The Case of One Who Remains Ill for Two Consecutive Months of Ramadan

“I once asked one of the two Imam, abu Ja‘far, or abu ‘ Abd Allah, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, about a patient who does not fast until the next month of Ramadan. He (the Imam) said, ‘If he became well but due to laziness did not fast before the next month of Ramadan, he must fast that (month of Ramadan) in which he is and pay a ransom of one mud of food to a destitute person and make Qada’ (compensatory fast) for what is missed. If he remains ill until the next month of Ramadan, he fasts during that which he can fast and pays a ransom of one mud of food to a destitute for what he has missed before. He is not obligated for any Qada’ (compensatory fasting) for what he has missed because of illness.”’

“I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about a man who is ill. The month of Ramadan comes and he remains ill until the next month of Ramadan. He (the Imam) said, ‘He pays charity for the first month of Ramadan and fasts the second month of Ramadan. If in between he had become well but did not fast until the next month of Ramadan, he fasts for both and pays charity for the first month of Ramadan.’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who owes several days of fasting of the month of Ramadan and the next month of Ramadan comes. He (the Imam) said, ‘He is required to fast and feed one destitute for every day. If he had remained ill in between until the next month of Ramadan, he only owes fasting if he becomes well, but if illness continues and he does not become well, he is required to feed one destitute for every day.’”