What if fasting repeatedly causes a severe incapacitating illness?
2026-10-14
T193 · Ibn Taymiyyah
Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah
شيخ الإسلام أحمد بن تيمية
Original Q&A · Complete source question and answer
Complete original question and answer, 25/217. This is the historical religious answer to the stated condition; the source does not establish a medical diagnosis. It distinguishes an illness permitting later makeup from inability whenever fasting is attempted.
النص العربي
السؤال الأصلي
وسئل عن رجل كلما أراد أن يصوم أغمي عليه، ويزبد ويخبط، فيبقي أياما لا يفيق، حتي يتهم أنه جنون، ولم يتحقق ذلك منه؟
الجواب
الحمد لله، إن كان الصوم يوجب له مثل هذا المرض فإنه يفطر ويقضي، فإن كان هذا يصيبه في أي وقت صام، كان عاجزا عن الصيام، فيطعم عن كل يوم مسكينا. والله أعلم.
English translation
English translation prepared for SalafAlSalih.com from the cited Arabic source. It is not an official translation.
Original question
He was asked about a man who, whenever he tries to fast, loses consciousness, foams at the mouth and thrashes about. He remains for days without regaining consciousness, to the point that insanity is suspected, although this has not been established.
Answer
Praise be to Allah. If fasting causes him an illness like this, he breaks the fast and makes it up. If this happens whenever he fasts, he is unable to fast and feeds one poor person for each day. Allah knows best.
Source and editorial notes
Majmūʿ al-Fatāwā 25/217
مجموع الفتاوى
Majmūʿ al-Fatāwā
Arabic checked against the cited source and adjacent question boundaries. Diacritics and display marks omitted; honorific glyphs expanded. Titles and scope notes are editorial.