Fasting in Islam entails abstaining from food and water for extended periods, and the well-being of believers is a primary consideration. Consequently, fasting is not obligatory for everyone, nor is it permissible for certain individuals. However, some categories are encouraged to fast voluntarily, despite it not being obligatory.
Following person is obliged to fast:
The obligation to fast during Ramadan applies to a person who meets the following criteria. Failure to fast without valid excuse renders the person punishable.
Fasting is obligatory for a person who is
- Muslim (مُسْلِم)
- adult (البَالِغ), having reached the age of maturity.
- having sound mind (العاقِل)
- and physically capable (القَادِر) of observing the fast
Fasting is not permissible for a female undergoing menstruation (haid) or experiencing postnatal bleeding (nifas). It is considered punishable for her to fast during these periods.
The following individuals are not obliged to fast:
- Non-Muslims
- Children
- Those who are mentally incapacitated
- Individuals who are unable to fast due to old age or illness to the extent that recovery is unlikely.
Here, the term “not obliged” indicates that individuals exempted from these statuses are held accountable if they choose not to fast.
It is advised that a child begins fasting at the age of seven, and by the age of ten, he/she may face disciplinary measures for not observing the fast without valid excuse
Traveler is not obliged, but with certain conditions
The traveler is not obliged to fast, but this exemption is subject to below conditions:Top of Form
- The travel distance should exceed 82 miles (approximately 132 kilometers).
- The traveler should depart from his/her town before dawn (fajr).
- The travel should be for a permissible purpose..
- Breaking the fast is not allowed if the traveler embarks on their journey after dawn (fajr).
- Breaking the fast is preferable for the traveler if fasting poses harm. However, if fasting does not cause harm, it is better to observe the fast
Breastfeeding women and pregnant women are permitted not to fast if they fear harm to:
- Themselves alone, or
- Both themselves and their child.
In such cases, they may omit fasting and make up for the missed fasts later. However, if they fear harm to their child alone, they are required to give one ‘mud’ (approximately 700-750 grams) of food in charity for each day missed, in addition to making up for the missed fasts (qada). This act of giving ‘mud’ serves as expiation for missing the fasts.
It is allowed to break the fast if one fears that excessive hunger or thirst likely to cause death or illness.
Breaking the fast is obligatory
Breaking the fast becomes obligatory if the person fears that illness or hunger leads to following conditions:
- His/her own death.
- The destruction of his/her organs.
- The harm to the functions of his/her organs.
If a person is engaged in the task of rescuing a respectful living being and is certain that breaking the fast will enable him/her to rescue, then it becomes obligatory for him/her to break him/her fast.
Similarly, a pregnant or breastfeeding woman who fears for the well-being of her child if she fasts is obligated to break her fast.
What if one fasts when not obliged?
If an ill person or traveler voluntarily chooses to fast, their fast is considered valid. However, a fast observed by someone who has left Islam, or by a woman during menstruation or the period of postnatal bleeding, is not considered valid.
If status of obligatory comes in the middle of day?
If the status of fasting obligation arises in the middle of the day during Ramadan, specific guidelines apply:
- If a non-Muslim embraces Islam, an insane person regains sanity, or a child reaches puberty during the day: it is recommended but not obligatory for them to fast the remainder of that day. However, they are required to make up for the missed fast later.
- A child who reaches puberty while fasting is obligated to continue fasting for the remainder of the day and is advised to make up for the missed fast afterward.
- It recommended for a woman whose menstrual period ends during the day to fast for the rest of the day and it is obligatory for her to make up for the missed fast later.
Fasting not permissible in these days:
Days when fasting is not permissible include:
- The Day of Eid al-Fitr (1st day of Shawwal).
- Eid al-Adha and the days of Tashreeq (10th, 11th, 12th, and 13th of Dhul-Hijjah).
- The Day of Doubt (Yawm al-Shak), which refers to the 30th of Sha’ban if news of the Eid moon sighting spreads among the people but Ramdan fasting has not been officially established.
Furthermore, it is necessary not to engage in general voluntary fasts (النَّفل المُطْلق) after the 15th of Sha’ban unless one is accustomed to fasting regularly and intends to continue fasting consecutively. This practice helps prepare the body for fasting during the month of Ramadan.
Pre requisites of the fasting:
Not everyone’s fasting is considered valid. Here are the conditions for fasting to be valid:
- Being a Muslim.
- Not being in the state of menstruation (الحَيْض) or postnatal bleeding (النِّفًاس).
- Maintaining consciousness (العقل) throughout the daytime.
- The time being suitable for fasting.
Therefore, fasting by an apostate (مُرْتَدّ), menstruating woman, or an insane person, for example, is not considered valid according to Islamic Fiqh. Additionally, there are certain occasions when fasting is prohibited, such as Eid day and the Day of Doubt.
If an individual remains in a state of fainting continuously throughout the daytime in Ramadan, then the fast is indeed considered invalid. However, if fainting occurs only for part of the day, then the fast remains valid.
If an individual who is fasting sleeps the whole day, his/her fast is still valid.
📘 About the Author
Abdu Shaheed Azhary
Teacher, researcher, and writer focused on moral clarity and Islamic guidance rooted in classical scholarship.