ভূমিকা
Wajib Sawms Sawms are Wajib: Month of Ramadhan; Qadha of the month of Ramadhan; 3rd day of Itikaf; 10 days of 'badal-ul-hadi' in Hajj; Sawm of Kaffara becoming Wajib for various reasons, Sawm which becomes Wajib on account of Nazar, Ahad or Quasam; Sawm of Kaffara of breaking or leaving fast; Sawm which has become Qadha from father, becomes Wajib on his eldest son after his death (It is better to include 'mother' also in this rule).
Conditions of Sawm These are the conditions for the validity of Sawm: Sanity; Islam; Iman; Remaining free from Haidh and Nifas for whole day; Not remaining a 'Musafir' at the time of Zawal; Not being in danger of illness by keeping fast. If a Musafir returns to his home-town or reaches a place where he intends to stay 10 days, before Zawal, and has not used anything which breaks the fast, he must do 'niyyet' of fast, and his fast will be valid.
Likewise, if he begins his journey after Zawal, his fast of that day will remain valid. If a person is afraid that by keeping fast his illness will increase, or he will become sick by fasting, or that the treatment of his disease will become more difficult, he must break his fast. If he does keep fast, it would be null and void, and he, in addition, would be committing a sin. Being 'Baligh' is not a condition of validity of fast; if a child keeps fast, it would be all right.
But Fast is not Wajib on a 'minor' (Ghair-Baligh). Persons Exempted From Sawm The following persons are exempted from the Sawm: & 2. Old man and woman, when owing to their old age and weakness (a) it is not possible for them to keep fast, or (b) it is very difficult to fast. A person who has got a disease in which he remains ever thirsty and (a) it is not possible, or (b) is very difficult, for him to keep fast.
The expecting-mother who is afraid (a) about her own health or (b) the health of the unborn child. The woman who breast-feeds a child (her own or another, woman's) and is afraid that the fast (a) would endanger her health or (b) the health of the child.