Answer
Wa `alaykum as-Salamu waRahmatullahi waBarakatuh.
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
In this fatwa:
You can do your surgery on the condition that you make up for these days after Ramadan. Moreover, we advise you to consult a trustworthy Muslim doctor.
Responding to your question, Dr. Muhammad Said, Professor of Islamic Studies at Al-Azhar University, and a Visiting Professor at Tiba University, states,
Types of Illnesses That Allow Breaking the Fast
Scholars have defined the diseases that allow a Muslim to break his fast during Ramadan as follows:
- A disease which increases due to fasting.
- A disease whose recovery may be delayed because of fasting.
- A disease which causes a sever difficulty even though one does not have his disease increased or delayed (Ibn Qudamah, al-Mughni 3:156)
Is Surgery a Valid Reason to Miss Fasting in Ramadan?
The case of having a surgery can be regarded a valid reason for breaking oneโs fast since the delay of such a surgery will result in delaying oneโs recovery.
In the case of our questioner, he can have his surgery, but he must make up for this day later.
Check the fatwas below to learn more:
- Can You Fast with Anemia? Islamic Ruling & Advice
- Can I Apply a Patch on My Arm While Fasting?
- Should You Fast If You Have a Cold? Breaking Fast Due to Illness: What Islam Says
- Does a Gynecological Exam Break the Fast?
Allah Almighty knows best.
Editorโs note: This fatwa is from Ask the Scholarโs archive and was originally published at an earlier date.