Who does not have to fast?
The ill and the traveller, who make the days up later. Also excused: children before puberty, women who are menstruating or bleeding after childbirth (they make the days up), and the pregnant or nursing. Those with a permanent condition that will not improve — chronic illness, old age — do not make the days up at all and feed a person in need for each day instead.
The four schools concur on this.
The exemptions are in the text rather than added later, which is worth noticing: the difficulty was anticipated.
“Fasting for a limited number of days. So whoever among you is ill or on a journey during them - then an equal number of other 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 each day. And whoever volunteers good i.e., excess - it is better for him. But to fast is best for you, if you only knew.” (Qur’an 2:184)
And the verse that follows states the principle behind it: “The month of Ramaḍān is that in which was revealed the Qur’ān, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights the crescent of the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey - then an equal number of other days. Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and wants for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that to which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful.” (Qur’an 2:185)
Who is excused, and what each owes:
- The ill. Any illness that fasting would genuinely worsen or make recovery slower. You do not have to be bedridden. Make the days up once you are well.
- The traveller. A real journey, not a commute. You may fast if it is easy and not fast if it is not; either way the days are made up.
- Menstruation and post-natal bleeding. Fasting is not permitted during it, and the days are made up afterwards. Note the asymmetry that surprises many: those fasts are made up, the prayers of those days are not.
- Pregnancy and nursing, where fasting would harm mother or child.
- Children, until puberty. Many fast part-days by choice, which is encouragement rather than obligation.
- The permanently unable — chronic illness with no expected recovery, or advanced age. These do not make days up. Instead, for each missed day, a poor person is fed (fidya).
Two things to be clear about. First, taking a genuine exemption is not a lesser form of Islam; it is following the instruction, and the verse ends by saying Allah intends ease for you. Second, if you are unsure whether a medical condition qualifies, that is a question for a doctor and then a scholar — the medical fact comes first, and the ruling follows it.
- Qur’anQur’an 2:184
- Qur’anQur’an 2:185