Assalamu alaikum,

Thank you for your inquiry.

In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Merciful.

Thank you for your inquiry.

Allah, the Exalted, says in the Quran: «O you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become righteous, for a specified number of days. But if any of you is sick or on a journey, then a similar number of days. … But that you fast is best for you, if you but knew.» (2:183-184)

This verse provides grounds for the sick and the traveler to postpone the fast, and then make it up at a later time. If there is a real danger that the illness may worsen or be prolonged due to fasting, one has the option of postponing it. Ibn Abidin, one of the great authorities of the Hanafi school, also considers headache as a valid reason for postponing the fast (Radd al-Muhtar, Beirut 2003: vol. 3, p. 404)

However, it must be emphasized that it is better to fast if one is able to do so without endangering one’s health. Fasting in Ramadan is a great blessing, which one should do their utmost to observe.

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever misses a single fast in Ramadan without a valid reason or illness will never be able to make it up even if he were to fast for the rest of his life.” (Imdad al-Fiqh according to al-Tirmidhi)

May Allah give us the strength to follow His commands correctly. And He, the Exalted, knows best.

Wassalam

Najeeb ur Rehman Naz