Dear respected Shaykh, assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh. Is fasting compulsory for a person who is diabetic and suffers from renal failure? هل يجب الصوم على مرضى السكر والفشل الكلوي؟

Praise be to Allah, and may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah, his family and his companions. Wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh. As to what follows: In response to your question, we say: With regards to a sick person Allah said, “So whoever among you is ill or on a journey [during Ramadan] - then an equal number of days [are to be made up]” [al-Baqarah 2: 184].  If a person is undergoing dialysis and is also diabetic he should consult the doctors to determine if fasting is harmful for his health. If fasting is difficult for him, then he should not fast because Allah has not placed difficulty in religion. Allah said, “Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship” [al-Baqarah 2: 185]. Utilizing a concession in times of necessity is more beloved to Allah than leaving it, because Allah loves that his concessions should be utilized like he hates that that his prohibitions should be violated. A person is allowed to leave fasting if he is suffering from a chronic illness and fasting will increase his ailment, delay his cure or consist of unbearable   hardship. The sick person is also permitted to leave fasting if his ailment is temporary and curable but it is increased by fasting, or delayed by it, or if fasting causes hardship which weakens him.