Does the person who is unable to fast because of a long-term illness enter from this gate?

A translation of this fatwa from Naseem ash-Sham

Question: 
 
Assalām ʿalaykum wa Raḥmatullāhī wa Barakātuh,

The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, says {There is a gate in Paradise called ar-Rayyān from which the people who fast enter on the Day of Standing. No one else shall enter from it. It will be said, ‘Where are the people who fast?’ They will thus stand and when they have entered it will be closed.} [Agreed upon] Does the person who is unable to fast because of a long-term illness enter from this gate? May Allah reward you with goodness.

Answer: (Imam Muḥammad Tawfīq Ramaḍān) 
 
The person who is unable to fast, who wishes he were able to do so, and he pays the fidyah and there is agony in his heart because of his incapacity, I expect that he is better than some people who do fast, and the believer’s intention is better than his action. 

More Fatawa on Ramadan and Fasting

Delaying the Menstrual Cycle

A translation of this fatwa from Naseem al-Sham

Question:

Is it permissible to delay one’s menstrual cycle in the month of Ramaḍān by way of taking birth control pills because one’s cycle lasts quite long, approximately ten days?

Answer: (Imam Muḥammad Tawfīq Ramaḍān)

The period of time in which one is excused is a period of leave which Allah has granted women, and I don’t think that a woman should overstep this period of leave.[1] This is in addition to the disruption that may harm a woman as a consequence of taking these pills, which may outweigh whatever benefit she hopes to obtain. This does not mean it’s unlawful. Rather, the authority in the matter is an upright doctor; if he finds that there is no harm therein then there is nothing wrong with it, along with what I have indicated you should be wary of.[2] On the other hand, if the doctor warns against it because of some harm that he fears then it is not permissible.

_______________________
[1] (tn): In other words, women are granted a break from fasting and praying each month. This is a gift from Allah and thus it’s better not to disrupt it. As for comparing Ramaḍān to Ḥajj and ʿUmrah, one should bear in mind that Ḥajj can only be performed once a year and within a very limited period of time, and the major pillar therein in which one needs to be pure is the ṭawāf, which will be done at least twice. As for ʿUmrah, which can be performed at any time of the year, this is dependent on other factors, such as one’s planned length of stay in Makkah, one’s finances and so forth. In Ramaḍān, on the other hand, the expectation and norm is that women will miss some days due to their cycle but then they can make them up at any time throughout the rest of the year.

[2] (tn): In other words, it’s better not to disturb the cycle and if the doctor does not expect any harm, it does not conclusively mean that there will not be any. And Allah knows best. 

More Fatawa on Ramadan and Fasting