Feed the poor if you are too ill to observe roza

Hyderabad: Those suffering from chronic illnesses or are too old and not able to fast during Ramzan can feed a poor person for the equivalent number of days, said Islamic scholars.

“If a person can’t fast due to chronic or terminal illness, which can’t be healed and which leaves the person unable to fast, he can feed a miskeen (underprivileged person) as a way to make up for it. This is as per the procedure called Fidyah mentioned in the Quran,” said Islamic scholar Dr Saeed Ahmed Madani.

Money to buy food can also be given to the poor. However, this is not an excuse for all illnesses and those who miss fasts “deliberately”. Some illnesses do not impact fasting, while others do.

Dr Madani added that those who suffered from temporary illnesses like fever and missed one or two rozas can’t compensate with this method.

“Such people need to make up for each missed day by fasting for 60 days continuously,” said Mr Saeed Ahmed Madani.

If the person is not able to fast 60 days due to valid reasons, then that person has to feed two meals to one person for 60 days, or two meals to 60 people for a day.
“Rely on Sûrah al-Baqarah for all the information,” said Dr Madani.

To those who opt for this, Dr Madani said, “Remember that the food need not be expensive and a simple meal is enough.”

At Yousuf Baba Sharif Baba dargah, also known as the Yousufain dargah, in Nampally, several small cafes around the dargah run a token or coupon system throughout the year. The poor and hungry wait near the cafes for visitors to buy a coupon for them.

Once they receive the coupon, the poor can choose what they want to eat from the cafe. Usually roti, rice, dal, curries are available and they are seated inside the cafe and fed like other customers.

This facility is used widely during Ramzan by the kin of those who aren’t able to fast due to illnesses. Each packet of food costs around Rs 20-30.