The Chief Imam of Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta,Ustadh Alaran, has said aged people are excused from fasting but must feed at least one poor person per day.
The cleric, in an interview with our correspondent on Sunday, explained that, “The elderly are between two positions of either to fast or not to fast. One who is not able to fast, due to old age or some other reasons, can instead feed one poor person for every day.
“And for those who can fast only with difficulty, they are to feed a poor person (for every day)(Q2v184).
“It applies to the elderly man and elderly woman who is not able to fast . They are to feed one poor person in lieu of every day( of fasting)
“Finally, age stands as salient in the matter of determining whom to exempt. The fasting exemption will totally be relative to individual physique in responding to all the rules and factors.
“Exempted in totality is the menstruating woman and woman experiencing postpartum blood flow who should wait for the completion and conclusion of their period before rejoining the fast or returning the number of the days after fast.
“Chronologically, the fasting age start from adolescence till one goes back to his or her grave. For those not yet in puberty, the fasting become a teaching and adaption in preparation for the time.
“However, Almighty Allah gave exemption to those who fall sick or are on a journey to leave the fasting for the day(s) of that event(s) and repay thereafter (Q2 vs 184 and 185).”
The cleric added that, “It is not obligatory for those who are not healthy or who are not resident in accordance with evidence from Qur’an (to fast).
“But if the ill person or traveller does not find any hardship in fasting, then fasting is preferred. If they encounter hardship, then breaking the fast is preferred.”
