𝗟𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗻 9 | 9 Sha’bān 1444H

After learning that fasting Ramaḍhān is obligatory, we need to know who this obligation applies to, so this is the subject of today's lesson. Conditions for fasting to be obligatory A person is obligated to fast Ramaḍhān ONLY if they meet the following 6 conditions: 1. Islām (as opposed to disbelief) 2. Sanity (as opposed to insanity) 3. Adulthood (as opposed to childhood) ------------------------------------------------------------- 4. Health (as opposed to sickness) 5. Residency (as opposed to travelling) 6. Purity (as opposed to impurity; namely menstrual & post-natal bleeding; this condition is specific to women) ▪️What's the line for? If any of the first three conditions (those above the line) are missing, the obligation of fasting is uplifted COMPLETELY, but if any of the remaining three conditions (those below the line) are missing, the obligation is TEMPORARILY uplifted; meaning, a person is excused from fasting Ramaḍhān at its appointed time, but they still have to make up for any missed days. 💡Benefit: observing an act of worship at its appointed time is known as Adā', and performing it outside its appointed time is known as Qaḍhā'. This is the difference between Adā' & Qaḍhā'. Thus, fasting WITHIN the month of Ramaḍhān is considered Adā’, while making up for any missed fast OUTSIDE Ramaḍhān is Qaḍhā'. Let us now clarify the above conditions in a bit more detail: 1⃣- Islām The saying of Allāh (translated meaning): “O believers! Fasting is prescribed for you...” [Sūrah Baqarah: 183], indicates that this obligation is directed to Muslims. Likewise, when the Prophet ﷺ sent Mu’ādh raḍhiyallāhu ’anhu to Yemen as a caller to Islām, he instructed him saying: “Let the first thing you invite them to be the Tawheed of Allāh (i.e. to embrace Islām). IF THEY ACCEPT THAT, tell them Allāh has enjoined on them five prayers to be offered every day and night (i.e. every 24 hours). IF THEY PRAY, tell them that Allāh has enjoined on them Zakāh (charity)...” [Bukhāri& Muslim] Notice how the Prophet ﷺ instructed him to begin by calling them to Islām before commanding them with any other obligation. This indicates that the remaining pillars of Islām (Ṣalāh, Zakāh, Ṣawm & Ḥajj) are of no use unless a person accepts Islām. For this reason, a disbeliever is not instructed to fast until he embraces Islām, otherwise his fasting is null and void. 🔺Note: When the inhabitants of Hellfire are asked: “What has caused you to enter Hellfire?” They will say: “We were not of those who prayed. Nor did we feed the poor. We used to indulge in falsehood along with others and we denied the Day of Judgement.” [Sūrah Muddathir 42 - 46] This indicates that Allāh will hold the disbelievers accountable for disobeying His commandments; He will punish them for leaving off the obligations (notice how they cited abandonment of Salāh and Zakāh as a reason for their punishment). They will be punished for the sins they commit (they cited indulging in falsehood as another reason for their punishment). They will also be punished for their disbelief (their disbelief in the Hereafter was another reason mentioned). 2⃣- Sanity & 3⃣- Adulthood The insane and the young are not obligated to fast. In fact, they are exempt from all religious duties, because the Prophet ﷺ said: “The Pen (i.e. religious accountability) has been lifted from three: the sleeping person until he awakens, the child until he reaches adulthood, and the insane until he regains sanity.” [Abū Dāwūd - graded 'Ṣaḥīḥ' by Sheikh Albāni] 🔺Note: Those who are caring for the insane and the young have a duty of care to ensure that those under their care are protected from harming themselves as well as others. Also, parents must accustom their children to good and discourage them from sin and transgression. Sheikh ‘Uthaymīn raḥimahullāh said: “A child is not obligated to fast until he reaches puberty, but they should be instructed to fast once able in order to accustom them to fasting so it becomes easier once they reach puberty.