assalam alaikum, my doubt is when i was doing my engineering i couldnot fast during ramadhan as i have severe acidity and also i was staying in hostel so i had to take food in night itself and keep it till sehri and eat. sometimes it used to get spoiled and i couldn't eat too. so i did not fast for 4 ramadhan's due to this two reasons. now do i have to only fast to make up those days or along with that i have to feed the poor people for those days? please reply to my question at the earliest.

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.

First of all, it should be mentioned that studies and not being able to keep the food until dawn time are not a sound reason for breaking the fast. Indeed, a fasting person may have dried food and other types of food which do not require to be kept in the fridge for his pre-dawn meal.

As regards having a severe acidity, if it is not possible to fast with this condition, then this is also not a sound reason to break the fast as it is possible to treat it by taking some medicine which would eradicate acidity or reduce its level.

Therefore, in our view, what you mentioned in the question is not a sound reason for breaking the fast, and you are obliged to repent to Allaah, make up for the days you failed to fast and feed a poor person for every day you delayed making up for the fast without a sound reason until the Ramadan of the following year had started. This is in case you had no excuse in delaying the make-up fasting, otherwise, all you are required to do is to make up the missed days.

Finally, it should be noted that severe acidity which is very hard to bear while fasting, and which is hard to treat and which reaches the extent of a sickness that renders one unable to fast, then one is not sinful for breaking the fast as Allaah Says (what means): {…but if any of you is ill or on a journey, the same number (should be made up) from other days…}[Quran 2:184]. You are more aware about yourself, as Allaah Says (what means): {Nay! Man will be a witness against himself (as his body parts (skin, hands, legs, etc.) will speak about his deeds). Though he may put forth his excuses (to cover his evil deeds).} [Quran 75:14-15]. This means that one is a witness against himself and knows his actions even if he puts forth excuses and denies what he did.

For more benefit, please refer to Fataawa 91791, 89317 and 82187.

Allaah Knows best.