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The Rules on Prayer & Fasting 2023

  • Prayer
  • Fasting
    • Conditions and Requirements of Obligatory Fast
    • Obligatory Acts of Fasting
    • Makrūh Acts during a Fast
    • Cases in which Qaḍā’ and Intentional kaffārah Are Obligatory
    • The Kaffārah of Breaking Fast Intentionally
    • Cases in which Only Qaḍā’ of Fasting Is Obligatory
    • Rulings of Qaḍā’ Fast
    • Kaffārah of Delay
    • The Rulings on Qaḍā’ of One's Parent's Missed Prayers/Fasts
    • Rulings on a Traveler's Fast
    • People for Whom Fast Is not Obligatory
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      People for Whom Fast Is not Obligatory

       

      954. If a pregnant woman, whose delivery is imminent, fears that fasting will harm her fetus or herself, fasting is not obligatory for her. In the first case (harmful to the fetus), she should pay one mudd of food (wheat, barely, etc.) as fidyah to the needy for each day and make up for it in qaḍā’ after the month of Ramadan as well. In the second case (harmful to herself), she should make up for the missed fasts in qaḍā’ and, according to caution, pay the fidyah as well. In case of a female whose delivery is not imminent, the ruling of paying fidyah is based on obligatory caution.
      955. If a breastfeeding female (whether she is the baby's mother or another woman whether hired for this job or not) fears of harm to the baby due to a decrease in the quantity of milk or its drying up caused by fasting, she is not obligated to fast but she should pay fidyah for each day and make up for the missed fasts in qaḍā’ later on. However, if fasting is harmful to the woman herself, her paying fidyah is, by obligatory caution, mandatory.
      956. In both previous issues, if she does not make up for the missed fasts by the next Ramadan, then if it is due to carelessness, she should, in addition to making up in qaḍā’, observe kaffārah of delay (i.e. to pay one mudd (about 750 gm.) food for each day to the needy), but if her delay is due to an excuse, there is no need for kaffārah of delay. However, if the excuse is due to fear that fast will harm her baby, she may make up for the missed fasts in qaḍā’ whenever she can, but if it is due to fear of harm to herself, she is not required to make up in qaḍā’ but should pay fidyah for each missed fast.
      957. The payment of fidyah or kaffārah is the wife's duty and it is not obligatory for the husband, even if she has not fasted due to pregnancy or breastfeeding. Also, kaffārah or fidyah of a child is not the responsibility of the father. Of course, it is permissible for a husband or father to pay fidyah or kaffārah on behalf of his wife or child.
      958. It is not obligatory for an old man and woman to fast if they find it difficult. However, they must pay fidyah, i.e. to give 750 gr. food (such as wheat, barley, or rice) to the poor for each day. If they are not able to fast at all, they must, by obligatory caution, pay fidyah. In both cases, if they can fast after the month of Ramadan, they should make up the missed fasts as a mustaḥabb caution.
      959. A person who suffers from a disease that makes him very thirsty and cannot tolerate thirst, or it is difficult for him to tolerate thirst, fasting is not obligatory for him. Of course, in the second case (hardship), he must pay one mudd of food to the poor for each day, and by obligatory caution, he should also give this fidyah in the first case, and if he becomes able to fast after the month of Ramadan, he should observe the qaḍā’ fasts according to the mustaḥabb caution.
      960. The amount of fidyah is the same as the amount of kaffārah for the delay, i.e. 750 grams of wheat, flour, bread, rice or other food items. Fidyah should be given to the poor.
    • Way of Ascertaining the First of a Lunar Month
    • Types of Fasting
    • Conclusion: Fasting Etiquettes and these of the Holy Month of Ramadan
    • I‘tikāf
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