Leaving a Fast Due To Exams

Question:

Assalamu alaykum Respected Shaikh.

Is it permissible for students who are going to sit in exams during Ramadan to miss their fast and make up for it after Ramadan? The fasts are quite long here in the UK and it takes a toll on a person, plus one needs to revise and be focused for the exams.

(Question published as received)

Answer:

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

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-raḥmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

The aforementioned reasoning does not constitute a valid excuse to leave out an obligatory fast. [1]

And Allah Ta‘ālā knows best
(Mufti) Bilal al-Mahmudi

Concurred by,
Mufti Zameelur Rahman


[1]

وَهُوَ فَرِيضَةٌ مَحْكَمَةٌ يَكْفُرُ جَاحِدُهَا وَيَفْسُقُ تَارِكُهَا. ثَبَتَتْ فَرْضِيَّتُهُ بِالْكِتَابِ وَهُوَ قَوْله تَعَالَى: {فَمَنْ شَهِدَ مِنْكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ} [البقرة: 185] وقَوْله تَعَالَى: {كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ} [البقرة: 183] . وَبِالسُّنَّةِ وَهُوَ مَا مَرَّ مِنَ الْحَدِيثِ فِي كِتَابِ الصَّلَاةِ، وَقَوْلُهُ – عَلَيْهِ الصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ -: «صُومُوا شَهْرَكُمْ» وَعَلَيْهِ إِجْمَاعُ الْأُمَّةِ. (الاختيار لتعليل المختار مطبعة الحلبي – القاهرة 1/ 125)

(فتاوى رحيمية (7/256). دار الاشاعت)