A woman who began menstruating at the age of twelve and did not fast because she believed she was not obligated until she reached fifteen, and her father used to beat her so that she would not
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The questioner : In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
A questioner says: A woman began menstruating at the age of twelve and did not fast because she believed she was not obligated until she reached fifteen. Her father used to beat her for that, saying: “Do not fast until you reach fifteen.” Now she has heard some fatwas that puberty, or that obligation, begins with menstruation, whenever it occurs. What should she do now?
The Shaykh : If this girl reached puberty through menstruation in her twelfth year of age, but she did not fast until she completed fifteen years, based on her belief that fasting is not obligatory for her until she reaches fifteen, and based on the fact that her father used to beat her if she fasted, then we say:
If at that time she believed that fasting was obligatory upon her, then she must make up the fasts, because her father’s beating her for fasting does not cause the obligation to be dropped from her. However, if she did not know, like one who grows up in the desert, far from cities, far from scholars, then she does not have to make up the fasts.
The criterion in these matters, so that you may benefit from this issue and others, is that one who is ignorant in a way that excuses him is not bound by the ordinances. He is not bound by the ordinances, as Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “The ordinances are not binding before knowledge”, and he cited for this hadiths that were reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
And his saying: “It is correct that the ordinances are not binding before knowledge.” Yes.
The questioner : She wants to fast with the people, not that it is an obligation. She wants to fast with the people, not that she believes it is an obligation, and her father threatens her, saying to her:
The Shaykh : Meaning, she believes it is not an obligation.
The questioner : Yes, exactly.
The Shaykh : Therefore, she does not have to make up the fasts.
The questioner : She does not make them up.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
A questioner says: A woman began menstruating at the age of twelve and did not fast because she believed she was not obligated until she reached fifteen. Her father used to beat her for that, saying: “Do not fast until you reach fifteen.” Now she has heard some fatwas that puberty, or that obligation, begins with menstruation, whenever it occurs. What should she do now?
The Shaykh : If this girl reached puberty through menstruation in her twelfth year of age, but she did not fast until she completed fifteen years, based on her belief that fasting is not obligatory for her until she reaches fifteen, and based on the fact that her father used to beat her if she fasted, then we say:
If at that time she believed that fasting was obligatory upon her, then she must make up the fasts, because her father’s beating her for fasting does not cause the obligation to be dropped from her. However, if she did not know, like one who grows up in the desert, far from cities, far from scholars, then she does not have to make up the fasts.
The criterion in these matters, so that you may benefit from this issue and others, is that one who is ignorant in a way that excuses him is not bound by the ordinances. He is not bound by the ordinances, as Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “The ordinances are not binding before knowledge”, and he cited for this hadiths that were reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
And his saying: “It is correct that the ordinances are not binding before knowledge.” Yes.
The questioner : She wants to fast with the people, not that it is an obligation. She wants to fast with the people, not that she believes it is an obligation, and her father threatens her, saying to her:
The Shaykh : Meaning, she believes it is not an obligation.
The questioner : Yes, exactly.
The Shaykh : Therefore, she does not have to make up the fasts.
The questioner : She does not make them up.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.