Those Who Must Fast
Fasting during the month of Ramadan is one of the rites of Islam and made as an obligation by Allah and anyone who does not believe in its obligation is regarded as a disbeliever because he denies the command of Allah and His Messenger (pbuh) and goes against the consensus of Muslims. Almighty Allah says which translates as: "O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) self-restraint," (Al-Baqarah: 183) and "Ramadan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur'an, as a guide to mankind, also Clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (between right and wrong). So every one of you who is present (at his home) during that month should spend it in fasting, but if any one is ill, or on a journey, the prescribed period (should be made up) by days later. Allah intends every facility for you; He does not want to put you to difficulties. (He wants you) to complete the prescribed period, and to glorify Him in that He has guided you; and perchance ye shall be grateful"(Al-Baqarah: 185).
Fasting is obligatory upon every sane healthy Muslim, who is not traveling at that time, whether man or woman unless she is in menstruation period or having post-childbirth bleeding. Fasting is not obligatory upon a non-Muslim and if he embraces Islam during the month of Ramadan, he is not obliged to make up the previous days of the month. As to the day on which he converts, he should fast till the end of the day with other people and is not obliged to make up this day. Fasting is not due upon minors but if they can tolerate fasting, they should fast to get use to its hardships. The companions of the Prophet (pbuh) used to encourage their children to observe fasting and when they weep out of hunger and thirst, they gave them toys to play with it until sunset. The young boy becomes an adult by three features. The first of which is to reach the age of fifteen and the second is seeing the pubic hair and the third is seeing the sperm during a ‘wet dream' or by any other method. In addition to these conditions, which are applied to the boy, the girl becomes an adult when she experiences menstruation. Fasting becomes obligatory by meeting any of the previous conditions.
As to the insane and feeble-minded person, fasting is not obligatory and s/he is not obliged to make up any days or to pay ransom, nor s/he is required to observe purification or prayer because of his/her inability to understand what they are doing. Fasting is not obligatory upon those who are totally unable to fast like the elderly and chronically ill people but they are obliged to feed one poor person (Miskin) a day (for every day of fasting that they do not observe), a quarter of sa'a for every day, i.e. for every four days a sa'a for four poor persons. It is better to provide some fatty ingredients and shortening with barley. If the person is not chronically ill and can tolerate fasting and no harm results, then he must fast. If he can fast but difficulty in fasting and there is some harm, fasting is disliked. If some harm is the consequence of fasting, it is prohibited to observe fasting in such a case. On recovering, he should make up all missed days but if he died, nothing is required. As for the Pregnant and breast-feeding women, if they fear for themselves or for the baby, both are allowed to break their fast and to make up missed days afterwards.
As for the traveler, if he intends his traveling only as a concession for him to break his fast, fasting is obligatory. However, in the case where he travels not to enjoy the concession, fasting is optional i.e. he is allowed to break his fast and to make up the days he missed and he is also allowed to observe fasting. If fasting and breaking fast are equal to him, observing fast is better than breaking the fast because it was the tradition of the Prophet (pbuh) and faster in terms of observing the obligation and easier than making up the missed days. If fasting will result in hardships because of traveling, scholars disliked fasting. If traveling results in grave hardships, fasting is held prohibited because when the Messenger of Allah left for Makkah during the year of the conquest [of Makkah] and he (pbuh) and the people with him fasted until he reached a certain valley. He was told that the people were experiencing hardship fasting while traveling. He then called for a cup of water, which he elevated so that the people could see it, and then he drank. Afterwards, he was told that some people had continued to fast, and he said: "Those are disobedient ones, those are disobedient ones." This ruling is applied whether he travels for a need or it is continuous travel during the whole year like taxi drivers or other cars that go out of their cities. They enjoy the same concession granted to the traveler like breaking the fast and shortening obligatory prayers. If breaking fast is preferred as it is easier than fasting then they must make up all the days they missed. When those people are out of their original cities, they are regarded as travelers and consequently are subject to the same rulings. If one travels during the day, it is preferred to complete the day in fast, but if he faces hardships, he is allowed to break his fast then he must make up the fast afterwards. There is no specific period for traveling, so it does not matter if the period is long or short as long as he is out of his country and it is not for the sake of escaping the obligation of fasting. In case the intention is for the latter, he is not allowed to break his fast because fasting is one of Allah's obligations, which cannot be given up based on whimsical reasons.
Fasting is not obligatory on women during menses and post-childbirth bleeding and isn't accepted from them except after purification even if a moment before the dawn then she must fast that day. They must make up missed days.
O Muslims! The Prophet (pbuh) exhorted us to perform night prayer in this month as he is reported to have said: "Whoever fasts the month of Ramadan, believing in its obligation and anticipating its reward, will have his previous sins forgiven." Tarawih prayer is a part of night prayer, so observe it in the proper way with your Imam and never leave him until he finishes it because whoever performs night prayer with the Imam until he finishes it, he is rewarded with the reward of a full night prayer even if he is on his bed.
I said this and I ask Allah to forgive you and I .
