A major announcement has been issued by the Presidency of Religious Affairs regarding fasting for Ramadan 2020. According to the latest statement, the long-debated question of whether believers should observe the Ramadan fast this year has been clarified. The Presidency declared that fasting during Ramadan in 2020 remains obligatory (fard) for every healthy Muslim. A blanket postponement of the fasting obligation is not possible.
The High Council for Religious Affairs addressed widespread public questions about who must fast and who is exempt during Ramadan, given the COVID-19 pandemic. In its statement, the Council reiterated that “during the month of Ramadan, every healthy believer must fast by the command of Allah. The obligation to fast cannot be suspended wholesale.”
Presidency’s Guidance on Observing the Fast
As we enter the month of Sha’ban and approach Ramadan, the global fight against the coronavirus remains intense, and citizens have posed many questions about fasting and religious practice this year. In response, the High Council provided clear guidance to concerned worshippers and publicized its position for wider understanding.
Islamic teachings define the times, places, and conditions in which acts of worship are to be performed through revealed guidance. Based on those principles, the Presidency affirmed that healthy individuals are required to observe the fast during Ramadan. According to the Council, postponing the fast for everyone is not an option.
Consultation with medical specialists informed the Council’s conclusion that fasting by healthy people does not pose an increased risk for the spread of COVID-19. Additionally, there is no medical evidence that fasting harms the immune system. On the contrary, some scientific studies indicate that fasting can have beneficial effects on immune health. Therefore, the religious ruling remains that healthy Muslims should observe the fast, while individuals with relevant health conditions should follow medical advice and the exemptions provided by religious law.