March 23, 2023
Ramadan rules - the 7 groups of people exempt from fasting and the key reasons
Children, the elderly, or those with medical conditions can be exempt from fasting during Ramadan. People who have an intense hunger and thirst should also be aware around the rules Ramadan 2023 has begun for Muslims in many countries around the world, including the UK, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt, with moon-sighting reports triggering a start date of March 23. In some other nations including India and Bangladesh, Ramadan is beginning a day later on March 24. The holy month of Ramadan is when the Quran was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad and is marked with daily fasting in daylight hours as part of a renewed focus on prayers , worship, religious study, spirituality and charity. Fasting has been defined as "to abstain from food, drink and marital relations from daybreak to sunset, with the intention of drawing near to Allah." In general, all male and female adults are expected to take part in this. READ MORE: Ramadan timetable 2023 announced with full list of prayer, sehri and iftar times However, there are some situations where going without nourishment all day, due to the rules of Ramadan, is not advisable. So what are the exemptions from fasting? Who is excluded from taking part in Ramadan and why? What are the exemptions from Ramadan fasting? 1. Pre-pubescence Children who have not yet reached puberty (which starts around the age of 11 for girls and 12 for boys but may begin earlier) are not required to fast during Ramadan. However, some youngsters try fasting for half a day just to get used to the idea and share in the experience of what the rest of the family is doing. 2. Sickness This refers to any illness or health condition. If you're not feeling well or have any condition that would be affected by going without food and drink for a prolonged period, it's advised not to take part in fasting. This can, for example, include people who have diabetes. But some diabetics still choose to do daily fasting. Professor Wasim Hanif, Professor of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Consultant Physician, and Clinical Director in Diabetes at University Hospital Birmingham, said: "It is important to ensure that people who are living with diabetes only fast after discussing it first with their diabetes team. Fasting can be dangerous if you have diabetes as it can cause health problems." He urged people to check the guidance on Diabetes UK before committing to any fasting. Disruptions to sleep patterns during Ramadan - because of the late-night prayers and the need to get up early for a pre-dawn meal before fasting begins - can particularly affect those with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Fasting during Ramadan may also not be advised for some patients with eating disorders as it can reinforce their harmful relationship with food, according to the TherapyForMuslims website . Global Psychiatry carried out research into the impact of fasting on mental health conditions and concluded : "Ramadan fasting did not have a major impact on the mental health in eating behaviour and eating disorders, even though there might be some triggering effects in vulnerable subjects. Ramadan fasting may not be recommended in subjects with schizophrenia and metabolic syndrome in subjects with bipolar disorder because of a relevantly increased risk of relapse. "In summary, there is no major reason to recommend against fasting during Ramadan except in subjects with major psychiatric disorders. Even though some studies show some mood reduction and increased fatigue and anxiety, there is no study indicating that Ramadan fasting triggers new mental health problems or disorders." 3. Senility and old age Elderly people are excluded from fasting. This rule refers to anyone "who is old and has lost his strength, or who is approaching death, so that every day he becomes weaker, until he dies, or who is suffering from a terminal or incurable illness and has no hope of recovery." As with the other exempt groups, elderly men and Women who are exempt from fasting must instead pay a set amount to feed a poor person for each missed day of fasting. 4. Pregnancy and breastfeeding Islamic rules state that pregnant and breastfeeding women are not expected to take part in fasting if they believe it will harm their health or the health of the baby. But evidence suggests that up to 90 per cent of pregnant Muslim women participate in fasting for at least part of the month as they want to share in the cultural experience of Ramadan with their families. The research found that fasting while pregnant during the holy month does not affect the birth weight of the baby, although placental weight is significantly lower. There is no data on the impact on perinatal mortality (stillbirths and early baby deaths). 5. Menstruation Observing the Ramadan fast is also forbidden for women who are on their menstrual cycle at the time or are in a state of lochia (bleeding after giving birth). Detailing the rules, MuslimCoaching.com said: "A menstruating woman can eat and drink during the day in Ramadan, but she should do so discretely and not in public." If menstruation begins during fasting hours, the fast is invalidated and can stop. If a woman's period begins during the night before fasting starts the next day, then she is excluded from that day of fasting. If menstruation stops during the fasting hours, then a woman should "act like a fasting person" and abstain from eating and drinking for the remainder of the day. But this day does not count as a proper fast and must be made up for later. If it stops before fasting begins, then the next day of fasting can take place as normal. The same applies to those women in a state of lochia (post-natal bleeding). 6. Travelling People who are travelling during Ramadan may be excused from fasting in certain cases. IslamQA says the journey must be long enough so that prayers have to be shortened and the person must not be intending to stay permanently in their destination. In addition, the trip "must not be for any sinful purpose, rather it should be for a sound purpose, according to the majority of scholars." Exemption from fasting ends when the person gets back home or if they decide to stay in their new location "indefinitely, or for a lengthy period." If they do, they become a resident rather than a traveller and must take part in Ramadan in the usual way. 7. Intense hunger and thirst If someone observing Ramadan is "overtaken by intense hunger or unbearable thirst" they can stop fasting and then eat and drink what they need to feel better again. But after that, they should refrain from food and drink for the rest of the day and make up for the broken fast later on.
Related Stories
Latest News
Top news around the world
Academy Awards

‘Oppenheimer’ Reigns at Oscars With Seven Wins, Including Best Picture and Director

Get the latest news about the 2024 Oscars, including nominations, winners, predictions and red carpet fashion at 96th Academy Awards

Around the World

Celebrity News

> Latest News in Media

Watch It
Millie Bobby Brown & Jake Bongiovi Celebrate “Three Years of Bliss” Ahead of Wedding
March 24, 2024
C4Ehegcq1-A
Kate Middleton & Prince William "Enormously Touched" by Public Support
March 24, 2024
s8fig-RCjFc
Gisele Bündchen Denies Cheating on Ex-Husband Tom Brady
March 23, 2024
_SpRMagA8BM
Eminem, 50 Cent & Snoop Dogg Present Dr. Dre with a Star on the Walk of Fame
March 19, 2024
4bNLs1hxVp8
Opening Remarks for the Variety Summit October 20th, 2023 Jay Penske
March 18, 2024
c6Z707iLq8E
'Everybody Was S----ing Their Pants': Nick Thune Jokes About Being Born in the '70s and Fatherhood
March 16, 2024
mm7Baf6o2d8
Gunna Says Tour Will Up Creativity in Rap, Endorses Flo Milli | TMZ
March 22, 2024
QfMU24fw-Qo
Reporter Taylor Lorenz Says Palace Botched Kate Cancer News Rollout | TMZ Live
March 22, 2024
o43ZucdiyEo
Riley Strain's Body Found After Going Missing in Nashville 2 Weeks Ago | TMZ NOW
March 22, 2024
1m1zM-4_Cs8
Kyle Richards hasn’t spoken to co-star Dorit Kemsley, denies sending her a ‘manipulative’ text
March 24, 2024
LqLZzDP1hm4
Jordan Emanuel on her connection to 'RHOSLC' star Meredith Marks, advice from Amanda Batula
March 24, 2024
5NPAwlOov1Y
Kate Middleton’s uncle Gary apologizes after slamming ‘fickle’ Meghan Markle in scathing interview
March 24, 2024
JWG9kitALZk
TV Schedule
Late Night Show
Watch the latest shows of U.S. top comedians

Sports

Latest sport results, news, videos, interviews and comments
Latest Events
20
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Playoffs - Women
SK Brann W - Barcelona W
20
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Playoffs - Women
Hacken W - PSG W
19
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Playoffs - Women
SL Benfica W - Lyon W
19
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Playoffs - Women
Ajax W - Chelsea W
17
Mar
SPAIN: La Liga
Atletico Madrid - Barcelona
17
Mar
ENGLAND: FA Cup
Manchester United - Liverpool
17
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Inter Milan - Napoli
17
Mar
ENGLAND: Premier League
Brighton - Manchester City
17
Mar
GERMANY: Bundesliga
Borussia Dortmund - Eintracht Frankfurt
17
Mar
ENGLAND: FA Cup
Chelsea - Leicester City
17
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Roma - Sassuolo
17
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Verona - AC Milan
17
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Juventus - Genoa
16
Mar
GERMANY: Bundesliga
Darmstadt - Bayern Munich
16
Mar
ENGLAND: FA Cup
Manchester City - Newcastle United
16
Mar
ENGLAND: Premier League
Fulham - Tottenham Hotspur
16
Mar
SPAIN: La Liga
Osasuna - Real Madrid
13
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: 1/8 Final
Atletico Madrid - Inter Milan
12
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: 1/8 Final
Barcelona - Napoli
12
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: 1/8 Final
Arsenal - Porto
11
Mar
ENGLAND: Premier League
Chelsea - Newcastle United
10
Mar
ENGLAND: Premier League
Liverpool - Manchester City
10
Mar
SPAIN: La Liga
Real Madrid - Celta Vigo
10
Mar
ENGLAND: Premier League
Aston Villa - Tottenham Hotspur
10
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Juventus - Atalanta
10
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Fiorentina - Roma
10
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
AC Milan - Empoli
Find us on Instagram
at @feedimo to stay up to date with the latest.
Featured Video You Might Like
zWJ3MxW_HWA L1eLanNeZKg i1XRgbyUtOo -g9Qziqbif8 0vmRhiLHE2U JFCZUoa6MYE UfN5PCF5EUo 2PV55f3-UAg W3y9zuI_F64 -7qCxIccihU pQ9gcOoH9R8 g5MRDEXRk4k
Copyright © 2020 Feedimo. All Rights Reserved.