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The
fast of the child
*Please appropriately reference
this fatwa to: www.fatwa-online.com, thankyou!*
Question: Should the young discerning child
be ordered to fast? Also, is it (the fast) accepted from him
if he attains puberty during his fast?
Response:
When young boys and girls reach seven years of age they are
ordered to fast so as to become accustomed to it; And it is
upon their guardians to order them to do so, just as ordering
them to perform their salaah, so when they attain puberty
fasting becomes incumbent upon them.
If
they attain puberty during the day, their fast for that day
is accepted; So if a young child, who is fasting, was to turn
fifteen (years of age) at noon then that day (of fasting)
is accepted from him. The first part of the day would be classified
as supererogatory and the latter half as obligatory, so long
as he had not yet attained puberty, either by the appearance
of pubic hair or ejaculation of sexual fluids from desire.
This is also the case for the girl, as the ruling for both
is equal (in this matter), except that she has an extra sign
indicating her having attained puberty and that is her menses.
Shaykh
Ibn Baaz
Fataawa Ramadhaan - Volume 1, Page 234, Fatwa No.178;
Tuhfatul-Ikhwaan bi-Ajwibah Muhimmah tata'allaq bi-Arkaan
al-Islaam - Pages 160-161
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