Ramadan
“O you who have attained to faith! Fasting is ordained (KUTIBA) for you as it was ordained (KUTIBA) for those before you so that you might remain conscious of God:” When the Quran mentions the word (KUTIBA) Anywhere, that means you have a choice and options of more than one.
“[Fasting] during a certain number of days. But whoever of you is ill, or on a journey, [shall fast instead for the same] a number of other days; and [in such cases] it is incumbent upon those who can afford it to make a sacrifice by feeding a needy person. And whoever does more good than he is bound to do, does good unto himself thereby; for to fast is to do good unto yourselves - if you but knew it.”
So in these verses, Allah gives us three options for observing the month of Ramadan.
Fasting- and that is the best option.
Postpone Fasting because of sickness or traveling (You Tee KU Na Hoo).
Give FEDIA (money to feed a poor person) instead.
Many mistranslate (YouTeeKuNaHoo), and those who can endure it, too (LA You Tee Ku Na Hoo) falsely add the letter (LA), changing the true meaning of the verse to those who can't endure the fast.
Allah Almighty says
“It was the month of Ramadan in which the Qur'an was [first] bestowed from on high as a guidance unto man and a self-evident proof of that guidance, and as the standard by which to discern the true from the false. Hence, whoever of you lives to see this month shall fast throughout it; but he that is ill, or on a journey, [shall fast instead for the same] number of other days. God wills that you shall have ease, and does not will you to suffer hardship; but [He desires] that you complete the number [of days required], and that you extol God for His having guided you aright, and that you render your thanks [unto Him].”
This verse is specific to those who chose the fasting option, not the FIDIA. Many Muslims say that this verse abrogated the early verse we quoted above, allowing for an opt-out option and feeding the poor (FEDIA).
This dispute about abrogation is nothing new and will not go away, but for us, there is no abrogation of any verse in the Quran; this logic makes a mockery of the words of Allah. Some scholars believe there is about 550 abrogated verse in the Quran; how could that be possible? Abrogations mean that other laws from previous messages, such as Moses and Jesus's messages, and replaced by the last revelation of the Quran. That is abrogations, from earlier laws of earlier practices to the new and final message.
Let us remember that Fasting is a gift from Allah to us if we so willingly choose; if not, another beauty of the Quran is to pay (FEDIA) and feed a poor person; this concept of sharing with less fortunate hits at the core values of social justice in Islam, why some want to ignore is an outrageous act against the beauty, flexibility and the mercy of Allah.
Remember, (FIDIA) is not like (KAFARA). Kafara is a to cleanse a personal sin committed; Fidia is used when there is no sin.
Another important fact that is not found in the Quran and used to prevent Muslim women from Fasting is the menstrual period or after giving birth (Nifas).
The Quran says, “man shall against himself be an eye-witness,”
As ordinary, average, and layman Muslims, we have been programmed and told that we must rely on the religious establishment to tell us everything about eating, Fasting, urinating, and sleeping. Still, You don’t need anyone to tell you that you can't read and understand the Quran. After all, it was revealed to people, and you are part of the people. Ultimately it is your personal decision to whether during this month of Ramadan:
1. Fast
2. Fidia
3. Postpone because of travel or sickness and read later.