Undergoing dialysis to purify the blood of a kidney patient invalidates Sawm

Fatwa no. 19851 All praise be to Allah Alone, and peace and blessings be upon the Last of the Prophets, to proceed:The Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta' reviewed the question received by His Eminence the Grand Mufty from the questioner, the Head of the Kidney Department in Riyadh Medical Complex, Dr. Fahd ibn Ahmad Al-Kanhal. It was referred to the Secretariat General of the Council of Senior Scholars, no. 5315, dated 27 Sha`ban, 1418 A.H. The questioner asks the following: (Part No. 9; Page No. 104) We have many patients suffering from chronic kidney failure, which is an incurable disease according to what is known about its nature. One of the medical treatments necessary to keep the patient alive is the continuous portable peritoneum purification. It entails laying a permanent artificial tube in the patient's abdominal wall. Liquid is injected into the abdominal cavity through the artificial tube four times a day, i.e. Every six hours. This liquid contains salts, sugar, and water which are a kind of nutrition. Its function is to draw out the extra fluids and poisons from the body, the function that would be done by the healthy kidney. Some of these components are absorbed into the blood from the peritoneum membrane lining the abdomen and not through the stomach.The question is: Is this method permissible in Ramadan, i.e., in the day of Ramadan? I appreciate your guidance, may Allah guide you.

A: If the reality is as you mentioned, this procedure of purification invalidates Sawm (Fast). If it cannot be delayed until the evening, and the disease is not expected to be cured, the patient should feed a Miskin (needy) for each day in which he or she breaks Sawm an amount of 1.5 kg in compensation for Sawm. If it is expected to be cured, the patients should perform compensatory Sawm after their recovery. (Part No. 9; Page No. 105) May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.