Failing to fast in Ramadan for work reasons

28-11-2005 | IslamWeb

Question:

My husband do not fast in Ramadhaan in some days that he works 12 hours because he can not stand this. I talked to him many times. He can not find another job. Is this alter my relationship with him?

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.

 

Allaah prescribed fasting on all believers who are able to fast, and gave permission for whoever has a sound religious reason like sickness, travel and the like to break the fast and make it up when the reason of breaking the fast no longer exists. Allaah Says (which means): {O you who believe! Observing fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become righteous. [Fasting for] a limited number of days. So whoever among you is ill or on a journey [during them]-then an equal number of days [are to be made up].}[Quran 2:183].

The scholars mentioned that if a worker is very thirsty to an extent that he is unable to do his work, he is allowed to break the fast and make it up when the reason of breaking the fast no longer exists. However, it is not permissible for him to intend to break the fast from the night.

Your husband is obliged to have the intention to fast every night, if he then finds it very difficult to fast to an extent that he is unable to do his work, then he is permitted to break the fast. He is obliged to do this every day.

Nonetheless, what you mentioned about your husband does not affect your marital relationship, however, you should clarify to him what we mentioned above that he is obliged to intend to fast from the night and if he is unable to fast during his work, he is then allowed to break the fast. 

Allaah Knows best.