The Companions may Allāh be pleased with them, who were the best of this Ummah, would make their children fast from a young age.” [Majmū’ Fatāwā Ash-Sheikh Ibn

💡Benefit: Ar-Rubayyi’ bint Mu’awwidh raḍhiyallāhu ’anhā said: “We used to fast on that day (i.e ‘Āshurā') and would also make our children fast. We would prepare for them toys made of wool so that if any of them cried for food, they were given the toy till it was time to break the fast.” [Bukhāri & Muslim] When does a child become an adult/accountable? Sheikh ’Uthaymīn raḥimahullāh said: “A boy becomes mature through one of the following occurrences: 1) Reaching their 15th birthday (according to the Hijri calendar), 2) Growth of [thick] pubic hair around the private part, 3) Seminal discharge accompanied with desire, while awake or asleep. As soon as any of these three things occur, a person becomes mature. And in the case of females, there is a fourth sign; that is, 4) Menstruation; if a girl menstruates, even if she is as young as ten, then she has reached maturity.“ [Ash-Sharḥ Al-Mumti’ (4/224)] This is why it's important to accustom our children to doing good from a young age, especially the girls, because they mature quicker. So it's not right for parents to dress their daughters inappropriately on the pretext that they're still young; because (1) it's a cause of fitnah, and (2) It's possible they might awaken the next day and find they have become an adult. So how difficult do you think it's going to be for them to observe the correct Islamic covering so suddenly after being accustomed to dressing inappropriately for so long?! 4⃣- Health If someone is unable to fast on a permanent basis due to a terminal illness or due to old age, then it’s not obligatory for them to fast because “Allāh does not burden a soul with more than it can bear.” [Sūrah Baqarah: 286] Also, the Prophet ﷺ said: “If I forbid you from something, keep away from it, and if I order you to do something, do of it as much as you can.” [Bukhāri & Muslim] However, if one’s illness stops them from fasting temporarily, they are excused from fasting during Ramaḍhān, but they have to make up for any missed days at a later time, because Allāh the Almighty said (translated meaning): “But whoever of you is ill or on a journey (and breaks their fast), they must fast an equal number of days after Ramaḍhān.” [Sūrah Baqarah: 184] 5⃣- Residency (as opposed to travelling) The proof for this condition is included in the Āyah above. And just like the sick person, whoever breaks their fast due to travelling must make up for this at a later time. 🔺Note: With respect to the sick person and the traveller, although both are exempt from fasting, if they choose to fast then their fast is valid. 6⃣- Purity from menstrual and post-natal bleeding ’Ā'ishah raḍhiyallāhu ’anhā said: “We would menstruate during the time of Allāh's Messenger (ﷺ), so we were commanded to make up the (missed) fast, but were not commanded to make up the (missed) prayers.” [Muslim] It is Ḥarām for a woman to fast while menstruating or experiencing post-natal bleeding. If she starts bleeding during the day while fasting, then she has to break her fast and make up for this at a later time - even if this occurs one minute before sunset! Similarly, if she becomes clean after dawn break, even a minute after, then she is not allowed to fast for the remainder of the day!