Islamic Verdicts - Volume III

The Book Of fasting

 The Age at which Fasting Becomes Obligatory

It is obligatory upon the Person who has reached the age of Puberty to fast

Q: I am a young man who has reached the age of 23 and my father encouraged me to fast when I was about 15 years old. Hence, I used to fast and some days I would not fast, because I did not know the true meaning of the fast. Then, after I reached the age of puberty and I understood more, I began to fast every blessed month of Ramadhan and I would not break the fast on any of its days, and all praise is due to Allah. So, my question is: Do I have to make up for the fasts of the previous years, while knowing that I was 18 years old when I began to fast every Ramadhan?

A: When a person reaches the age of 15 years, all of the responsibilities become obligatory upon him. For verily, this age is the sign of puberty. Therefore, this person who was lax about fasting, and he was considered to have reached the age of puberty, and he left off what was obligatory, he must make up for what he left off of the days of Ramadhan that passed that he did not fast. He is not excused because of his ignorance of the wisdom of fasting. Therefore, he must make up for the days that he left off or in which he did not complete the fast, along with making expiation for each day by feeding a poor person. If he does not know the number of days, then he must make up a safe estimate (of days) until he is sure that he has made up for what was obligatory as a responsibility upon him. And Allah knows best.

Ash-Shaykh Ibn Jibreen

She is 13 years old and she does not fast

Q: There is a young lady who has reached the age of 12 or 13 years and the blessed month of Ramadhan passed her and she did not fast it. Is there any sin upon her or her family? Should she fast, and if she does not fast is there any sin on her?

A: The woman is considered responsible under conditions: Islam, sanity and puberty. Puberty is attained by menstruation or a wet dream or the growth of coarse pubic hair around the sexual organ or reaching the age of 15. Therefore, this young lady, if she has all the conditions of responsibility, fasting is obligatory upon her and she must make up for the days that she did not fast during the time of her responsibility. If one of the conditions is not present of these conditions, then she is not responsible and there is no sin upon her.

The Permanent Committee

The age of being held responsible for fasting

Q: When is a young lady obligated to fast?

A: The young lady is obligated to fast when she reaches the age of responsibility. Puberty is attained by reaching the age of 15 years or the growth of coarse pubic hair around the private part or the ejaculation of the well-known fluid or menstruation or pregnancy. Whenever any of these things occur, she is obligated to fast, even if she is a 10-year-old girl. For verily, a large number of females begin menstruating at the age of 10 or 11 years. Yet, their families will be lax and they will think that she is a little girl and they will not make her fast. This is a mistake. For verily, when the young lady menstruates she has reached the age of womanhood and the pen of responsibility applies to her (i.e., she is held responsible as an adult). And Allah knows best.

Ash-Shaykh Ibn Jibreen