The principle: ease
Right after commanding the fast, Allah says: “Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship” (Quran 2:185). The concessions are a mercy, not a loophole.
Travellers
Hamzah ibn ‘Amr al-Aslami asked the Prophet ﷺ whether he should fast while travelling. He said: fast if you wish, and don’t fast if you wish (Sahih al-Bukhari 1943). On another journey the Prophet ﷺ saw a man collapsing from the fast, with people shading him, and said: it is not righteousness to fast while travelling (Sahih al-Bukhari 1946), meaning when it causes that kind of hardship.
So a traveller may choose. Many scholars say: if fasting is easy, fasting is fine; if it is hard, take the concession. Missed days are made up later (Quran 2:184). What counts as a journey, and from when you may break the fast, are details scholars discuss: ask about your trip.
The sick
Someone who is ill in a way that fasting would make worse, or slow their recovery, may break the fast and make up the days when well (Quran 2:184). Follow your doctor’s advice about your health, and a scholar’s advice about the fast.
Those who cannot fast at all
For people who will never be able to fast, such as the very elderly or the chronically ill, Allah says: “And upon those who are able [to fast, but with hardship] a ransom: feeding a poor person” (Quran 2:184). This is fidya: feeding one poor person for each day missed.
Pregnant and breastfeeding women
The Prophet ﷺ said that Allah lifted the fast from the traveller, and from the pregnant and the breastfeeding woman (Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi 715, graded hasan). Scholars differ on what she does afterwards: make up the days, pay fidya, or both, depending on whether she feared for herself or the baby. This is a question to ask a scholar directly.
Women during menstruation
A woman does not fast during her period or post-natal bleeding and makes up those days later. See what breaks your fast.
We explain the sources; we do not issue rulings. If your health is involved, speak to your doctor and a qualified scholar.