:salam2:
We ask Allaah, the Lord of the mighty Throne, to heal you.
You have to refer to a trustworthy doctor. If the sickness from which you are suffering is one from which there is the hope of recovery, then after you recover you have to make up the fasts that you missed during this Ramadaan and the previous Ramadaan, because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“and whoever is ill or on a journey, the same number [of days which one did not observe Sawm (fasts) must be made up] from other days”
[al-Baqarah 2:185]
But if the sickness is permanent and there is no hope of recovery, then you have to feed one poor person for each day that you did not fast in this Ramadaan and in the previous one, because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“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 (poor person) (for every day)”
[al-Baqarah 2:184]
Ibn ‘Abbaas said: This refers to the old man or old woman who cannot fast, so for each day they should feed one poor person. This was narrated by al-Bukhaari, 4505. The sick person who has no hope of recovery comes under the same ruling as the elderly.
Ibn Qudaamah said in al-Mughni, 4/396:
The sick person who has no hope of recovery should not fast, and for each day he should feed one poor person, because he is like one who is elderly.
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said in Majaalis Ramadaan, p. 32:
The one who is permanently unable to fast and has no hope of recovery – such as the elderly and those who are incurably sick, such as those who have cancer etc. – do not have to fast because they are unable to. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“So keep your duty to Allaah and fear Him as much as you can”
[al-Taghaabun 64:16]
“Allaah burdens not a person beyond his scope”
[al-Baqarah 2:286]
But instead of fasting he has to feed one poor person for each day.
The Muslim lands are full of poor and needy people who cannot find enough to feed them and their families. There is no state that is without its poor, even if they are hard to find in some countries. No country is without its charitable committees who take on the task of making sure that zakaah and charity reach those who are entitled to them.
Even if you cannot find a poor person to give food to, what are you going to do with the money that is equal to the value of the food? To whom will you give this money? This means that the problem is still there. It is not permissible to give this money – even if it were permissible to give it in the form of money – to anyone but the poor and needy who are entitled to it.
Whatever the case, you must try hard to look for poor and needy people in your country. Even if you do not know them, you can delegate someone whose religious commitment you trust to give this food to someone who is entitled to it. It makes no difference whether it is an individual or a charitable organization.
Remember that it is not permissible for you to give money – no matter how much – instead of giving the fidyah that has been enjoined upon you, because Allaah has enjoined upon you “to feed a Miskeen (poor person)”, and He has not enjoined you to give money. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“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 (poor person) (for every day).”
[al-Baqarah 2:184]
And Allaah knows best.
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