For Whom Fasting is Mandatory?

To be a Muslim is the first condition for the obligation of fasting. In this  world, the non-Muslim is not requested to fast, however, in the Hereafter, he will be punished for showing negligence towards the fasting, as like he will be punished for his blasphemy. But here, the ‘Murthadd’ (one who went out from Islam) comes under the concern.  If he embraces the Islam again, then he should perform the fasting that lost to him on the time of disbelief. 

Secondly, its obligation is upon the pubescent Muslim. Wisdom and maturity are the main stipulations for being the fasting obligatory. So, the child is not requested to perform the fasting. Nevertheless, the parents or the guardians of the child are obligated to order him to fast once he is 7 (lunar) years old, with the condition that the child’s body should be capable of fasting, in addition, he would not be harmed by it. 

 As well, he must be of sound mind for being the fasting obligated to him. Accordingly, the Fasting is not obligatory upon the insane. For, the permissions and prohibitions of the Almighty will not be related with them. But the fasting will be obligatory upon one who deliberately used the intoxications. 

As well, the Fasting is not obligatory on a person whose body cannot tolerate fasting, either due to old age or because of a severe illness. Moreover, the fasting is prohibited for a person who frightened by fasting that his sickness would get worse or he would die. Here, we have to understand a matter that the person who can’t fast because of his old age or an illness which isn’t hopeful to be cured, in such a condition; he does not have to make up the missed days of fasting. Instead, he has to pay the expiation to a poor Muslim concerning each day he missed of fasting. The expiation for each day is two average-sized, cupped hands of the most common staple food of the country (Approximately 800 ml.).

 

Like wise, the menstruating woman or the woman who is in her postpartum bleeding period doesn’t have the obligation of fasting. Instead, it is unlawful for them to fast. But these women have to make up each missed day.  As well, if the pregnant woman or the breast-feeding woman fears that harm would come to her or her baby from her fasting then she has the permission to abstain from the fast. But, here both must make up every one of the missed days of fasting. Whereas, if the reason behind their abandoning of fasting was solely the fear of harming their baby, then in addition to make up the missed days of fasting, they must pay the above mentioned expiation for each day they missed. The one who is traveling a distance of two or more walking days (about 132 kms) is allowed to avoid the fast unless his traveling is sinful. This traveler is permitted to break his fast even though he would not encounter hardship in his trip, such as if he crossed this distance quickly, by plane, or comfortable, in a car or a train. The matter of traveling is not based on the hardship; rather it has to do with the distance. This facility for the traveler was mentioned in the Qur’an. 

Allah said in Surat al-Baqarah: “If, however, anyone of you be sick or on a journey, he should fast the same number of other days. As for those who can not fast (by extremely old age or sick not hope full of curing), the expiation of this shall be the feeding of one needy person for one fasting day, and whosoever does more than this with a willing heart does it for his own good. But if you understand the thing, it is better for you to observe the Fast” (2:184).Moosa Sonkal,http://sonkalsunniblogspot.com