Question:
Assalam u alayekum ya Syyedi ya Sheikh Hisham!
I want to know according to Hanafi school what is the age for a boy and for a girl after which fasting in Ramadan and offering 5 daily prayers become obligatory upon him/her?
Answer:
Essalamu Alaikum,
It is obligatory upon every Muslim after reaching the age of puberty to fast each day of Ramadan and not miss any fasting day intentionally as well as to offer 5 daily prayers.
A male child becomes obligated when he experiences a wet dream or ejaculation. A female child becomes obligated when she experiences a wet dream or her first menstruation. If by the age of 15 lunar years neither male nor female has undergone these experiences, then they are considered legally pubescent (baligh) and are obliged to fast.
Fasting the month of Ramadan is obligatory upon every Muslim, male and female, who is sane and obligated. This ruling also applies to making up any unperformed Ramadan fasts whether due to an excuse or one’s own remissness. Therefore, a person is obliged to makeup missed Ramadan fasts as well as prayers.
Imam Senad Agic
The Islamic Cultural Center of Greater Chicago
