The Ruling on Ordering a Distinguishing Child to Fast

Question: Is a distinguishing child ordered to fast? And does it suffice for him, even if he reaches puberty during the fast?

Answer: Boys and girls, when they reach seven years of age or more, are ordered to fast so that they may become accustomed to it. Their guardians must order them to do so, just as they order them to pray. When they reach puberty, fasting becomes obligatory for them. If they reach puberty during the day, that day suffices for them. For example, if a boy completes fifteen years of age at noon while fasting that day, it suffices for him; the beginning of the day was voluntary and the end was obligatory, provided he had not reached puberty before that by the growth of coarse hair around the private parts, which is called the pubic hair, or by the emission of semen due to desire. The ruling for the girl is the same, except that the girl has a fourth sign of puberty, which is menstruation.