“O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may guard (against evil). For a certain number of days; but whoever among you is sick or on a journey, then (he shall fast) a (like) number of other days; and those who are not able to do it may effect a redemption by feeding a poor man; so whoever does good spontaneously it is better for him; and that you fast is better for you if you know.” Al Baqarah (02:183-184).
Allah has called upon His believing servants to attain the highest ranks by performing the duty of fasting. Fasting is a religious obligation that has been imposed on all believers. It is an act of high significance that all previous prophets and messengers were committed to. Fasting ought not to be regarded as an act that complicated one’s life, but as one that safeguard believers from fire as it is narrated that the Messenger of Allah (p.) said: “Observe fasting, as it would safeguard you from Hellfire”.
In addition, fasting grants people an abode in heaven, for he (p.) said: “There is a gate to Paradise called 'Ar-Rayyan' that only those who fasted will pass through it, and once the last [one] has passed through the gate, it will be locked". Allah, the Most Exalted, promised to reward those who observe the duty of fasting with endless resources as narrated in His sacred saying: “All the work of a son of Adam belongs to himself, except fasting; it is for Me only, and only I will give its reward”.
Allah, the Most Exalted, has decreed the fasting days to be few in number, and exempted the traveler, the sick, and those who would be severely exhausted and weakened by fasting from this duty.
As for the last category, those who would be severely exhausted and become extremely feeble upon fasting, Allah has ordained a certain act of compensation (Fidya) for Allah says: “And those who are not able to do it may affect redemption by feeding a poor man”. Al Baqarah (02: 184)
According to “Islamic Rulings” by His Eminence, Sayyed Fadlullah (ra) this “Fidyah” is obligatory in the following cases:
a) Elderly people and the excessively thirsty people who did not fast because it is difficult for them ,and not because it is impossible or harmful to them.
b) The pregnant woman who is at the end of her pregnancy and near to giving birth and the breastfeeding woman who has little milk if fasting may be harmful to the embryo or the baby being breastfed.
c) Whoever has delayed the qada’ of the previous month of Ramadan until the following Ramadan arrives, whether out of disobedience inability, or if this is due to the continuation of illness which prevented him from fasting the previous Ramadan, even if he was able to fast then he fell ill or travelled and this continued until the following Ramadan arrived, as an obligatory precaution.
d) If the illness that prevented fasting and its qada’ lasted for years, the Fidyah is obligatory at the end of every year in which the person could not fast for Ramadan or carry out the qada’ for that, even if this continues all his life. However, if he delayed the qada’ of one Ramadan for several years, only one Fidyah is obligatory and that is at the end of the first year when he delayed the qada’ until the second.
e) The amount of Fidyah for one day is three quarters of a kilogram for feeding one poor individual; however, one and a half kilos is better.
f) If the pregnant woman who is at the end of her pregnancy and near to giving birth or the breastfeeding woman did not fast out of fear or harm to the newborn and delayed the qada’ until the following Ramadan arrived, she must pay two Fidyahs: one because she did not fast, fearing for her child, and the second for delaying the qada’.
“O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may guard (against evil). For a certain number of days; but whoever among you is sick or on a journey, then (he shall fast) a (like) number of other days; and those who are not able to do it may effect a redemption by feeding a poor man; so whoever does good spontaneously it is better for him; and that you fast is better for you if you know.” Al Baqarah (02:183-184).
Allah has called upon His believing servants to attain the highest ranks by performing the duty of fasting. Fasting is a religious obligation that has been imposed on all believers. It is an act of high significance that all previous prophets and messengers were committed to. Fasting ought not to be regarded as an act that complicated one’s life, but as one that safeguard believers from fire as it is narrated that the Messenger of Allah (p.) said: “Observe fasting, as it would safeguard you from Hellfire”.
In addition, fasting grants people an abode in heaven, for he (p.) said: “There is a gate to Paradise called 'Ar-Rayyan' that only those who fasted will pass through it, and once the last [one] has passed through the gate, it will be locked". Allah, the Most Exalted, promised to reward those who observe the duty of fasting with endless resources as narrated in His sacred saying: “All the work of a son of Adam belongs to himself, except fasting; it is for Me only, and only I will give its reward”.
Allah, the Most Exalted, has decreed the fasting days to be few in number, and exempted the traveler, the sick, and those who would be severely exhausted and weakened by fasting from this duty.
As for the last category, those who would be severely exhausted and become extremely feeble upon fasting, Allah has ordained a certain act of compensation (Fidya) for Allah says: “And those who are not able to do it may affect redemption by feeding a poor man”. Al Baqarah (02: 184)
According to “Islamic Rulings” by His Eminence, Sayyed Fadlullah (ra) this “Fidyah” is obligatory in the following cases:
a) Elderly people and the excessively thirsty people who did not fast because it is difficult for them ,and not because it is impossible or harmful to them.
b) The pregnant woman who is at the end of her pregnancy and near to giving birth and the breastfeeding woman who has little milk if fasting may be harmful to the embryo or the baby being breastfed.
c) Whoever has delayed the qada’ of the previous month of Ramadan until the following Ramadan arrives, whether out of disobedience inability, or if this is due to the continuation of illness which prevented him from fasting the previous Ramadan, even if he was able to fast then he fell ill or travelled and this continued until the following Ramadan arrived, as an obligatory precaution.
d) If the illness that prevented fasting and its qada’ lasted for years, the Fidyah is obligatory at the end of every year in which the person could not fast for Ramadan or carry out the qada’ for that, even if this continues all his life. However, if he delayed the qada’ of one Ramadan for several years, only one Fidyah is obligatory and that is at the end of the first year when he delayed the qada’ until the second.
e) The amount of Fidyah for one day is three quarters of a kilogram for feeding one poor individual; however, one and a half kilos is better.
f) If the pregnant woman who is at the end of her pregnancy and near to giving birth or the breastfeeding woman did not fast out of fear or harm to the newborn and delayed the qada’ until the following Ramadan arrived, she must pay two Fidyahs: one because she did not fast, fearing for her child, and the second for delaying the qada’.