Who is obligated to fast?
على من يجب الصيام؟
The obligation of fasting requires certain conditions to be met in order for a person to be legally held accountable for this act of worship.
يتطلب وجوب الصيام توافر شروط معينة حتى يكون الإنسان مكلفاً شرعاً ومسؤولاً عن هذه العبادة.
The Conditions for the Obligation of Fasting | شروط وجوب الصيام
1. Being a Muslim
Fasting is obligatory for a Muslim (This is the foundational condition, as Allah specifically addressed the believers saying: "O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous." Al-Baqarah 2:183).
1. الإسلام
يكون الصيام واجبا علي المسلم، (وهذا هو الشرط الأساسي، حيث خاطب الله المؤمنين تحديداً قائلاً: "يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ" البقرة 2: 183).
2. Age of Accountability
who is of age to perform the obligatory acts of worship, (Reaching puberty and having a sound mind are prerequisites for legal accountability. The Prophet ﷺ said: "The pen is lifted from three: a sleeper until he awakes, a child until he reaches puberty, and an insane person until he regains his sanity." Sunan Abi Dawud 4398).
2. التكليف
المكلف (البلوغ والعقل هما شرطا التكليف. قال النبي ﷺ: "رُفِعَ الْقَلَمُ عَنْ ثَلَاثَةٍ: عَنِ النَّائِمِ حَتَّى يَسْتَيْقِظَ، وَعَنِ الصَّبِيِّ حَتَّى يَحْتَلِمَ، وَعَنِ الْمَجْنُونِ حَتَّى يَعْقِلَ" سنن أبي داود 4398).
3. Physical Ability and Absence of Excuses
and who is able to fast; he has no reasons that prevent him from fasting. (Valid legal excuses include severe illness, traveling, or specific biological conditions for women, reflecting divine mercy: "So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey, then an equal number of other days." Al-Baqarah 2:185).
3. القدرة وانعدام الموانع
القادر على الصيام / الخالي من الأعذار. (تشمل الأعذار الشرعية المرض الشديد، والسفر، والموانع البيولوجية للمرأة، مما يبرز الرحمة الإلهية: "فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ ۖ وَمَن كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ" البقرة 2: 185).
Frequently Asked Questions | الأسئلة الشائعة
Who exactly is obligated to perform the fast in Islam?
Fasting is obligatory for a Muslim who has reached the age of accountability (puberty and sanity), is physically able to fast, and has no legal excuses preventing them from doing so.
What does it mean to be free from reasons that prevent fasting?
It means the person does not have a valid Islamic excuse, such as a severe illness, traveling, or other specific physical conditions, which would temporarily or permanently remove the strict obligation to fast.