Hi, I am a 21yo girl who fasts every year without missing a day. It never bothers me but this year is really tough for me. i barely eat and then I am starving all day (actually pain in my stomach) unlike previous years when I'm ok. I am under a lot of stress at work and I am sufferring severe anxiety and seeing a psychologist for it. I even take medication to calm me down regularly but during ramadan I have struggled to keep this from bringing me down. I am always out of energy even when I dont do much and have been constantly sick for the past few months.
These aren't excuses or I wouldn't have fasted this month so far (excluding when I had my period 7 days).
I just want to know what you think the rules are regarding this, I am not in right mind for fasting and this is putting strain on my anixety.
I am very weak and tired because of not enough folate and bowel problems .
Would it be ok if I don't fast this year and pay some zaka to poor?
What do you think about this??? Assalamu Alaikum,
Congratulations on doing so well with your fasting! Masha Allah. I have a health issue also so I will give you some feedback. Due to a stomach issue I have much less water absorption than normal people. Therefore by 7:30am I am very thirsty already and eventually get dizzy etc. I also have depression and so I must take my medicine before Fajr prayer then. I was unable to fast last year because I have an ulcer and it flared up during my fasting. (Not good!) This year I have finally decided not to fast because I've been told by my surgeon (non muslim) that I must be taking water throughout the day. In order for me to function properly I literally must drink more than 64 ounces every day. You've heard that advice before...drink 8 glasses of water a day. If I don't I'm really not well. I feel like a real wuss for not fasting. I don't feel like I'm getting the full "effect" of Ramadan. But I need to also look at my health. Allah has told us not to fast if it is a hardship (affecting health basically). If someone does fast and he/she isn't healthy then they aren't getting the blessings anyway. So what's the point?! Keep that in mind. If your physical or emotional health is threatened then it's wisest to abstain from fasting. Perhaps at a later time your health will improve. And then if you feel well you can make up for your missed days. I am hoping to do this myself once the days become shorter. As much as I hate to admit it, I may never be able to fast. But my heart and mind tell me to at least try on those shorter days. My prayers are with you. Salam. It is between you and Allah. Every Muslim is going to give you different advice, but nobody can say for sure because only Allah knows how you truly feel. I would pray and go with your gut feeling. Allah is so merciful, but again, only He knows what is best. Nobody can really tell you if what you want to do is right or wrong. You could always make up the days? Good luck and Ramadan Kareem!! I am not a muslim, but years ago, at a hospital I worked at had some patients who were and Ramadan became an issue due to their fasting. The patients were real nice and explained to me that there are a few loopholes in the fasting during the day. They explained to me that it would be acceptable, especially since it concerend their health, to eat something provided it was in a room with now windows and in privacy. Hope that helps. | 