Who is Required to Fast in Islam?

Fasting (Ṣawm – صَوْم) during the month of Ramadan is an obligatory act of worship and one of the five pillars of Islam. It is a means of spiritual purification, self-discipline, and obedience to Allah ﷻ. The Quran commands fasting upon the believers:

﴿يَا أَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ﴾

“O you who have believed, fasting has been prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may attain taqwa (piety).”
(Surah Al-Baqarah 2:183)

However, fasting is not required for every individual in the same way. Islamic law (Shari’ah) outlines specific conditions that determine who is obligated to fast. While fasting is compulsory for most Muslims, there are exemptions for those who are unable due to valid reasons.

This article will provide a detailed explanation of who is required to fast in Islam, based on Quranic verses, Hadiths, and scholarly rulings, covering various scenarios such as illness, travel, pregnancy, old age, and more.

Who is Required to Fast?

For fasting to be obligatory, a person must meet six essential conditions:

The Person Must Be Muslim (الإسلام)

Fasting is an act of worship, and like other Islamic duties, it is only required for Muslims. Non-Muslims are not obligated to fast, and if they convert to Islam, they are not required to make up missed fasts from before their conversion.

The Person Must Be of Sound Mind (العقل)

A person must be sane and mentally capable to be obligated to fast. The Prophet ﷺ said:

«رُفِعَ الْقَلَمُ عَنْ ثَلَاثَةٍ: عَنِ النَّائِمِ حَتَّى يَسْتَيْقِظَ، وَعَنِ الصَّبِيِّ حَتَّى يَحْتَلِمَ، وَعَنِ الْمَجْنُونِ حَتَّى يَعْقِلَ»

“The pen has been lifted (i.e., obligations are removed) from three: the one who sleeps until he wakes, the child until he reaches puberty, and the insane person until he regains sanity.”
(Sunan Abi Dawood 4403, Sahih)

This means that a person who is mentally unstable or suffers from a condition that affects their understanding is not required to fast.

The Person Must Be Past Puberty (البلوغ)

Children are not obligated to fast until they reach puberty (bulugh). However, parents are encouraged to train their children to fast gradually so they become accustomed to it.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

«مُرُوا أَوْلَادَكُمْ بِالصَّلَاةِ وَهُمْ أَبْنَاءُ سَبْعِ سِنِينَ، وَاضْرِبُوهُمْ عَلَيْهَا وَهُمْ أَبْنَاءُ عَشْرٍ»

“Command your children to pray when they are seven years old, and discipline them for it when they are ten.”
(Sunan Abi Dawood 495, Hasan)

Similarly, scholars recommend that children around 7-10 years old should practice fasting partially to develop the habit.

The Person Must Be Physically Able (القدرة على الصيام)

Fasting is only obligatory for those who are physically capable of doing so. Those who are too weak or sick to fast are exempt.

Allah ﷻ says:

﴿وَمَن كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌۭ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ﴾

“And whoever is ill or on a journey, then (they must fast) a number of other days (later).”
(Surah Al-Baqarah 2:185)

This includes:

• The chronically ill (who must pay fidyah instead).
• The temporarily sick (who can make up missed fasts later).
• Elderly people who cannot fast due to weakness.

The Person Must Not Be Traveling (عدم السفر)

A traveler (musafir) is exempt from fasting, as long as the journey meets the minimum distance set by Islamic scholars (approximately 80-90 km).

The Prophet ﷺ and his companions sometimes fasted while traveling and sometimes did not. He said:

«إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَضَعَ عَنِ الْمُسَافِرِ الصَّوْمَ وَشَطْرَ الصَّلَاةِ»

“Allah has lifted fasting and shortened prayer for the traveler.”
(Sunan An-Nasa’i 2275, Sahih)

If a traveler finds fasting too difficult, they can break their fast and make it up later.

The Person Must Be Free from Menstruation or Postnatal Bleeding (عدم الحيض والنفاس)

Women who are menstruating (حيض) or in postnatal bleeding (نفاس) are not allowed to fast. The Prophet ﷺ said:

«أَلَيْسَ إِذَا حَاضَتِ ٱلْمَرْأَةُ لَمْ تُصَلِّ وَلَمْ تَصُمْ؟»

“Is it not the case that when a woman menstruates, she does not pray or fast?”
(Sahih al-Bukhari 304, Sahih Muslim 79)

Women in these conditions must make up missed fasts after Ramadan but are not required to make up missed prayers.

Who is Exempt from Fasting?

The Sick and Chronically Ill

• If a person has temporary illness, they can break their fast and make it up later.
• If a person has a chronic disease (e.g., diabetes, severe health conditions), they are permanently excused but must pay fidyah (feeding a poor person per missed day).

Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women

• If fasting harms the mother or baby, she can delay fasting and make it up later.
• If fasting is too difficult, some scholars allow paying fidyah instead of making up the fasts.

The Elderly and Weak

• If a person is too old and weak to fast, they are permanently exempt and must pay fidyah.

Travelers

• If the journey is over 80-90 km, fasting is optional.
• They can make up missed fasts later.

The Consequence of Missing Fasts

• For a Valid Reason – The person must make up the fasts later or pay fidyah if unable.
• Without a Valid Reason – The person commits a major sin and must repent and make up the missed fasts.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

«مَنْ أَفْطَرَ يَوْمًا مِنْ رَمَضَانَ مِنْ غَيْرِ عُذْرٍ وَلَا مَرَضٍ لَمْ يَقْضِهِ صِيَامُ الدَّهْرِ وَإِنْ صَامَهُ»

“Whoever breaks a fast in Ramadan without a valid excuse or illness, even if he fasts for a lifetime, it will not make up for it.”
(Sunan Abi Dawood 2396, Sahih)

Conclusion