The age at which a child is obligated to fast

Categories of people fasting, Fasting [صوم], Fatwa, The Permanent Committee for Islaamic Research & Verdicts 6 December 201223 June 2022 Abu 'Abdullaah

Reference: Fataawa al-Lajnah ad-Daa.imah lil-Buhooth al-‘Ilmiyyah wal-Iftaa. – Fatwa No.1787
Fataawa Ramadhaan – Volume 1, Page 233, Fatwa No.177

Question: When does it become obligatory for the child to fast, and what is the age limit?

Response: A child is ordered to pray when he reaches the age of seven, and admonished to do so at the age of ten, and it becomes obligatory upon him when he reaches puberty. And puberty is determined by:

  1. Excretion of sperm due to [sexual] arousing;
  2. Appearance of pubic hair around the private parts;
  3. Having wet dreams, if sperm is excreted;
  4. Reaching the age of fifteen years.

And similar is the case for a female, in addition to her coming on her menses.

The source for the aforementioned is what Imaam Ahmad and Abu Daawood have related on the authority of the Prophet ﷺ:

«Order your children to pray at seven and beat them to pray at ten, and separate them from each other in bed».

Also, ‘Aa.ishah (radhi-yAllaahu ‘anhaa) related on the authority of the Prophet ﷺ:

«The pen has been lifted for three [categories of people]: the one who is asleep until he awakens, the young child until he reaches puberty, and the insane until he regains sanity.».

And with Allaah lies all success and may Allaah send prayers and salutations upon our Prophet ﷺ and his family and his companions.

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He is a graduate of the Islaamic University of Madeenah, having graduated from the Institute of Arabic Language, and later the Faculty of Sharee'ah in 2004. He currently resides in Birmingham, UK.

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