What is the age at which children are obliged to fast? How can we
encourage them to fast and pray in the mosque, especially Taraweeh
prayer? Are there any simple religious ideas which can be used to fill
children's spare time in Ramadaan?.
Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly:
Fasting is not obligatory for young children, until they reach the age
of adolescence, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him) said: "The penshave been lifted from three: from one who has
lost his mind until he comes back to his senses, from one who is
sleeping until he wakes up, and from a child until he reaches the age
of adolescence." Narrated byAbu Dawood, 4399; classed as saheeh by
al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood.
Nevertheless, children should be told to fast so that they can get
used to it, and because the good deeds that they do will berecorded
for them.
The age at which parents should start to teach theirchildren to fast
is the age at which they are able to fast, which will vary according
to each child's physical makeup. Some scholars have defined this as
being ten years of age.
Al-Kharqi said:
When a child is ten years old and is able to fast, he should start to do so.
Ibn Qudaamah said:
This means that he shouldbe made to fast and told to do so. And he
should be smacked if he does notdo it, so as to train him and make him
get used toit, just as he should be made to pray and told to do it.
Among those who were of the view that a child should be told to fast
when he becomes able to do it were 'Ata', al-Hasan, Ibn Sireen,
al-Zuhri, Qataadah and al-Shaafa'i.
Al-Awzaa'i said: If he is able to fast for three consecutive days
without interruption and without becoming weak, then he should be made
to fast Ramadaan. Ishaaq said: When (a child) reaches theage of twelve
I think that he should be made to fastso that he gets used to it.
The age of ten is more likely, because the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) enjoined smacking children for not
praying at this age, and regarding fasting as beinglike prayer is
better, because they are close to one another, and because they are
both physical actions that are pillars of Islam. But fasting is
harder, so attention should be paid to when the child becomes able
forit, because some may be able to pray who are not yet able to fast.
End quote.
Al-Mughni, 4/412
This is what the companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) did with their children; they would tell those who
were able to fast to do so, and if one ofthem wept because of hunger,
they would give him a toy to distract him, but it is not permissible
toforce them to fast if it willharm them in cases of physical weakness
or sickness.
Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen said:
A young child should not be forced to fast until he has reached the
age of adolescence, but he may be told to fast if he is ableto do it,
so that he may get used to it and it will be easier for him after he
reaches puberty. The Sahaabah (may Allaah be pleased with them) –
whoare the best of this ummah – used to make their children fast when
they were young. End quote.
Majmoo' Fataawa al-Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen, 19/28, 29
And the Shaykh (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked:
My young son insists on fasting Ramadaan even though fasting is
harmful for him because he is so young and his health is not good.
Should I use force with him to make him break his fast?
He replied:
If he is young and has notyet reached puberty, he is not obliged to
fast, but if he is able to do it withouthardship, then he should be
told to do so. The Sahaabah (may Allaah be pleased with them) used to
make their children fast, and if the younger ones cried they would
give them toys to distract them. But if it is proven that it is
harmful to him, then he should be stopped from fasting. If Allaah has
forbidden us togive youngsters their wealth if there is the fear that
they may abuse it, then it is more appropriate that they be stopped
from doing something if there is the fear of physical harm. But that
should not be done by force, because that is not appropriate in
raising children. End quote.
Majmoo' Fataawa al-Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen, 19/83
Secondly:
The parents can encourage their children to fast by giving them a gift
each day, or by exploiting the spirit of competition between them and
their peers or those who are younger than them. They can encourage
them to pray by taking them to pray in the mosques, especially if they
go out with their father and pray in different mosques each day....,
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'' Our Lord ! grant us good in this world and good in the hereafter and save us from the torment of the Fire '' [Ameen]
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{in Arab} :->
Rabbanaa aatinaa fid-dunyaa hasanatan wafil aakhirati hasanatan waqinaa 'athaaban-naar/-
(Surah Al-Baqarah ,verse 201)
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