About Fasting
Who Must Fast?
For Muslims, everyone is required to fast, but there are exceptions
- Children who haven't yet reached puberty
- Pregnant and Menstruating women
- Women who are breastfeeding
- Those unable to fast due to illness (physical or mental)
- Elderly and frail
- Travellers ( away from home on a journey of 50miles or more)
Despite being in the above categories, some prefer not to miss the fasts during Ramadan and children are encouraged to gradually start giving up some food and drink so they are better prepared for full fasting when they reach puberty.
If there is a temporary break in the fast due to illness, Muslims are required to make up the missing days after Ramadan. If they cannot fast in Ramadan and can’t make up the lost days afterwards (for example, due to ill health or pregnancy) they can pay for someone else to be fed (fidyah)
How is fast broken?
The fast must not be broken unless in exceptional circumstances.
The fast is broken if a product with nutritional or medicinal benefit, intentionally reaches any of the following:
- The Throat
- Stomach
- Intestine
- Or a cavity that has a path to any of the above 3
Although differences of opinion among Muslim scholars, the general thoughts on what breaks a fast are:
