Who must fast, and the conditions for it
Who fasting in Ramadan is obligatory on, the conditions for that obligation, and the two conditions a fast needs to be valid at all.
Fasting in the month of Ramadan is fard, an absolute must, on every Muslim who has grown up, has a sound mind, and (for girls and women) is not having their monthly period or bleeding after childbirth.
123Fasting only becomes something you must do once you meet four conditions:
Four conditions for fasting to be required of you
- You are a Muslim.Fasting is not required of a non-Muslim.
- You have a sound mind.Someone who is not of sound mind does not have to fast.
- You have grown up (reached puberty).Fasting is not required of a child yet, but children should still practice fasting a bit, as much as they can manage, to get ready for when it becomes required.
- You are healthy and at home, not travelling.Someone sick or on a journey is excused for now.
Even once someone must fast, the fast itself only counts (is valid) if two more things are true: a woman or girl is not in her monthly period or the bleeding after childbirth, and the person made the intention to fast. If you just skip breakfast without meaning to fast, that doesn't count as fasting at all; you have to intend it in your heart.
Fasting in Ramadan is farḍ ʿayn, obligatory on every individual Muslim, who is sane, mature, and, in the case of women, not in menstruation or post-natal bleeding.
123| Condition | Effect if absent |
|---|---|
| Being Muslim | Fasting is not obligatory on a non-Muslim. |
| Being sane | Fasting is not obligatory on someone who is insane. |
| Being mature (having reached puberty) | Fasting is not obligatory on a child, though a minor should still be made to fast to the extent they are able, so as to build the habit. |
| Being healthy and resident (not travelling) | Someone who is sick or travelling is exempted for the time being. |
Beyond who is obligated to fast, two further conditions determine whether a given fast is valid at all: a woman must be free of menstruation and post-natal bleeding for that day, and the person must have made the intention (niyyah) to fast. Refraining from food and drink without an intention does not constitute a valid fast.
Ṣawm of Ramaḍān is farḍ ʿayn upon every mukallaf Muslim: sane ('āqil), mature (bāligh), and, for a woman, free of ḥayḍ or nifās for that day.
123Denying the obligation of fasting removes a person from Islam. Deliberately breaking the fast without a legitimate excuse is a major sin, and such a person is a fāsiq, one openly disobedient to Allah.
1| Condition | Effect if absent |
|---|---|
| Islam | Not obligatory on a non-Muslim (though a convert to Islam mid-Ramaḍān must observe the rest of the day, as covered under respect for Ramaḍān). |
| ʿAql (sanity) | Not obligatory on the insane. |
| Bulūgh (maturity) | Not obligatory on a minor, who should nonetheless be trained to fast according to capacity, per the earlier reports of the Salaf fasting their children. |
| Health and iqāmah (residence) | The sick and the traveller are exempted for the duration of the excuse, subject to the rulings on qaḍāʾ set out under valid excuses. |
This is the English translation of Nisab Ahle Khidmaat Sharia, exactly as the book has it, for the passages this page was written from. About 220 words. Switch back to Guide for the rewritten version.
Rulings of Fasting Introduction
4. Ruling on Fasting:
- Fasting in the month of Ramadan is fard ayn (obligatory on every individual) for every Muslim who is sane, mature, and not menstruating or in postpartum bleeding (for women).
- The one who denies the obligation of fasting is considered a disbeliever.
- The one who deliberately breaks the fast without a valid excuse is a grave sinner and is considered a fasiq (a person who openly disobeys Allah).
5. Conditions for Fasting to be Obligatory:
The conditions for fasting to be obligatory are:
1. Being a Muslim (fasting is not obligatory on a non-Muslim).
2. Being sane (fasting is not obligatory on the insane).
3. Being mature (fasting is not obligatory on a child) [Although fasting is not obligatory for minors, they should be made to fast to get used to it according to their ability.].
4. Being healthy and a resident (those who are sick or traveling are exempt from fasting).
6. Conditions for the Validity of Fasting:
The conditions for fasting to be valid are:
- The woman must be free from menstruation and postpartum bleeding (a woman in menstruation or postpartum cannot fast).
- Intention (the person must make the intention to fast in the heart). If a person refrains from eating or drinking but does not make the intention, the fast will not be valid.
Related
- What breaks a fast: making it up (qada), expiation (kaffarah), or nothing at all Which acts break a fast and only need making up, which need making up plus an expiation, and which do not break the fast at all.
- The command to pray, and who it is obligatory on Prayer (salah) is individually obligatory on every sane, mature Muslim, and the conditions that make it obligatory on a given person.
- Making up missed fasts (qada) The rules for making up fasts that were missed or broken: when, in what order, and who owes the compensation (fidyah) instead.
- The intention for fasting, and when to make it How to make the intention (niyyah) for a fast, the words used, and by when it must be made for each kind of fast.