Q:

Asalaamu alaekium from Waynesville NC,

I am suffering greatly from insomnia this Ramadan, which has made fasting & functioning properly throughout the day very difficult. I know The Koran says that I may feed a poor/needy/hungry person if fasting is too difficult for me, but does a condition like this (insomnia) count? I am sleeping 1.5 – 3 hours per night. The fasting part is rather easy, alhamdulilah, but breaking my fast at 830pm has kept me awake until around 1-2am & I have to wake up at 330am in order to take medicine & cannot begin suhoor until 1 hour later (so medicine works).

It is difficult this year.

JazakAllah khairun for your help,

A:

Wa `alaykum As-Salamu waRahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.

You should consult your physician. If he or she advises that because of the specific challenge, he advises you against fasting, especially when the hours of fasting are long, you can skip it, but you should make up for them when the day hours are short.

If it makes no difference, and your condition is permanent, you may give Fidya or compensation. It entails feeding a poor person for every single day of the fast you have missed.

Almighty Allah Knows best.