Alsiraj Official Website
Controversial miscellaneous issues related to Islam
Fasting in Islam
Exemption From Fasting
Islam is the religion of easiness and practicality. That’s why there are some conditions in which fasting is not a must such as:
Exemption From Fasting:
- Children under the age of puberty and discretion.
Insane people who are unaccountable for their deeds. People of these two categories are exempted from the duty of fist, and no compensation or any other substitute is enjoined on them.
Men and women who are too old and feeble to undertake the obligation of fast and bear its hardships. Such people are exempted from this duty, but they must offer, at least, one needy poor Muslim an average full meal or its value per person per day.
Sick people whose health is likely to be severely affected by the observance of fast. They may postpone the fast, as long as they are sick, to a later date and make up for it, a day for a day.
Those who are traveling are given the option of fasting or not. Those who choose not to fast during their journey must make it up after reaching their destination. This applies to all types of travel; for business, for personal reasons, or due to one's job (i.e. long distance haulers).
Pregnant women and women breast-feeding their children may also break the fast, if its observance is likely to endanger their own health or that of their infants. But they must make up for the fast at a delayed time, a day for a day.
Women in the period of menstruation (of a maximum of ten days or of confinement (of a maximum of forty days). They must postpone the fast till recovery and then make up for it, a day for a day.
