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Those Permitted to Break The Fast, but Must Pay a "Ransom"
Elderly
men and women are permitted to break their fasts, as are the
chronically ill, and those who have to perform difficult jobs under
harsh circumstances and who could not find any other way to support
themselves. All of these people are allowed to break their fast,
because such a practice would place too much hardship on them during
any part of the year. They are obliged to feed one poor person a day
(for every day of fasting that they do not perform). The scholars
differ over how much food is to be supplied, for example, a Saa`,
half a Saa`, or a mad. There is nothing in the Sunnah that mentions
exactly how much is to be given.
Ibn `Abbas said: "An elderly man is permitted to break his
fast, but he must feed a poor person daily. If he does this, he does
not have to make up the days that he did not fast.” (Related by
Ad-Daraqutni and by Al-Hakim, who said it is Authentic.) Al-Bukhari
recorded that 'Ata heard Ibn 'Abbas recite the verse: "And for
those who can fast [but do not], there is a "ransom': the
feeding of a person in need" (Al-Baqarah: 185). Then Ibn `Abbas
continued: "It has not been abrogated. [Its ruling applies] to
elderly men and women who are not able to fast. Instead, they must
feed one poor person on a daily basis."
The same is true for one who is chronically ill and as such cannot
fast, and for one who is forced to work under harsh circumstances
and as such cannot endure the additional burden of fasting. Both
groups must also feed one poor person daily.
Commenting on Al-Baqarah's verse, Sheikh Muhammad `Abduh says:
"What is meant by those who can fast' [(but do not) in the
Qur'anic verse] is the weak elderly people, the chronically ill, and
so on, and similarly, those workers who are working under severe
conditions, such as coal miners. The same applies to criminals who
are sentenced to life imprisonment with hard labor. They have to pay
the 'ransom' if they have the means to do so."
Pregnant and breast-feeding women, if they fear for themselves or
for the baby, can break the fast and pay the "ransom."
They do not have to make up the days missed. Abu Dawud related from
'Ikrimah that Ibn 'Abbas said concerning the verse ‘And for those
who can fast [but do not],’ "This is a concession for the
elderly, as they can fast. They are to break the fast and feed one
poor person a day. Pregnant or breast-feeding women, if they fear
for the child, can do likewise." This is related by Al-Bazzar.
At the end of the report, there is the addition: "Ibn `Abbas
used to say to his wives who were pregnant: 'You are in the same
situation as those who can fast [but do not]. You are to pay the
"ransom" and do not have to make up the days later.'
" Of its chain, Ad-Daraqutni says it is Authentic.
Nafi` reported that Ibn 'Umar was asked about a pregnant woman who
feared for her unborn baby. He replied: "She is to break the
fast and to feed one poor person a day one mad of barley."
There is also a Hadith that states: "Allah has relieved the
travelers of fasting and half of the prayer, and the pregnant and
the breast-feeding women of the fast.” According to the Hanafiyyah,
Abu `Ubaid, and Abu Thaur, such women are only to make up the missed
days of fasting, and they are not supposed to feed one poor person a
day. According to Ahmad and Ash-Shafi’i, if such women fear only
for the baby, they must pay the "ransom" and make up the
days later. If they fear only for themselves or for themselves and
the baby, then they are only to make up the missed days at a later
date.
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