Fatwa ID: 07372

Answered by: Mufti Mohammed Dilwar Hussain

Question:

When I was young and still did not have my period,my parents used to force me to fast during ramadan even though I was not obliged to,so I used to eat secretly.

Do I have to do the same kaffara as a person who eats during ramadan when he is obliged to fast?

In the name of Allāh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer:

Allāh Ta’ālā has commanded us by saying: “O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting just as it was decreed upon those before you, so that you may become righteous.”

[Surah al-Baqarah; 2:183] [1]

Under the explanation of this verse, it is understood that fasting has been decreed upon those whom are subject to its application (i.e., Muslim, sane, healthy, not travelling, mature and etc.). If these conditions are not found, then the compulsion of fasting is not found either. [Tafseer Qurtubi]

As you have stated at the time you were still a child and had not begun your periods, therefore the compulsion of fasting had not started for you yet. Thus, there would be nothing upon you to make up for them.

Only Allāh Ta’ālā knows best.

Written by Mufti Mohammed Dilwar Hussain

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham

[1]يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ كُتِبَ عَلَيۡكُمُ ٱلصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبۡلِكُمۡ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَتَّقُونَ {

[2]فِيهِ سِتُّ مَسَائِلَ: الْأُولَى- قَوْلُهُ تَعَالَى: ﴿يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيامُ﴾ لَمَّا ذَكَرَ مَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الْمُكَلَّفِينَ مِنَ الْقِصَاصِ وَالْوَصِيَّةِ ذَكَرَ أَيْضًا أَنَّهُ كُتِبَ عَلَيْهِمُ الصِّيَامُ وَأَلْزَمَهُمْ إِيَّاهُ وَأَوْجَبَهُ عَلَيْهِمْ، وَلَا خِلَافَ فِيهِ…