What is the ruling on breaking the fast in Ramadan for a patient with epilepsy, given that he takes his medication in two doses, and the interval must not exceed twelve hours?
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Question:
He asks and says: What is the ruling on breaking the fast in Ramadan for a patient with epilepsy, since he takes his medication in two doses, and the interval must not exceed twelve hours? He consulted a doctor, who informed us that breaking the fast is better for his health. Usually, the treatment lasts for many years; it has been more than seven years so far. We ask you to guide us. May Allah reward you with good.
Answer:
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions. As for what follows, Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, says:[Al-Baqarah 2:185]. And in the verse before it, He, Glorified and Exalted is He, says: [Al-Ma'idah 5:1] [Al-Baqarah 2:183-184].
If the illness mentioned by the questioner prevents him from continuing to fast for the entire day because he needs to take his medication every day of Ramadan, or on some of its days, then he breaks his fast; because it is a dire necessity, he is unable to continue fasting; because he needs to take his medication during the day, and if he does not take it, or if he is harmed, then he breaks his fast. Then, after that, he makes a vow. If the removal of his cause and illness is expected in the future, then he waits until his illness is removed, and then he makes up the days he owes, due to the saying of Allah the Exalted:[Al-Baqarah 2:184]. And if the removal of his cause is not expected, and this illness is continuous for him, which is what is called a chronic illness for which removal is not expected, then it is sufficient for him to feed a poor person for each day, and fasting is not required of him, due to the saying of Allah the Exalted: [Al-Baqarah 2:184]. The poor person receives the amount of half a sa' (a dry measure of about 3 kg) or one and a half kilograms for each day, and for each day. This is sufficient in place of fasting for one who is unable to fast on a continuous basis.
He asks and says: What is the ruling on breaking the fast in Ramadan for a patient with epilepsy, since he takes his medication in two doses, and the interval must not exceed twelve hours? He consulted a doctor, who informed us that breaking the fast is better for his health. Usually, the treatment lasts for many years; it has been more than seven years so far. We ask you to guide us. May Allah reward you with good.
Answer:
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions. As for what follows, Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, says:
whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey - then an equal number of other days
شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ وَمَن كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَO you who have believed
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواdecreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous - (184) [Fasting for] a limited number of days. So whoever among you is ill or on a journey [during them] - then an equal number of days [are to be made up]. And upon those who are able [to fast, but with hardship] - a ransom [as substitute] of feeding a poor person
كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ أَيَّامًا مَّعْدُودَاتٍ فَمَن كَانَ مِنكُم مَّرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ وَعَلَى الَّذِينَ يُطِيقُونَهُ فِدْيَةٌ طَعَامُ مِسْكِينٍIf the illness mentioned by the questioner prevents him from continuing to fast for the entire day because he needs to take his medication every day of Ramadan, or on some of its days, then he breaks his fast; because it is a dire necessity, he is unable to continue fasting; because he needs to take his medication during the day, and if he does not take it, or if he is harmed, then he breaks his fast. Then, after that, he makes a vow. If the removal of his cause and illness is expected in the future, then he waits until his illness is removed, and then he makes up the days he owes, due to the saying of Allah the Exalted:
an equal number of days [are to be made up]
فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَAnd upon those who are able [to fast, but with hardship] - a ransom [as substitute] of feeding
وَعَلَى الَّذِينَ يُطِيقُونَهُ فِدْيَةٌ طَعَامُ
Source
قناة «العلامة الدكتور صالح الفوزان»، ما حكم الإفطار في رمضان لمريض الصرع، إذ أنه يتناول الدواء لفترتين، ولابد ألا تتجاوز اثنتي عشرة ساعة؟ — youtube.com
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.