Fidya for the inability to fast due to old age or chronic illness

Inability to fast due to old age or chronic illness According to Islamic teachings, if a person is too old or has a chronic illness that prevents them from fasting during the month of Ramadan, they are required to feed one poor person for each day missed. This is based on a verse from the Quran, which says that those who can do so must "feed a poor person". If the illness is permanent and there is no hope of recovery, feeding a poor person with half a saa’ of dates, rice, wheat, or other local staple food for each day is permitted. A saa' is approximately one and a half kilograms. However, if there is hope of recovery, then it is obligatory to make up for the missed fasts once the person has recovered. It is important to note that taking this alternative approach of feeding people experiencing poverty is only allowed for those who are genuinely unable to fast due to old age or chronic illness. Anyone healthy and able to fast should do so, as it is one of the pillars of Islam.