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Is it permissible for a severely and chronically ill person, who takes medications that cause intense thirst and hunger, to break their fast in Ramadan?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

Allah has granted a concession to the sick person who is harmed by fasting during Ramadan, allowing them to break their fast. They are required to make up the days they missed whenever they are able to do so. The illness that permits breaking the fast is one that intensifies the illness due to fasting, delays recovery, or causes unbearable hardship. The determination of fasting with illness is referred to a doctor. If the doctor advises that fasting would be harmful, then breaking the fast is obligatory. If the illness is incurable, then making up the fast is not required; instead, a fidyah (expiation) is due for each day, amounting to approximately 750 grams of the staple food of the locality.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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