Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

My dietician and her supervisor have both advised me not to fast. I have told them that I have to fast unless there is a valid medical reason.

They have told me that there is a valid medical reason, this is that my BMI is too low.
A BMI of between 16 and 18 means a person is underweight. There have been cases reported of death caused by a BMI of between 14 and 16. Normal BMI is between 18 and 25. My BMI is 12.6.
I feel healthy, but due to my low BMI, I have a weaker immune system and get ill very quickly. Any weight loss is unhealthy for me as I am already extremely underweight and struggle to put weight on.

Please advise me as to whether i should fast.

Jazakallah 

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Low BMI don’t fast

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 183:

183 O ye who believe! fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you that ye may (learn) ‘taqwa’.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 185:

185 Ramadan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur'an as a guide to mankind also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (between right and wrong). So everyone of you who is present (or witnesses) the month should spend it in fasting but if anyone is ill or on a journey the prescribed period (should be made up) by days later. Allah intends every facility for you He does not want to put you to difficulties. (He wants you) to complete the prescribed period and to glorify Him in that He has guided you; and perchance ye shall be grateful.

Every sane, healthy, adult believing men and believing women who witness the month of Ramadan in the place where they live are under obligation to observe the month in fasting.

The believers for whom fasting in the month (or days) of Ramadan is not obligatory are:

1. Children
2. Women during their period of menstruation
3. One who fears that fasting would severely deteriorate their health (sick, ill, pregnant women, extremely aged, etc.)
4. One who is in the state of travel.

Respected sister, if you or your doctors sincerely fear that your observing your obligatory fasts of Ramadan would severely affect or deteriorate your health, you have an allowance and an excuse from your Lord Most Gracious to not observe the fasts in Ramadan….and make up the missed days by fasting at any other time of the coming year.

But if one is healthy and can observe the fasts, but wishes to search for excuses to be absolved from the fasts for no valid reason….then one should know with absolute conviction that their Lord Who is Most Gracious is also the All-Knowing, and He Knows very well the conditions and the secrets of each in His creation.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan