Under aged Summer Fasts

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#1 [Permalink] Posted on 27th June 2015 00:52

What would you say to your children if they wanted to keeps fasts at this time of the year where each fast is about 21 hours in the UK.

Personally, I don't allow it as it's not Fard upon them. I would let them do it at an even younger age of it was in winter when the hours are extremely short.

The reason I bring this topic up is because my daughter came home from school with a letter asking if our children would be fasting. The letter was for children under the age of 6 onwards.

The thing is, there are non Muslim schools where the children as young as 6 are fasting for 21 hours a day and this gives the non Muslims an excuse to call us names.

Regardless of if the school is Muslim or non Muslim, I don't think children should be allowed to fast in these times. Am I correct to say such a thing. Should there be a fatwa against it too?

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#2 [Permalink] Posted on 27th June 2015 01:06

abu mohammed wrote:

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there are ways to encourage without them fasting such hours before it's compulsory.

you're right. there's a reason it's not fardh on children.

in the note I would also state that. "no my child will not be fasting because it's not compulsory on them yet"

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#3 [Permalink] Posted on 27th June 2015 01:44

Another way of perhaps doing it is letting them fast on weekends, I know many parents who allow this. However each case will vary and parents knows best whether their child can handle it or not.

Some parents would even make them fast half the fast, technically it's not a fast but just so that they get a slight feel of what it's like, and not feel left out.

Walahualam

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#4 [Permalink] Posted on 27th June 2015 02:01

abu mohammed wrote:

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Assalamu 'alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh

I heard that the authorites in the UK had banned fasts for young children...

Nevertheless, here young children keep "fasts" of a portion of the duration, some call it a "chota rozaa" as brother Jinn suggested above.

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#5 [Permalink] Posted on 27th June 2015 03:22

Agreed with all of the above.

We've always encouraged half day fasts for practice purposes.

Fasting has only become fard on my son since last year, and MashaAllahhe was able to keep everyday last year at the same hours and the year before, he did more than 20 days too.

With my younger one, on the weekends, she makes suhoor and then skips breakfast because we let her sleep till late and then let her have a late lunch.But when it becomes fard, then by all means, she will keep all of them too inshaAllah.

She does feel pressure from her classmates who do fast, but Alhumdulillah, she understandswhy she can't.

We joke about it too.We've told her that if her friends ask her if she's fasting, then she must answer them and tell them that she's not fasting, rather she is "slowing" and if the teachers are interested, and ask questions, then she makes it very clear to them that the religion says she's too small to fast and that we won't allow it because Islam doesn't allow such hardships.

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#6 [Permalink] Posted on 27th June 2015 03:25

Quote:

I heard that the authorites in the UK had banned fasts for young children...

That's partially correct, some schools, especially in Muslim areas put a ban on under agreed children to fast, and as a parent I feel that it was a great move.

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#7 [Permalink] Posted on 27th June 2015 03:38

Barclay Primary School in Leyton sent a letter to parents this week to advise them fasting would not be allowed.

Friday 12 June 2015

A primary school in east London has drawn criticism for banning Muslim pupils from fasting during Ramadan at school.

In a letter from Barclay Primary School, parents were informed that while the school appreciated what Ramadan meant to Muslims, they would be banning the requirement to fast on school grounds.

“We have sought guidance and are reliably informed that in Islamic Law, children are not required to fast during Ramadan, only being required to do so when they become adults," the letter from the Leyton school said.

The school said although they understood that the age of adulthood was disputed, “in Islamic Law the health of an individual [was] the first priority”.

“Previously, we have had a number of children who became ill and children who have fainted or been unable to fully access the school curriculum in their attempts to fast.”

As the school policy had the same purpose as Islamic Law – “to safeguard the health and education of the child” – it would not allow children to fast at the school, advising that older children take part in fasting at the weekends.
The rule was also to be implemented at other schools within the Lion Academy Trust.

The decision has sparked criticism from some members of the Muslim community. A spokesperson from the Muslim Association of Britain told Mail Online that parents had the right over the final choice on fasting.

“We believe that there are sufficient and stringent rules within Islam which allow those who are unable to fast, to break fast,” said the spokesman, who added that the rules included those who were medically ill, too young or too old.

The radical preacher Anjem Choudary took to Twitter to criticise the school's decision:
Muslim parents with children at Barclay Primary School should withdraw their children & send them to Schools where they teach Shari'ah law!!
9:00 AM - 12 Jun 2015 (who listens to him anyway)

Justin James, chief executive officer of the Lion Academy Trust, said in a statement on the school’s website, that if parents were considering letting their child fast during school, “you will need to meet with your Head of School individually to discuss how we ensure the safety and well being of your child whilst still ensuring that they are part of the Ramadan celebration”.

The independent.

Excellent decision from the school and thanks to those scholars who approved the decision.
My added comment about Anjum Chowdry....who listens to him anyway. Certain people are just out there for publicity and to give the pure teachings of Islam a very bad impression.
And for those parents who feel that their kids can handle it , then that's up to them. Otherwise they need to stop making our beautiful religion look like it's very oppressive and they should be ashamed of themselves in my opinion.

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#8 [Permalink] Posted on 28th June 2015 02:21

they have started with primary school and will move on to high school next.

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#9 [Permalink] Posted on 28th June 2015 05:30

Rajab wrote:

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if they did that they will be accused of communism. The kuffar will always want to look politically correct, and the case of the primary school, they are both, islamically and politically correct. This way they look good and accepted as going against the Muslim public. Tryingi t in secondary school, they won't get the backing of any Muslim, scholars and laypeople.

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#10 [Permalink] Posted on 28th June 2015 22:47

PLEASE NOTE, MY COMMENTS AND OPINIONS ARE BASED PURELY ON THESE 21 HOURS OF FASTING.

So here are some sahih opinions for fasting of younger children, so don't get me wrong.

All Praise is due to Allah Lord of the Realms. And prayers and peace of Allah be upon the most honorable Prophet and Messenger.

This is a selection of the scholars Fatawa about the fasting of our beloved kids.

When must the kid fast?

Q: When must a child fast? At what age fasting becomes obligatory upon them?

A: A child should be ordered to observe fasting when he is seven years old, and he should be beaten (lightly), for not fasting, when he is ten years old, and it is obligatory for him to fast when he reaches puberty.

Puberty occurs by ejaculating the semen (wet dream) as a result of lust, the emergence of the hard hair round the private parts, wet dreams or reaching the age of fifteen (if none of these four signs appeared).

The female is like the male in all the above four signs; however, an additional sign is menstruation.

The origin of this is the Hadeeth that is reported by Ahmad and Abu Dawud on the authority of the grandfather of Amr Ibn Shu’ayb that the Messenger of Allah (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Order your children to perform the prayer at (the age of) seven, and beat them (for not performing it) at ten, and separate between them in their beds.”

«مُرُوا أبناءكم بالصلاة لسبع، واضربوهم عليها لعشر سنين، وفرقوا بينهم في المضاجع»
رواه أحمد وأبو داود

And what is narrated on the authority of Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) who said that the Prophet (peace and prayers of Allah be upon him) said: “The pen (of recording the deeds) is raised from three (kinds of people); the sleeping person till he wakes up, the child till he reaches puberty and the insane till he become sane” [Reported by Imam Ahmad]

«رفع القلم عن ثلاثة: عن النائم حتى يستيقظ، وعن الصبي حتى يحتلم، وعن المجنون حتى يعقل»
رواه الإمام أحمد

Another Hadeeth like this is narrated on the authority of Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) and is reported by Abu Dawud and At-Tirmizi reported it on the authority of Aisha and said that it is good Hadeeth. And we ask Allah to grant us success.

(The standing committee for Fatwa, Fatwa No. 1787)

Could the percipient child be ordered to observe fasting?

Q: Could the percipient child be ordered to observe fasting? Would this fasting be sufficient to him if he reached puberty during fasting?

A: Boys and girls should be ordered to observe fasting when they are seven years old (or more) to be accustomed with fasting; their guardians should order them to fast as they order them to pray. If they reach puberty, fasting becomes obligatory for them to observe.

If they reach puberty during fasting, fasting this day would be enough for them (i.e. they do not have to make up this day). For example, if the boy reaches fifteen years by noon, during his fasting at some day, fasting this day would be sufficient to him; fasting the first half of the day will be considered as observation to supererogatory act of worship while fasting the second half of the day will be considered as observation to obligatory act of worship. This is in the case of not reaching previously to the state of adulthood by the emergence of the hard hair round the private parts or having ejaculation as result of lust.

The same is applied to the girl, although she has additional sign for adulthood, menstruation.

(Sheikh Abdel-Azeez bin Baz; Tohfat Al-Ikhwan, P. 160)

The fasting of a child

Q: Are children less than fifteen years ordered to observe fasting as they are ordered to practice prayer?

A: Yes, children who did not reach puberty should be ordered to observe fasting, if they had the ability to fast, as the companions (may Allah be pleased with them) used to do with their children.

The scholars stated that the guardian should order any underage under his guardianship to observe fasting, to be accustomed for it and to have the principles of Islam planted in his heart like an instinct. However, if fasting was hard on the child or would harm him, they should not be obliged to fast. Here, I would like to refer to something the parents do; they prevent their children from observing fasting opposite to the doing of the companions. They claim preventing the kids from fasting as a kind of mercy and pity. In fact, having mercy with the children requires ordering them to practice the rules of Islam and getting them accustomed to them. Indeed, this is the good bringing up and the perfect care.

It had been narrated, with authentic chain of transmission, that the Prophet (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “The man is the guardian of his family (household) and is responsible for his subjects.” [Narrated by At-Tirmizi and authenticated by Al-Albani]

«والرجل راع على أهل بيته وهو مسؤول عنهم »
رواه الترمذي وصححه الألباني

Hence, it is obligatory upon guardians to fear Allah Almighty during their dealing with their subjects and to enjoin upon them the rules of Islam that they (i.e. the guardians) had been ordered to enjoin upon them.

(Sheikh Muhammad bin Saleh Al-Othaimeen, Kitab Ad-Da’wa: 1/145-146)

The rule of the fasting of child who didn’t reach puberty yet

Q: what is the rule of fasting for a child who has not reached puberty?

A: The fasting of a child is not obligatory, as we mentioned earlier. However, his guardian should order him to fast to be accustomed with fasting. Fasting is recommended act of worship for a child who did not reach puberty yet; he gains reward for fasting, and gains no punishment for neglecting it.

(Sheikh Bin Othaimeen, Fiqh Al-Ibadat: P.186)

Children’s fasting in Ramadan

Q: My boy insists on fasting in Ramadan, although fasting may harm him because of his young age and illness. Could I force him to not fast?

A: If he is young, did not reach the age of puberty, it is not obligatory for him to fast. However, if he was able to fast without finding difficulty in it, he should be ordered to fast. The companions (may Allah be pleased with them) used to make their children fast, and the youngest of their children were weeping and the companions provide them with toys to make them forget the hunger. On the other hand, if it is proven that fasting harms him, he should be prevented from fasting. Allah Almighty has prevented us from giving children their money lest they may waste it; thereupon, it is worthier to prevent them from hurting their bodies, but preventing them should not be by force, because it should not be used while bringing up children.

(The Fatawa and the Messages of Sheikh bin Othaimeen: 1/493)

When is it obligatory for the girl to fast?

Q: When is it obligatory for the girl to fast?

A: Fasting is obligatory for the girl as long as she reached the age of puberty. Adulthood occurs at the age of fifteen, the emergence of the hard hair round the private part, ejaculation as a result of lust, menstruation or pregnancy. When one of these things occurs, fasting becomes obligatory for the girl, even if she is just ten years old. Many girls have menstruation in the age of ten or eleven and their families do not care and count the girls in this case as children, and they do not order them to fast. Actually, this is wrong, because when the girl menstruates she becomes a woman and her deeds start to be recorded. And Allah knows best.

(Sheikh Abdullah bin Jabreen, Fatawa As-Syam P.34)

When the girl reaches puberty fasting becomes obligatory for her

Q: I was fourteen years old when I first menstruated and did not fast Ramadan in this year because of my ignorance and the ignorance of my family as a result to our isolation from scholars and knowing nothing about this issue. Then I observed fasting when I was fifteen years old, and I heard from the people of Fatwa that the woman must observe fasting once she menstruated, even if she was younger than the age of adulthood (i.e. fifteen years old); so, please explain this to us.

A: This questioner, who said that she menstruated at the age of fourteen and did not know that this is a sign of adulthood, has no punishment for not observing fasting in this year. She was ignorant, and there is no punishment for the ignorant person. However, whereas she knew that observing fasting is obligatory for her, it became obligatory for her to quickly fast the month that she did not fast after her menstruation, because observing fasting is obligatory for the girl once she reaches puberty.

The girl’s adulthood occurs by one of four things;
1- Growing up to the age of fifteen
2- Having pubic hair
3- Ejaculation because of lust
4- Menstruation

When one of these four things occurs, she becomes adult and the acts of worship become obligatory upon her as it is obligatory for the older woman.

(Al-Montaqa min Fatawa sheikh Saleh Al-Fawzan: 3/132)

Should I enforce my child to observe fasting?

Q: I have a twelve year old child, should I enforce him to observe fasting, or is it optional for him to fast or not to fast? I would like to add that he might not afford to fast the whole month. May Allah reward you well!

A: If this mentioned son is not adult, it is not obligatory for him to observe fasting; however, you must order him to fast, if he affords it, to be trained and accustomed with fasting. This is like ordering him to practice prayer and beating him (for not practicing it) after becoming ten years old. May Allah grant success to all!

(Sheikh Abdel-Azeez bin Baz; Tohfat Al-Ikhwan, P. 172)

Observing the fasts of Ramadan is obligatory in puberty

Q: I have a thirteen year old girl, and we believe that the girl may not observe fasting before she is fifteen years old; however, some people said that it is obligatory for the girl to fast once she menstruates. Therefore, we asked the girl, and she said that she began to menstruate three years ago, when she was ten years old. So, we want to know the truth. Must the girl observe fasting when she is fifteen years old? Or must she fast once she menstruates? If it was obligatory for her to fast once she menstruates; what would we do about the past three years? Must she fast them? We would like to add that we know nothing about such subject. And we would be thankful to you if you answered us.

A: I answer you by saying that it is obligatory for her to observe the fasting of Ramadan once she reaches puberty. Puberty occurs by one of the following;
1- Growing up to the age of fifteen
2- Menstruation
3- Having pubic hair
4- Ejaculation as a result of lust, whether it is at wakefulness or sleeping, even if she was younger than fifteen years old.

Thereupon, it is obligatory for her to fast what she missed from the beginning of her menstruation and to compensate the days of her menstruation during Ramadan. Moreover, it is obligatory for her to provide penance, which is providing food to a poor person for each day because of delaying the compensation to another Ramadan. The amount of this penance is half a Saa’ (i.e. the Saa’ is about three kilograms) for every day, from the common food in her community, if she affords providing food. However, if she was poor, it would not be obligatory for her to provide food, and it would be sufficient for her to fast. May Allah guide everybody to whatever pleases Him!

(A combination of various Fatawa and articles for Sheikh Abdel-Azeez bin Baz: 15/173)

Conditions of validity of youngsters fast

Q: What are the conditions of validity for a child’s fast? Is it correct that the reward of kid’s fasting goes to his parents?

A: It is permissible for the parents to get their children accustomed with fasting in their young age, if they could endure it, even if they were younger than ten years old. However, when one of them reaches puberty, they have to compel him to fast. If the child observed fasting before his adulthood, he should neglect whatever ruins fasting like the adult one. The kid has a reward for doing this, and there is a reward for his parents too.

(Sheikh Abdullah bin Jabreen, Fatawa As-Syam P.33)

Is it obligatory for a child to observe fasting?

Q: Is it obligatory for a child to observe fasting?

A: it is not obligatory for a child to observe fasting as long as he did not reach puberty; however, he should be trained to fast, especially if he was close to adulthood, to make fasting easy for him after adulthood. If he is neglected till adulthood, he would find it hard to fast.

It is proved that the companions used to order their children to fast the Day of ‘Ashura when they had been ordered to fast it. They said that they used to give to the child a toy of wool to amuse him till sunset, if he said: “I want food.”

(Sheikh Abdullah bin Jibreen, Fatawa As-Syam P.33)

Al-Qasem House

Translated by Wathakker.net website

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