Fatwa no. 1514 Praise be to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah, his family and Companions.The Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta' has read the question submitted by the Head of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue in Badr to His Honor Chairman which is referred to it from the General Secretariat with the number 1938/2, in 23/11/1396 A.H. The question is: A woman was afflicted with a psychological disorder whose symptoms included fever, nervousness, and other problems. Thus, she stopped Sawm (fasting) for four years. Must she make up for Sawm in this case or not? What is the ruling on this?

The Committee gave the following answer:If that woman stopped Sawm because she was unable to, she must make up for these days when she becomes able to do. (Part No. 10; Page No. 361) Allah states, ...and whoever is ill or on a journey, the same number [of days which one did not observe Saum (fasts) must be made up] from other days. Allâh intends for you ease, and He does not want to make things difficult for you. (He wants that you) must complete the same number (of days), and that you must magnify Allâh [i.e. to say Takbîr (Allâhu Akbar; Allâh is the Most Great] for having guided you so that you may be grateful to Him. However, if her illness is incurable according to the doctors, she should feed a needy person half a Sa` (1 Sa`=3 kg. Approx.) of wheat, rice, fresh dates or such foods in place of every day she did not observe Sawm. This also applies to elderly men and women who are too infirm to observe Sawm. In this case, they need not make up for Sawm.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.