Fasting in Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam — a sacred time for spiritual growth, discipline, and drawing closer to Allah. But is fasting required for everyone? Not exactly. Islam is deeply compassionate, and the obligation to fast comes with clear conditions and thoughtful exemptions.
Let’s walk through who must fast, who is exempt, and how scholars approach modern-day questions around travel, hardship, and ability.
When Fasting Is Obligatory
According to scholarly consensus, fasting in Ramadan becomes fardh (obligatory) when someone meets the following conditions:
- Muslim
Sawm, fasting during Ramadan, is a form of worship specific to those who believe in and follow the teachings of Islam. - Sane (ʿāqil, of sound mind)
The person must be mentally sound and capable of understanding the obligation of fasting. - Has reached puberty
Puberty is the marker for personal accountability in Islam. However, parents are encouraged to introduce fasting gradually to older children — such as half-day fasts or every other day — if the child shows interest, to help them ease into the habit before it becomes obligatory.1 - Physically and mentally capable of fasting
If someone has a temporary illness, chronic health condition, or mental health issue that impairs their ability to fast safely, they may be exempt (see the next section). - Not traveling long distances
Regular commuting, such as for work, or staying long-term somewhere besides your home is not an exemption from fasting.2 Fasting should be made up later for qualified long-distance travel.
These five conditions are agreed upon across all four major madhhabs (Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi’i, Hanbali).3
Who Is Exempt from Fasting (and Why)
Islam provides built-in mercy for those who genuinely cannot fast due to valid reasons. Here’s a breakdown of who is exempt and why:
✈️ Travelers: If the journey is long enough (typically 48+ miles or 77+ kilometers) and involves some degree of difficulty, they are allowed to delay the fast and make it up later.4
🧸 Children: Not required to fast until they reach puberty.
🤒 Temporarily ill: Exempt while sick (e.g. flu, recovery from surgery), but must make up the fast later when recovered. This can include fevers, infections, and other short-term illnesses.5
🩺 Chronically ill: Not required to fast; instead, they pay fidya (a daily meal to a person in need for each day missed).6
🦽 Elderly: Exempt if fasting would harm them; they also pay fidya.
🤰 Pregnant or breastfeeding: If fasting poses a risk to their health or the baby’s, they may break the fast.7 Depending on the school of thought, they may make up the fast later or pay fidya.
🩸 Menstruating or postpartum bleeding: Prohibited from fasting during this time. They must make up the missed fasts later.
“But whoever of you is ill or on a journey, then ˹let them fast˺ an equal number of days ˹after Ramaḍân˺…Allah intends ease for you, not hardship, so that you may complete the prescribed period and proclaim the greatness of Allah for guiding you…”
(Quran 2:184–185)
A Note on Travelers
Importantly, for travel to be qualified, it cannot be unlawful8 — such as traveling to commit a crime, traveling to purposely avoid fasting, or traveling to avoid paying a debt, for example.
A traveler is considered exempt from fasting if the journey meets the classical criteria for distance (around 48+ miles) and involves some degree of hardship or unusual effort. Most scholars agree the exemption applies even if one feels physically fine — it’s a gift of ease.
That said, there’s scholarly discussion in modern times:
- Some scholars argue that air travel, high-speed trains, or luxurious road trips do not entail real hardship and therefore do not advise skipping the fast.9
- Others maintain that the legal ruling still applies regardless of comfort level, as the exemption is based on distance and not necessarily on personal difficulty.10
“If fasting and not fasting are the same, in the sense that fasting does not affect him [while traveling], then in this case fasting is better…If something will give him hardship, then in his case fasting becomes makruh [disliked]…If it causes unbearable difficulty, then in this case it becomes haram [forbidden] for him to fast.”
— Shaykh Muhammad Saalih al-Munajjid11
If you choose not to fast while traveling, you must make up the missed days after Ramadan.
Common Misconceptions
- “I have a long workday, so I’m exempt from fasting.”
Not a valid excuse on its own. Try to adjust your routine, rest when possible, and make dua for strength. - “Modern travel is easy, so I shouldn’t skip fasting.”
This is debated. Scholars differ on whether ease of travel overrides the classical exemption. If unsure, ask a local scholar you trust. - “I have anxiety about fasting — can I skip it?”
Mental health matters. Seek medical advice and spiritual guidance. If fasting genuinely worsens your condition, exemptions may apply.
Final Thoughts
Fasting in Ramadan is a profound act of worship — but Islam never asks more than you can give. If you meet the conditions, the fast is a beautiful opportunity. If you don’t, know that Allah has already made space for your reality.
“Allah does not require of any soul more than what it can afford.”
(Quran 2:286)
Whether you’re fasting or not this Ramadan, you can still seek closeness to Allah through prayer, remembrance, and intention.
💬 Comments
Have questions or unique fasting circumstances?
Drop a comment below — respectful discussion is always welcome!
References
- “At What Age Should a Child Start Fasting in Ramadan?,” Noor Academy, 2025, https://nooracademy.com/age-child-start-fasting/. ↩︎
- Sayyid al-Sistani, “Rules of Prayer and Fasting While Traveling,” I.M.A.M., 2021, https://imam-us.org/rules-of-prayer-and-fasting-while-traveling. ↩︎
- Muzammil Siddiqi, “Islamic Legal Rules of Fasting,” IslamiCity, 2024, https://www.islamicity.org/5331/islamic-legal-rules-of-fasting/. ↩︎
- Muhammad al-Munajjid, “Minimum Distance for Breaking Fast and Shortening Prayers,” IslamQA.info, Fatwa #38079, 2023, https://islamqa.info/en/answers/38079/minimum-distance-for-breaking-fast-and-shortening-prayers. ↩︎
- Ismail ibn Musa Menk, “Feeling Unwell? It’s Best to Avoid Fasting,” Mufti Menk, YouTube video, 2025, https://youtu.be/RMVELGJHqP4. ↩︎
- Azmia Ricchuito, “Ramadan Fasting: What to Know About Ramadan and Chronic Illness,” Teen Vogue, 2022, https://www.teenvogue.com/story/ramadan-fasting-what-to-know-about-ramadan-and-chronic-illness. ↩︎
- Deena Kishawi, MD, “Pregnancy in Ramadan,” Darul Qasim, 2024, https://darulqasim.org/ramadaninpregnancy/. ↩︎
- Al-Sistani, “Rules of Prayer and Fasting While Traveling,” I.M.A.M. ↩︎
- Dar al-Ifta (Egypt), “When to Break Fast while Traveling?,” AboutIslam.net, 2025, https://aboutislam.net/counseling/ask-the-scholar/fasting/break-fast-plane/. ↩︎
- Assim al-Hakeem, “Can one break their fast while traveling by plane, train or car?,” assimalhakeem, YouTube video, 2019, https://youtu.be/t_ETGNtwbAY. ↩︎
- Muhammad al-Munajjid, “Fasting while Traveling: Permissible?,” IslamQA.info, Fatwa #20165, 2001, https://islamqa.info/en/answers/20165/fasting-while-traveling-permissible. ↩︎