Even though fasting in Ramadan is mandatory upon every functional and able Muslim, Allah Almighty has pardoned and excused certain people from the act of fasting if they are unable to fast due to certain legitimate reasons. Individuals facing senility and old age are essentially exempt from fasting. With old age comes weakness, terminal illnesses, loss of mental faculties and extreme fragility, hence, it is believed that people in their old age are not required to fast at the cost of their health.