Ramadan: Categories Of Muslims Exempted From Fasting

• Ramadan fasting is compulsory for all Muslims who are healthy and old enough to observe it when it comes
• However, the Quran exempted two people from fasting, according to AbdulRafiu Busari, an Islamic scholar who spoke with Legit.ng in an exclusive interview
• The Islamic scholar noted that the exempted persons are to repay their fasting once they regain their feat because Ramadan is a debt for every Muslim who witnessed it

Ramadan fasting is compulsory for all Muslims across the world. This is a moment when the Muslims exercise holiness and restrain from ungodly doing. However, the Ramadan fasting is not compulsory for two categories of people.

According to AbdulRafiu Busari, an Islamic scholar in an interview with Legit.ng, these two people were mentioned by the Quran, while the Shari'ah (Islamic laws) mentioned several others who may not fast during Ramadan. However, these categories of people were to repay their fasting debt after Ramadan, when they get relief.

He said:

Read also:

Wife Abandons Husband Who Fell Sick Abroad Takes Her Children And Moves Out Of House

"If we go to Suratul Baqarah verse 182-186, Allah talks about fasting in these verses. He mentioned two people exempted from fasting. Someone who is sick. One of the things Allah prohibited is for us to injure our lives or what would lead to our deaths. This is because Allah values human souls. He did not want us to die before our time. The Quran mentions that the second person is someone who is on a journey. The Quran is clear about these two categories of people.

"However, Allah did not give them the fasting, He says they will choose another day, when they return from a journey or when they get better from their sickness, to repay the fasting. Such a person will repay the 30 days of fasting. If the Ramadan month was 29, such a person would repay 29 days of fasting. He or she did not commit any sin, such person's case was based on circumstances."

Why Ramadan is a debt for Muslims

He further explained that any Muslim who fell sick during Ramadan and regained her strength after would repay the fasting for the number of days he fell sick. If the person died in the period, the children entitled to his or her property would fast on behalf of the person, the number of days such person missed before his death.

He said:

"If it was in the middle of Ramadan that the person fell sick, such a person would fast from the number he started the sickness or went on a journey. Even Shari'ah explained that if the person died in the sickness or the journey, the children, who are entitled to inherit the person's property, would share the fasting month among themselves. For instance, if the person started the sickness when Ramadan was 10 and died when Ramadan became 15, his or her children would only repay the five the person was unable to repay before his death.

"This is because the fasting such person missed during the period has become debt and one of the things that stops the dead from having a pass before Allah ta'Allah was debt. However, it is not a debt if the person did not start Ramadan, even if the person prayed Taraweeh (The prayer Muslims pray a night before the commencement of Ramadan)."

The scholars listed other people who can't fast, citing different circumstances. For instance, someone in prison, a pregnant woman and several others.

Yoruba Imams and Alfas announce Ramadan commencement date

Legit.ng earlier reported that the League of Imams and Alfas in Yorubaland, Edo and Delta has mentioned when the Ramadan fasting will commence in 2025.

According to a statement from the office of the Grand Mufti of Yorubaland, tarawih prayer will be observed on Friday, February 28, while Ramadan fasting will commence on Saturday, March 1, 2025.

The statement maintained that the announcement has been its practice for decades, and it was done after a series of meetings with the League of Imams and Alfas' leadership and professionals.

Read also:

Davido Appreciates His Trinidad Fans The Energy Love The Way You Embraced Me It Felt Like Home