Not fasting with no excuse
Fasting is an obligation for every Muslim who does not have a valid excuse - the whole Muslim nation agrees upon this fact and it cannot be disputed.
"...The month of Ramadaan, during which the Qur'an was revealed, a guidance for mankind, and clear proofs of the guidance and the criterion; and whoever of you is resident, let him fast the month."
(Qur'an - 2: 185)
Fasting the month of Ramadaan is one of the five pillars upon which Islam is built - it is one of the acts that gets a person into Paradise and spares them from the Hellfire.
"Islam is built upon [the following] five pillars: testifying that there is no God but Allah and that Muhammad is His Messenger, the establishment of prayer, the giving of zakah (alms tax), the fast of Ramadaan and the pilgrimage to Makkah (Mecca)"
(Hadith -Bukhari)
If a person does not fast they harm only themselves, if they do fast, they benefit only themselves.
Abu Umaamah al-Baahili said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) say: "Whilst I was sleeping, two men came to me and took hold of my upper arm, and brought me to a rugged mountain. They said: 'Climb up.' I said: 'I cannot do it.' They said: 'We will make it easy for you.' So I climbed up until I was at the top of the mountain. There I heard loud voices. I said: 'What are these voices?' They said: 'This is the screaming of the people of Hell.' Then I was taken and I saw people suspended by their ankles, with the corners of their mouths torn and pouring with blood. I said: 'Who are these?' They said: 'These are the people who broke their fast before it was time to do so.'"
(Hadith - Ibn Khuzayman (#1986) & Ibn Hibbaan (#7491))
Hence, there is a great punishment awaiting the Muslim who does not complete the fast on a day without reason. It would be expected that a person who does not fast at all would face a much greater punishment than this.
If a Muslim intentionally violates the fast of Ramadaan without a valid
reason, this is a very grave sin, which the person must repent from
immediately. If the person was a Muslim in the true sense (i.e. they were
praying 5 times a day at the time) they must also make up the days that
they have not fasted. Some scholars are also of the opinion that in
addition to making up the missed days, that half a saa' of food (1.5kg of rice,
wheat, dates etc) be given to a poor person for each day intentionally
missed, so it is better to do this if the person is able to do.
However, if the person denied the obligation to pray during that time,
then according to some scholars of Islam, it cannot be said that they were Muslim at the time. Hence, the
person did not meet the first condition (i.e. that the person is
Muslim) for those whom fasting is obligatory. Even if they had fasted their fast
would not be accepted because of their refusal to pray the obligatory
prayers. The person who does not pray 5 times a day is a non-believer and
no good deeds (charity, hajj, etc) will be accepted of them until they
repent.
The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: "Whoever does not pray 'Asr, his good deeds will be annulled."
(Hadith - Bukhari)
The evidence supporting the opinion that a person who does not pray is a non-believer is:
"But if they repent [by rejecting Shirk (polytheism) and accept Islamic Monotheism], perform As-Salaah (prayer) and give Zakaah (charity), then they are your brethren in religion"
(Qur'an - 9: 11)
The Prophet (PBUH) said: "Between a man and shirk (associating partners with Allah) and kufr (disbelief) stands his giving up prayer."
(Hadith - Muslim)
The Prophet (PBUH) also said: "The covenant that separates us from them is prayer; whoever gives up prayer is a kaafir (i.e. not a Muslim)"(Hadith - Tirmidhi)
Therefore, it is a
necessary condition for one who fasts to perform the obligatory prayers -
this should not just be during Ramadaan, but for the rest of year also.
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