Fatawa On Fasting,Zakat & Traweeh Chapter One

Fasting the month of Ramadan is an obligatory act in Islam. This is documented in both the Glorious Qur'an, and the Sunnah traditions reported of Allah's Massenger.
The Almighty stated in the Glorious Qur'an:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آَمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ * أَيَّامًا مَعْدُودَاتٍ فَمَنْ كَانَ مِنْكُمْ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَى سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ وَعَلَى الَّذِينَ يُطِيقُونَهُ فِدْيَةٌ طَعَامُ مِسْكِينٍ فَمَنْ تَطَوَّعَ خَيْرًا فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَهُ وَأَنْ تَصُومُوا خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُون * شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِي أُنْزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآَنُ هُدًى لِلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَاتٍ مِنَ الْهُدَى وَالْفُرْقَانِ فَمَنْ شَهِدَ مِنْكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ وَمَنْ كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَى سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ وَلِتُكْمِلُوا الْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُوا اللَّهَ عَلَى مَا هَدَاكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
سوره البقره . الأيات من 183 الى 185

O you who believe! Observing As-Saun (the fasting) is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqun. [Observing Saum (fasts)] for fixed numbers of days, but if any of you is ill or on a journey, the same number ( should be made up) from other days. And as for those who can fast with difficulty, (e.g. an old man, etc,), they have ( a choice either to fast or) to feed a Miskin (poor person) ( for every day).
But whoever does good of his own accord, it is better for him. And that you fast, it is better for you if only you know. The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Quran, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion ( between right and wrong). So whoever of you sights ( the crescent on the first night of) the month ( of Ramadan i.e. it present as his home), he must observe Saum (fasts) that month, and whoever is ill or on a journey, the same number [ of days which one did not observe Saum (fasts) must be made up] from other days. Allah intends for you ease, and He does not want to make things difficult for you. (He want that you) must complete the same number (of days), and that you must magnify Allah [ i.e. to say Takbir (Allahu-Akbar ; Allah is the Most Great) on seeing the crescent on the month of Ramadan and Shawwal ] for having guided you so that you may be grateful to Him.
Allah's Massenger said :
عن ابن عمر رضي الله عنه قال سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول (بني الإسلام على خمس شهادة أن لا إله إلا الله وأن محمدا رسول الله وإقام الصلاة وإيتاء الزكاة وحج البيت وصوم رمضان) متفق عليه.
"Islam is built on five pillars. The testimonial of faith ; to bear witness that there is no true deity worthy of worship but Allah alone, and Muhammad is him slave and Messanger ; to establish (and maintain) the (five daily) prayers ; fast the month of Ramadan ; to offer the Zakat (poor due) ; and to perform a pilgrimage to makkah ( during Hijj Season)." Agreed upon.
Muslim scholars, throughout time, collectively have the consenus that fasting the month of Ramadan is an obligatory act upon all healthy resident ( as opposed to traveling ), mature, same male and female Muslims. Whosoever denier this fact renders himself a disbeliever in Islam. Such a denier will be requested to come back to the fold of Islam, and if he does not repent to Allah from the major sin of denying a prescribed act, and a pillar of Islam he shall be taken as apostate and would be killed.
Fasting in the month of Ramadan was prescribed in the second year of Hijrah of the prophet from Makkah to Madina , (the city of the prophet). A non-muslim is not required to fast like a muslim. If a person fasts, his act will not be accepted, until declaration of (Shahadah), testimony of Islam as a religion and way of life. A child , may not fast until reaches the age of puberty and becomes physically mature and capable. The age of puberty is fifteen years of age, or so. Physical signs of maturity must be noticed in the child such as the growth of facial hair on boys, the growth of hair in private parts, the ejaculation of semen and the menstruation of female. However, a minor male or female may be requested to fast at an earlier stage of life, prior to reaching (15) fifteen years depending on their health, ability and physical condition, in order to get used to the great act of worship.
An insane person is not required to fast. People with memory problems, amnesia, mind deteriorating situations and insanity are neither required to fast, nor are they required to pay an atonement for not observing the fast of the month of Ramadan.