Q: I suffered from a serious disease in the last ten days of Ramadan, 1395 A.H. I broke the Sawm (Fast) for four days in this blessed month because of my sickness. I hoped that I could make up for these days when I would restore my health. I am still ill up to now and the coming Ramadan is about to start. I am unable to make up for these days and to fast the next Ramadan. Additionally, I am not sure that I will restore my health in the future. Would you please tell me in writing what I should do and the present cash value of feeding? If there are a few poor people in our village, can I pay them this value more than once?

A: If the case is as you have mentioned, you have to be patient until Allah cures you of your illness. (Part No. 10; Page No. 198) You then can make up for the days you missed in the months of Ramadan. The basic rule in this respect is the Saying of Allah (Exalted be He): ...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. Your uncertainty of recovery cannot be a basis for deciding that your healing is hopeless, and so exempts you from liability for making up missed days and allows you the alternative of feeding the poor for the missed fasts. Rather, you should think good of Allah and hope for recovery along with perpetual readiness for the hereafter. May Allah cure you of every disease and help you perform your obligations. When the doctors decide that your sickness that renders you unable to fast is incurable, then you should feed one poor person for every missed day of Ramadan (past or coming) half a Sa‘ (1 Sa` = 3 kg. Approx.) of the local staple food, such as dates or the like. If you give a poor person dinner or lunch for the number of days that you did not fast, this will be sufficient. As to paying in cash, it does not discharge the obligation.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings of Allah be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.