WHO MUST FAST :

Part 3 : *** WHO MUST FAST :

Fasting is mandatory for all sane(normal), healthy, adult Muslims, male and female. People who are insane, physically ill, minors (under the age of puberty), travelers, menstruating women, women experiencing post childbirth bleeding, breastfeeding women and pregnant women are all not required to fast. For some of these people, fasting is not obligatory at all, while others are required to make up for the missed days of fasting at a later date.

*** WHO ARE NOT OBLIGED TO FAST :
The following groups of people are not required to fast and they do not make up for- the missed days of fasting. Likewise, they are not required to do anything as a compensation or atonement for missing the fast.

a) The Person who are Insane(mentally ill): Fasting is not obligatory for the insane because of their inability to understand what they are doing. Allah's Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: "The pen (that records deeds and sins) is lifted (from writing) for three people: the insane until they regain their sanity, those who are sleeping until they awaken, and the young until they reach puberty." (Ahmad, Abu Dawud and At-Tirmithi hadith 1423)

b) Children: Those who have not reached the age of puberty are not required to fast as evidenced by the Hadith mentioned above. However, it is recommended that their guardians encourage them to fast so that they become accustomed to it at an early age.

They may fast as long as they are able and then break the fast if it becomes too difficult for them.

*** WHO MUST MAKE UP MISSED FASTS :

There are some persons who are allowed to abstain from fasting and make up for it by fasting later. They are as follows:

a) The ill Person: A person who is sick, but not terminally ill, is allowed to abstain from fasting and is required to make up for missed days. Allah(Subhanahu wa ta'ala) said: "... but if any of you is ill or on a journey, the same number (should be made up) from other days." (2:184)

b) The Traveler: If one travels as far as the distance that requires shortening the prayer, it is allowed for him to abstain from fasting, but he is required to make up for missed days. This is proven in the previous Verse of the Qur'an.

c) Pregnant and Breast-feeding Women: Such women are allowed to abstain from fasting if they fear for their health, their infants, fetuses, or both. Allah's Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: "Allah has relieved the traveler of the fast and a part of the prayer, and has relieved the pregnant and the breast-feeding woman from the fast." (Sunan Ibn Majah Book 7, Hadith 1736 ) The pregnant and breast-feeding women make up for the missed days of fasting when the circumstances that allowed them to abstain have ended.

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Lik