Who has to fast
There are five conditions that must be fulfilled for it to be obligatory for a person to observe the fast of Ramadaan:
1. They are Muslim
2. They are accountable
3. They are able to fast
4. They are settled (i.e. not travelling)
5. There are no impediments to fasting
Each of these conditions are explained in detail below:
1. People who are not Muslim do not have to fast, and if they do fast
their fast will not be accepted until they become Muslim. If a person
becomes Muslim, they do not have to make up the fasts of previous years.
2. A person must be accountable in that they have reached the age of
puberty and they are of sound mind, because a minor or a person who is not
sane is not accountable.
3. A person who is ill is not obliged to fast. This includes a woman who
is pregnant or breastfeeding, if she fears for her health or that of her
baby. If the illness is temporary, then the person should make up the
missed days by fasting one day for each day missed before the next
Ramadaan. If the illness is permanent, then the person can feed a poor
person for each day missed instead if they wish. In this case, the payment
is to give a poor Muslim half a saa' of the staple food of the country
(e.g. rice, wheat) for each day of fasting missed. Half a saa' is equivalent to
approximately 1.5kg.
The food itself must be given to the person, not the equivalent amount of
money.
4. A person who is travelling does not have to fast, although if it is
easy for them to do so, then that is better. Any missed days must be made
up before the next Ramadaan.
5. A woman who is menstruating or bleeding following childbirth should not fast. If the woman does her fast on such a day, her fast will be invalid. Even if the bleeding ends 1 minute after dawn breaks, or 1 minute before sunset, that day is invalid. Any missed days must be made up for before the next Ramadaan.
Note: in all cases, any missed days do not have to be made up consecutively (i.e. one after the other).
If a person will harm himself or herself by fasting, it becomes forbidden for them to fast because it says in the Qur'an:
"And do not kill yourselves (nor kill one another). Surely, Allah is Most Merciful to you"
(Qur'an - 4: 29)
The Prophet (PBUH) was also reported to have said:
"There is (to be) no harm or reciprocating harm."
(Hadith - Ahmad, Ibn Maajah)
By harm, it may be that the person will be physically harmed, such that it
will cause them pain, delay their recovery and so on, or that a
knowledgeable and trustworthy doctor advises them that fasting will harm
them. Fasting is not intended to harm a person or to be a kind or torment.
Allah has made concessions for those who need it, and as such a Muslim is
doing something good to except this gift.
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