Fasting the month of Ramaḍān was made obligatory (wājib) during the month of Sh’abān, in the second year after the Muslims migrated from Makkah to Madīnah. Therefore, the Messenger of Allāh, prayers and peace be upon him, by scholarly consensus (al-Ijmā’), fasted the month of Ramaḍān nine times.
Fasting during the month of Ramaḍān is one of the pillars of Islām, and its obligation is of great magnitude. The Qurān, Prophetic tradition, and scholarly agreement all testify to the fact that fasting during the month of Ramaḍān is obligatory:

1. As for the Qurān, Allāh, the Most High, says (i.e. its meaning):

“Fasting [the month of Ramaḍān] has been made obligatory upon you.” [Sūrah al-Baqarah (2): 183]

2. As for Prophetic tradition, the Messenger of Allāh, prayers and peace upon him, said: “The religion of Islām is built on five [things]”, and he, prayers and peace upon him, mentioned from them “the fast of Ramāḍan.” [Muslim #16] There are also many other Prophetic traditions that mention that fasting during the month of Ramaḍān is obligatory.

3. There is a scholarly consensus [that fasting the month of Ramaḍān is obligatory].

[Additionally], before fasting during the month Ramaḍān became obligatory, there were three stages:

The First Stage: Fasting the day of ‘Āshūrā (1) was made obligatory.

The Second Stage: The Muslims were given the option of either fasting during the month of Ramaḍān or feeding a poor person for each day they did not fast:

Allāh, The Most High, says:

“And those who are able to fast, they have the choice of either fasting or feeding a poor person.” [Sūrah al-Baqarah (2): 284]

The Third Stage: Fasting the month of Ramaḍān became obligatory without choice.

Allāh, The Most High, says:

“…So whoever from amongst you sights the crescent of the month of Ramaḍān, he must fast the month of Ramaḍān…” [Sūrah al-Baqarah (2): 185]

Important Point: The wisdom behind these stages is that fasting during Ramaḍān contains a bit of hardship. With that being the case, Islamic legislation considered this slight hardship by gradually and progressively establishing the fact that fasting during the month of Ramaḍān would be obligatory.

I ask Allāh, The Most High, to make us from those who fulfill our duty of fasting during the month of Ramaḍān. I also ask Him, The Most High, to forgive and pardon us our sins during this blessed month.

Complied and translated by:
Jamīl Finch
Umm al-Qurā University
Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Ramaḍān 1, 1431 / August 11, 2010

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* Al-Bassām, ‘Abdullāh. Nayl al-Mārab. Ar-Riyāḍ: Dar al-Maymān 1426 AH / 2005 CE. vol. 2, pp. 93-95

(1) TN: On the authority of ‘Āishah, may Allah be pleased with her: “The day of Āshūra [the 10th of Muḥarram] is a day the Quraysh [an ‘Arab tribe of Arabia] used to fast during The Days of Ignorance [i.e. before Islām], and the Messenger of Allāh, prayers and peace upon him, used to fast this day [‘Āshūrah] as well.

“So when the Messenger of Allāh, prayers and peace upon him, came to Madīnah [after the coming of Islām], he fasted on the day of ‘Āshūra, and he commanded [i.e. it became obligatory] that everyone else fast on the day of ‘Ashūrah as well.

“[However], when fasting during the month of Ramaḍ̣ān became obligatory, he, prayers and peace upon him, said: ‘Whoever desires to fast the day of ‘Ashūrah, then fast, and whoever desires to leave it off, that is fine as well [i.e. it became recommended].’ ” [Muslim #1125]

(*) – Imām ash-Shawkāni [d. 1250 AH] commented on this Prophetic practice by saying: [Fasting on the day of ‘Ashūrah was obligatory for one year, then it became recommended]. See Nayl al-Awṭār, vol. 8, pg. 403.