The Obligation of Fasting

Fasting in Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam. It is considered as the Muslim's third practical duty to Allah. It was made obligatory in the second year of Hijrah (Migration of the Prophet 'Peace and Blessing of Allah be upon him' to Madinah). It is a universal institution in as much as all the religions of the world and all the great religious personalities adopted fasting as the principal method of controlling and killing passions.  

Fasting is a commandment and a clear order from Allah upon us and we have no other choice but to obey our Lord 'Allah' and please Him out of Love and Fear at the same time. It is a means by which the true extent of the servant's love for his Lord is revealed and by which the servant can truly exalt him. 

Fasting is a compulsory act of worship for all Muslims, though there are exceptional circumstances, which exempt people from fasting. The evidence of observing fast as a part of Faith is indicated in Allah's words:

“O you who believe!  Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribedfor  those before you, that you may become Al­ Muttaqoon   (the pious)”. (Surat Al-Baqarah: 183)

He also said:

“The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong).  So whoever of you sights (the crescent on the first night of) the month (of Ramadan i.e. is present at his home), he must observe Saum (fasts)”. (Surat Al-Baqarah: 185)

Fasting in Ramadan   has also been ordained   by the Sunnah of the Prophet    (Peace and Blessing of Allah be upon him) and the whole Ummah (Muslim   nations).  According to the Sunnah Allah's Messenger (Peace and Blessing of Allah   be upon him) said:

"Islam is built upon five pillars: To witness that there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is His Prophet; to perform Prayers; to pay Zakah; to fast Ramadan and to perform Pilgrimage to Makkah”.   (Reported by Bukhari and Muslim)

The   whole   Ummah    has agreed   that  it is obligatory   to  fast in Ramadan, as it is one  of the pillars  of Islam  and  that  whoever denies  it is a kafir  (i.e. a disbeliever),   having  turned   away from Islam.

Upon whom is Fasting Obligatory?

Fasting is obligatory upon every person who has fulfilled these prerequisites.   

He or she must be:

1. A Muslim

The   person    who    observes    fast should   be a Muslim    who witnesses   that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah Alone and witnesses that   Muhammad is His Slave and Messenger.

2. Baligh (Puberty or Adulthood)

According to Islam puberty or adulthood is defined when  a child reaches the   stage of  al-bulugh  (adulthood), or Tamyeez (discretion), which can be designated   by three  signs:

The Obligation of Fasting

Discharging semen as a result of wet dreams, Appearance of hair around the pubic area. Reaching the age of fifteen:

It has been narrated by Abdullah   Bin  Umar  (may Allah pleased with  him) that: "My parents  brought   me to Allah's  Messenger (Peace and Blessing of Allah  be upon him) in the  campaign  of Uhud   and  I was fourteen years old, so the  Prophet   (Peace and Blessing of Allah be upon him) did  not  enlist  me  in  fighting."   But  a year  later  in  the campaign   of Al-Khandaq,  I was fifteen,  so this time  the Prophet  (Peace and Blessing of Allah be upon him) enlisted  me  in  the battle"  (Reported by Muslim).

This indicates that the age of 15 is the legal age for a Muslim boy or a girl to be accountable for his or her religious duties as well as worldly affairs.

Girls reach puberty when they experience the above three signs. However,     they have a fourth one, that is, menstruation. Whenever a girl experiences it, she reaches the age of bulugh and she becomes Mukalaf (i.e. must practise all religious duties) even if she is 12 years old.

3. A'qil and  At Tamyeez (Sane  and  Discretion) A person  who  observes  fast should  be mentally fit, which means  to be sane and  having  a sense  of discretion

4. Qadir (Physical   fitness)

A person  who  observes  fast should  be fairly certain that fasting  is unlikely to cause  him/her any harm,  physical or mental,  other  than  the  normal   reactions   to hunger,  thirst,  etc.

5. Muqim (Resident:   not   in  a  state   of  travelling) A person  who  observes  fast should be  present at his/her permanent  settlement, for instance home town, one's farm, and one's business premises, etc. This means not to be on a journey. (A traveller may fast if he/ she wants to,)

Upon whom is Fasting inapplicable?

People of the following categories are exempted from the duty of fasting, and no compensation   or any other substitute is enjoined on them.

1. A non-Muslim   (Kafir)

Fasting is not  obligatory  on  a non-Muslim   even  if he/she decides to fast and follows all the  regulations, it will  not  be accepted  by Allah the  Most  High  until  he/she declares the Shahada (becomes  a muslim),  and only then  will  the fast be accepted.  If he/she converts to Islam it becomes incumbent upon him/her to fast.

2. A mad   person   (the insane)

Insane people who are unaccountable for their deeds are exempted from  fasting  because  they  are  divested  of Aqil (sanity), which is a key element on which religious obligations depend. This is indicated in the Hadeeth narrated by Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), the Prophet (Peace and Blessing of Allah be upon him) said:

"The pen is raised from three: from the madman until he regains consciousness, on the sleeper until he wakes up, and on the child until he has a wet dream.”  (Reported by Ahmad, Abu  Dawood and Tirmidhi).

3. Children  who   are not  adolescent   yet

Children under the age of puberty and discretion   are exempted from fasting  until he/she dream (i.e. reaches the age of puberty or discretion), but training children to observe fast is highly recommended. Children should be encouraged to fast part of the day for practice, until they are old enough to fast the whole day like the grown-ups.  Narrated   Rubayyiah Bint Mau'awwidh (may Allah pleased with her), the Prophet (Peace and Blessing of Allah be upon him) sent a messenger to the village of Ansar on the morning of Ashura to inform them:

“Whoever wakes in fasting should continue his fasting, whoever wakes up without fasting should complete his day in fasting.” So we used to fast, let our young children fast, and go to the Masjid with them. When one of the children cried for food, we would make toys from wool and give them to the children until it was time to break the fast.  (Reported by Bukhari and Muslim)

4. Women during the period of menstruation or of post childbirth state

Appearance of menstruation (hayd) or post-childbirth blood (nifaas) invalidates the fast even if such bleeding begins just before sunset (i.e. Iftar) time. Fasting for women during these periods is forbidden and should be made up later, a day for a day. In this context, it has been reported that the Prophet (Peace and Blessing of Allah be upon him) said: "when   a woman experiences her monthly period, she will not pray or fast, but she shall redeem the fast after Ramadan, but not Salat."