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One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Assalamu Alaikum

How if a muslim does not fast during the ramadan month? 

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Answer:

Muslim does not fast

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chatper 2 Surah Baqarah verse 185:

185 Ramadan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur'an as a guide to mankind also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (between right and wrong). So everyone of you who is present (at his home) during that month should spend it in fasting but if anyone is ill or on a journey the prescribed period (should be made up) by days later. Allah intends every facility for you He does not want to put you to difficulties. (He wants you) to complete the prescribed period and to glorify Him in that He has guided you; and perchance ye shall be grateful.

The Prophet (saws) said: "Islam is built upon [the following] five pillars: testifying that there is no God except Allah and that Muhammad is His Messenger, the establishment of the prayer, the giving of zakah, the fast of Ramadan and the pilgrimage to Makkah."

Related by Bukhari and Muslim.

The Messenger of Allah (saws) named the obligatory fasts of Ramadan as one of the five pillars upon which Islam is built; and if one leaves the obligatory fasts of Ramadan without valid cause, he/she would indeed be in transgression of one of the clearest and most important commands of their Lord Most Supreme.

Abu Hurairah reported the Messenger of Allah (saws) saying: "Allah said: 'Every action of the son of Adam is for him except fasting, for that is solely for Me. I give the reward for it.' The fast is a shield. If one is fasting, he should not use foul language, raise his voice, or behave foolishly. If someone reviles him or fights with him he should say, 'I am fasting,' twice. By the One in whose hand is the soul of Muhammad, the [bad] breath of the one who is fasting is better in the sight of Allah on the Day of Resurrection than the smell of musk. The one who is fasting is happy at two times: when he breaks his fast he is happy with it, and when he meets his Lord he will be happy that he has fasted."

Related by Ahmad, Muslim, and an-Nasa'i.

The issue with fasting, unlike the other obligatory acts of worship, is that this abstinence from food and drink for a limited number of hours in a day is strictly between the person and his All-Seeing, All-Knowing Lord. That is why the Lord Most Merciful has declared that the rewards of fasting is solely between Him and His slave. Although the exact punishment of intentional leaving one’s obligatory fasts of Ramadan without valid excuse are not prescribed in Shariah, the opposite would also be true, and the one who does not fast without valid excuse would have to face the Wrath and Anger of the Lord Most Supreme alone on an Inevitable Day.

Had the person known and believed the honor their Lord Most Gracious has prepared for His obedient slaves, Allah is our witness, none would dare to leave even one of his obligatory fasts without an absolutely valid excuse!

Abdullah ibn 'Amr reported that the Messenger of Allah (saws) said: "The fast and the Qur'an are two intercessors for the servant of Allah on the Day of Resurrection. The fast will say: 'O Lord, I prevented him from his food and desires during the day. Let me intercede for him.' The Qur'an will say: 'I prevented him from sleeping at night. Let me intercede for him.' And their intercession will be accepted."

Related by Ahmad.

Abu Umamah reported: "I came to the Messenger of Allah (saws) and said: 'Order me to do a deed that will allow me to enter Paradise.' He (saws) said: 'Stick to fasting, as there is no equivalent to it.' Then I came to him again and he (saws) said: 'Stick to fasting."'

Related by Ahmad, an-Nasa'i, and al-Hakim.

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reported that the Messenger of Allah (saws) said: "No servant fasts on a day in the path of Allah except that Allah removes the hellfire seventy years further away from his face."

Related by Bukhari and Muslim.

Sahl ibn Sa'd reported that the Prophet (saws) said: "There is a gate to Paradise that is called ar-Rayyan. On the Day of Resurrection it will say: 'Where are those who fasted?' When the last [one] has passed through the gate, it will be locked."

Related by Bukhari and Muslim.

The person who intentionally leaves his obligatory fasts without a valid reason proves by his act that he does not sincerely believe in Allah and the Last Day, for only then would he be so daring as to openly disobey such an important command and a pillar of Islam.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan