What Has Been Said About Those Who Are Unable to Fast, Whether They Are an Elderly Person, a Young Person, a Pregnant Woman, or a Nursing Mother

Ammar ibn Musa narrated from Abu Abdullah عليه السلام regarding a man who becomes so thirsty that he fears for his life. Imam عليه السلام said: "He may drink just enough to sustain himself and prevent collapse, but he should not drink until he is fully satisfied."

In the narration of Ibn Bukayr, it is reported that Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام was asked about the verse of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Exalted: "And upon those who can fast with difficulty, there is a ransom: the feeding of a poor person" (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:184). Imam عليه السلام said: "[This applies] to those who were able to fast but then became elderly, suffered from chronic thirst, or similar conditions. They must give a mudd (a specific measure) of food for each day."

Al-'Ala narrated from Muhammad ibn Muslim, from Abu Ja'far عليه السلام, who said: "I heard him say: 'A pregnant woman in her late term and a nursing woman with little milk are not at fault if they break their fast during the Month of Ramadan because they are unable to fast. They must each give a mudd (a specific measure) of food as charity for every day they break their fast, and they must make up each day they missed after Month of Ramadan.'"

Abd al-Malik ibn Utbah al-Hashimi asked Abu al-Hasan عليه السلام about an elderly man and an elderly woman who are too weak to fast during the Month of Ramadan. Imam عليه السلام said: "They should give a mudd (a specific measure) of wheat as charity for each day."