When is a child commanded to fast, and what is the basis for this ruling?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
If a child has reached the age of discernment, his guardian must command him to perform acts of worship, obedience, and noble character. The age at which he should be commanded to perform acts of obedience is seven years, based on the Prophet's (peace be upon him) saying: "Command your children to pray when they are seven, and beat them for it when they are ten, and separate them in their beds." The Companions used to accustom their children to fasting even when they were young, as Al-Rubayyi' bint Mu'awwidh Al-Ansariyyah did with her children regarding the fast of Ashura.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/42106
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 42106
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy