Q: I am a thirty-eight year old woman with five children: three sons and two daughters. My eldest son studies at university, some of them are in the elementary stage, and the others are in the preparatory stage. I want to inform Your Eminence that I have been suffering nephritis and have been receiving treatment for ten years. During this period, and with the approval of my husband, I underwent a surgical operation to have a ligature. Yet, with the passage of time, the illness has aggravated and I got renal failure. Then I have been undergoing dialysis twice a week. In the month of Sha`ban 1414 A.H., Allah (Exalted be He) conferred His blessing on me and my brother donated me his kidney. The implant succeeded, thanks to Allah (Exalted be He). Yet, I am still receiving treatment and the doctor asks me not to offer Sawm (Fast). Thus, I hope Your Eminence will give me your Fatwa (legal opinion issued by qualified Muslim scholar) regarding whether it is obligatory on me to make up for the days I missed or feed the poor as Kaffarah (expiation) for this. Note that I was prevented from offering Sawm by a Muslim Sudanese doctor. As-salamu `alaykum warahmatullah wabarakatuh (May Allah's Peace, Mercy, and Blessings be upon you)
(Part No. 9; Page No. 90
A:
If you cannot offer Sawm, because of your illness or for fear that this may result in delaying the healing of your illness, it is permissible for you not to offer Sawm, but you should make up for the days of Sawm you missed. After Allah (Exalted be He) grants you recovery, you can make up for these days.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.