Fasting obligatory on every sane, healthy Muslim

AS-SIYAM generally means “to abstain from something.” For example, a verse in the Holy Qur’an says: “I have vowed to the Merciful to abstain — that is, from speaking.”
What is meant here is abstaining from food, drink, and sexual intercourse from dawn until sunset with the explicit intention of doing so (for the sake of Allah).
Types of fasting: There are two types of fasting: obligatory and voluntary. Obligatory can be further subdivided into the fast of Ramadan, the fast of expiation and the fast of fulfilling a vow. Here we shall discuss the Ramadan and voluntary fasts.

The fast of Ramadan
The fast of Ramadan, according to the Holy Qur’an, sunnah and consensus, is obligatory.
The evidence from the Holy Qur’an consists of the following two verses: “O you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for the people before you in order for you to gain God consciousness,” and “… The month of Ramadan, during which the Qur’an was revealed, a guidance for mankind, and clear proofs of the guidance for mankind, and clear proofs of the guidance and the criterion; and whoever of you is resident, let him fast the month” (al-Baqarah: 185).

The essential elements of the fast
The fast has two essential elements (literally, “pillars”) that must be fulfilled for it to be valid and acceptable. They are:
Abstaining from those acts that break the fast: This point is based on the Qur’anic verse: “Eat and drink until the white thread becomes distinct to you from the black thread of the dawn. Then strictly observe the fast until nightfall.”
The intention: Allah instructs in the Qur’an: “And they are ordained nothing else than to serve Allah, keeping religion pure for Him.” The Prophet, (upon whom be peace), said: “Actions are judged according to the intention behind them, and for everyone is what he intended.”
All scholars agree that fasting is obligatory upon every sane, adult, healthy Muslim male who is not travelling at that time. As for a woman, she must not be menstruating or having post-childbirth bleeding. People who are insane, minors, and those who are travelling, menstruating, or going through post-childbirth bleeding, and the elderly and breast-feeding or pregnant women do not need to observe the fast.

For some, the fast is not obligatory at all, for example, the insane. In the case of young people, their parents or guardians should order them to fast. Some are to break the fast and make up the missed days of fasting at a later date, while others are to break the fast and pay a “ransom” (in which case, they are not obliged to make up the days they missed).
The fast of the insane: Fasting is not obligatory for the insane because of their inability to understand what they are doing. ‘Ali reported that the Prophet (PBUH) said: “The pen is raised for three groups (of people) – that is, they will not be responsible for their actions: the insane until they become sane, those who are sleeping until they awaken, and the young until they reach puberty.” This is related by Ahmad, Abu Dawud, and at-Tirmidhi.

The fast of the young (non-adults): Though the young are not required to fast, it is proper for their guardians to encourage them to fast so they will become accustomed to it at an early age. They may fast as long as they are able to and then may break it.
Those who are permitted to break the fast, but who must pay a “ransom” for not fasting: Elderly men and women are permitted to break their fast, as are the chronically ill, and those who have to perform difficult jobs under harsh circumstances and who could not find any other way to support themselves. All of these people are allowed to break their fast, because such a practice would place too much hardship on them during any part of the year. They are obliged to feed one poor person (miskin) a day (for every day of fasting that they do not perform). The scholars differ over how much food is to be supplied. There is nothing in the sunnah that mentions exactly how much is to be given.

Ibn ‘Abbas said: “An elderly man is permitted to break his fast, but he must feed a poor person daily. If he does this, he does not have to make up the days that he did not fast. Al-Bukhari recorded that ‘Ata heard Ibn ‘Abbas recite the ‘ayah: “And for those who can fast (but do not) there is a ‘ransom’: the feeding of a person in need” (al-Baqarah: 185). Then Ibn ‘Abbas continued: “It has not been abrogated. (Its ruling applies) to elderly men and women who are not able to fast. Instead, they must feed one poor person on a daily basis.”
The same is true for one who is chronically ill and as such cannot fast, and for one who is forced to work under harsh circumstances and as such cannot endure the additional burden of fasting. Both groups must also feed one poor person daily.

Commenting on al-Baqarah’s ’ayah, Sheikh Muhammad ‘Abduh says: “What is meant by those who can fast (but do not) in the Qur’anic verse is the weak elderly people, the chronically ill, and so on, and similarly, those workers who are working under severe conditions, such as coal miners. The same applies to criminals who are sentenced to life imprisonment with hard labour. They have to pay the ‘ransom’ if they have the means to do so.”

Pregnant and breast-feeding women, if they fear for themselves or for the baby, can break the fast and pay the “ransom”. They do not have to make up the days missed. Abu Dawud related from ‘Ikrimah that Ibn ‘Abbas said concerning the ‘ayah: “And for those who can fast (but do not),”: “This is a concession for the elderly, as they can fast. They are to break the fast and feed one poor person a day. Pregnant or breast-feeding women, if they fear for the child, can do likewise.” This is related by al-Bazzar. At the end of the report, there is the addition: “Ibn ‘Abbas used to say to his wives who were pregnant: ‘You are in the same situation as those who can fast (but do not). You are to pay the “ransom” and do not have to make up the days later.” Of its chain, ad-Daraqutni says it is sahih.
Nafi reported that Ibn ‘Umar was asked about a pregnant woman who feared for her baby. He replied: “She is to break the fast and to feed one poor person a day one made of barley.”