The Obligation of Fasting Ramadan and Its Conditions
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Fasting is undoubtedly obligatory upon the Muslim community, and it is one of the pillars of Islam. Allah (Mighty and Majestic) made it obligatory in the second year of the Hijrah. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) remained for fourteen years after his mission without fasting being made obligatory, until the souls were accustomed to Islam, became at peace, and settled down. It was then made obligatory in the second year of the Hijrah.And the first thing that was made obligatory: A person was given the choice between fasting or feeding a poor person for each day.But Allah recommended fasting, so He said: [al-Baqarah: 184] So whoever wished fasted, and whoever wished broke the fast.Then Allah the Exalted made its fasting an individual obligation, so He said: [al-Baqarah: 185] .
Fasting in Ramadan is not obligatory except upon every Muslim who is of age, sane, capable, resident, and free from impediments.Meaning: There are six conditions. We do not compel a disbeliever to fast.And we do not say: Fast, if we found a disbeliever eating and drinking in his house during the day in Ramadan, we would not say: "Abstain," because he is not one of those who fast. Rather, if he fasted while he had not embraced Islam, Allah would not accept it from him.For Allah the Exalted said: [al-Tawbah: 54] So he is not commanded to fast, and if he fasts, it is not valid from him. He is not punished for breaking the fast, but he is prevented from displaying the breaking of the fast among Muslims.
Fasting is not obligatory upon a child.But the scholars said: It is obligatory upon his guardian to command him to fast if he can bear it, so that he becomes accustomed to it and practices it, and he will meet it with enthusiasm and determination when he reaches maturity.
Fasting is not obligatory upon a person of unsound mind, because he is not eligible for religious obligation. The pen has been lifted from him. Nothing of the acts of worship is obligatory upon a person of unsound mind except zakah, for zakah is obligatory in the wealth of a person of unsound mind, because zakah is a right of the wealth.
One who is incapable is not obligated to fast. However, if the incapacity is continuous and its removal is not expected, he must feed a poor person for each day, such as incapacity due to old age, or due to an illness whose cure is not expected. In this case, he feeds a poor person for each day and is not obligated to fast. As for incapacity whose removal is expected, such as a person who has a sudden illness whose cure is expected, we tell him: Wait until the illness is removed, then fast, based on the saying of Allah the Exalted: [al-Baqarah: 185] .
A traveler is not obligated to fast. He may eat and drink, whether he is in the desert and has not reached the city he intended, or he is in the city itself, even if he resides or intends to reside there for the whole month. He is a traveler, so he may eat and drink, based on the saying of Allah the Exalted: (And whoever is ill or on a journey, then an equal number of other days) There is no difference between his travel being for obedience, such as traveling for 'Umrah, or for maintaining family ties, or to visit a sick person, or for other than obedience, such as traveling to trade. As for forbidden travel, this is a matter of disagreement among scholars. Some say: A traveler on a forbidden journey may avail himself of the dispensations of travel.And among them are those who say: He may not avail himself of the dispensation.
And just as we said: There is no difference between the traveler walking in the desert or residing in a country he has traveled to, as long as his intention is to return to his country. He is still a traveler.
One who has impediments is not obligated to fast. This applies only to a menstruating woman and a woman with post-natal bleeding. Fasting is not obligatory upon them, and if they fast, their fast is not valid. However, they must make up the fasts. These are the conditions required for the obligation of fasting, and they are six: 1- Islam.
2- Maturity.
3- Sanity.
4- Capability.
5- Residence.
6- Being free from impediments.
But to fast is best for you
وَأَنْ تَصُومُوا خَيْرٌ لَكُمْThe month of Ramadhan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it
شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِي أُنْزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ هُدىً لِلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَاتٍ مِنَ الْهُدَى وَالْفُرْقَانِ فَمَنْ شَهِدَ مِنْكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُFasting in Ramadan is not obligatory except upon every Muslim who is of age, sane, capable, resident, and free from impediments.Meaning: There are six conditions. We do not compel a disbeliever to fast.And we do not say: Fast, if we found a disbeliever eating and drinking in his house during the day in Ramadan, we would not say: "Abstain," because he is not one of those who fast. Rather, if he fasted while he had not embraced Islam, Allah would not accept it from him.For Allah the Exalted said:
And what prevents their expenditures from being accepted from them but that they have disbelieved in Allah and in His Messenger
وَمَا مَنَعَهُمْ أَنْ تُقْبَلَ مِنْهُمْ نَفَقَاتُهُمْ إِلَّا أَنَّهُمْ كَفَرُوا بِاللَّهِ وَبِرَسُولِهِFasting is not obligatory upon a child.But the scholars said: It is obligatory upon his guardian to command him to fast if he can bear it, so that he becomes accustomed to it and practices it, and he will meet it with enthusiasm and determination when he reaches maturity.
Fasting is not obligatory upon a person of unsound mind, because he is not eligible for religious obligation. The pen has been lifted from him. Nothing of the acts of worship is obligatory upon a person of unsound mind except zakah, for zakah is obligatory in the wealth of a person of unsound mind, because zakah is a right of the wealth.
One who is incapable is not obligated to fast. However, if the incapacity is continuous and its removal is not expected, he must feed a poor person for each day, such as incapacity due to old age, or due to an illness whose cure is not expected. In this case, he feeds a poor person for each day and is not obligated to fast. As for incapacity whose removal is expected, such as a person who has a sudden illness whose cure is expected, we tell him: Wait until the illness is removed, then fast, based on the saying of Allah the Exalted:
and whoever is ill or on a journey - then an equal number of other days
وَمَنْ كَانَ مَرِيضاً أَوْ عَلَى سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَA traveler is not obligated to fast. He may eat and drink, whether he is in the desert and has not reached the city he intended, or he is in the city itself, even if he resides or intends to reside there for the whole month. He is a traveler, so he may eat and drink, based on the saying of Allah the Exalted: (And whoever is ill or on a journey, then an equal number of other days) There is no difference between his travel being for obedience, such as traveling for 'Umrah, or for maintaining family ties, or to visit a sick person, or for other than obedience, such as traveling to trade. As for forbidden travel, this is a matter of disagreement among scholars. Some say: A traveler on a forbidden journey may avail himself of the dispensations of travel.And among them are those who say: He may not avail himself of the dispensation.
And just as we said: There is no difference between the traveler walking in the desert or residing in a country he has traveled to, as long as his intention is to return to his country. He is still a traveler.
One who has impediments is not obligated to fast. This applies only to a menstruating woman and a woman with post-natal bleeding. Fasting is not obligatory upon them, and if they fast, their fast is not valid. However, they must make up the fasts. These are the conditions required for the obligation of fasting, and they are six: 1- Islam.
2- Maturity.
3- Sanity.
4- Capability.
5- Residence.
6- Being free from impediments.