhalers, patches, ear and eye drops, etc
that are not comparable to food and drink do not
break the fast, although it is advisable to avoid these
if possible due to the difference of opinion among
Muslim jurists on these issues.
Islamic law exempts the sick from fasting. Please
see the answer to Q10 for further details.
Q13 Could dehydration become so severe that
one has to break the fast?
Yes. Harmful levels of water loss could occur if the
person was poorly hydrated before commencing the
fast, and/or could be made worse by activities during
the day and weather conditions. If one produces very
little or no urine, feels disorientated and confused, or
faints due to dehydration, the fast should be broken
in order to rehydrate oneself.
Islam does not require that you harm yourself in
fulfilling the fast. If a fast is broken, it will need to be
compensated for by fasting at a later date.
Q14 Can I fast while I have dialysis?
Peritoneal dialysis requires the daily usage of
fluid bags in the abdomen, and such patients are
advised not to fast (please refer to
fidyah
* below).
Haemodialysis is performed about three times a
week, and results in significant shifts of fluids and
salts within the body. Such patients are also advised
not to fast (please refer to
fidyah
* below).
*
Fidyah
: a method of compensation in Islam for
a missed act of worship that must be otherwise
fulfilled. If you are unable to fulfil a missed fast, for
example due to an ongoing illness, you should feed
a hungry person (two meals per day) if you are able
to. Please consult an Islamic scholar for further
details
*Fidyah: a method of compensation in Islam for a missed act of worship that must be otherwise fulfilled. If you are unable to fulfil a missed fast, for example due to an ongoing illness, you should feed a hungry person (two meals per day) if you are able to. Please consult an Islamic scholar for further details
