Who Is Fasting Fardh (compulsory) on?

بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ

“In the name of Allah the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.”

Fasting in the month of Ramadhan is compulsory on every sane, mature, male & female muslim.

Who is excused from fasting?

1. The ill

If one is so ill that they do not have the strength to fast, or there is a fear that their illness will increase due to fasting, or they may lose their life, then such a person is excused from fasting & they should make qadha (make them up) once better.
If one can make up the fasts in winter, when the days are shorter then they should do so.
If the sickness is permanent and there is no hope of recovery or being able to make the fasts up in winter, then one must offer fidya.
Fidya is to give wheat or its equivalent value (equivalent to sadqatul fitr) to the poor for each fast that is missed or to feed a poor person 2 meals for every fast.

2. The traveller

If a person is travelling for more than 48 miles & stays at their destination for less than 15 days, they will be classed as a musaafir (traveller). A musaafir is excused from fasting.
If suhoor time (subah sadiq) happens to fall whilst a person is a musaafir, then they will be excused from fasting & can do qadha (make it up) later.
If suhoor time (subah sadiq) happens to fall whilst a person is a muqeem (resident), they must fast that day, although they may be travelling later on that day.
If fasting is not difficult for a person whilst travelling, then it is better that they fast, so that they receive the great virtues of fasting in the month of Ramadhan.
Once a musaafir becomes a muqeem (resident) it is not appropriate for him to eat and drink for the rest of the day.

3. Old age

If a person is so old that he does not have the strength to fast then he will be excused. If there is hope that he will regain strength for e.g. he may have the strength to make them up during winter then he should do so. If there is no hope of regaining strength, then he should give fidya (compensation).
Fidya is to give wheat or its equivalent value (equivalent to sadqatul fitr) to the poor for each fast that is missed or to feed a poor person 2 meals for every fast.

4. Extreme Hunger & thirst

If a person experiences extreme hunger whilst fasting that there is a fear of them losing their life then they will be excused. (e.g a poor person fasting or people with certain illnesses).

5. A pregnant woman

Shariah has excused pregnant women from fasting in the month of Ramadhan if there is fear of harm to her or the baby.
A woman should attempt to fast for a day or two & see how she manages. If she feels she is unable to continue fasting, then only she will be regarded as excused. She may also fast with breaks in between. In other words fast one day & then have a break the next day & so on.
She will have to do qadha (make up) for the missed fasts when able to do so .

6. A breastfeeding woman

If fasting affects lactation then one may make qadah (make up for the fasts). A woman should attempt to fast for a day or two & see how she manages. If she feels she is unable to continue fasting, then only she will be regarded as excused. She may also fast with breaks in between. In other words fast one day & then have a break the next day & so on. If there is no fear of harm to the baby or fasting does not affect lactation, then she should fast.
She will have to do qadha (make up) for the missed fasts when able to do so .

7. A menstruating woman or a woman who is experiencing postnatal bleeding.

It is not permissible for women to fast during menstruation or post natal bleeding.
If a woman stops bleeding in Ramaḍhan, during the day, it will not be proper for her to eat or drink for the rest of the day. It is necessary for her to behave like a fasting person until sunset, even though it will not be considered a fast for her, and she will have to make up for it later. Whereas on the day her menstruation begins, it is permissible for her to eat and drink on that day and on all the days she is not fasting.