Talking about the exempted persons, this refers to those set of persons who are, in one way or the other, exempted from fasting in the month of Romadon. They are people that, by virtue of their status or circumstancial considerations, were required to perform another act, instead of fasting in the month of Romadon, in order to ameliorate the hardship of fasting during this period.

They are people who are allowed either to fast back at later time or to have another rite done as the case may be as it was established in the Qur-aan, the Sunnah of the prophet of Islam (S.A.W) and agreed upon by Islamic scholars.

THE EXEMPTED PERSONS

As stated and explain in the book, sohiih fiq-hus-sunnah, there are about three categories of persons exempted from participating in the fast of Romadon, vis-a-vis:

A. Those who are permitted not to fast, but to have it paid back at later time or otherwise.

Persons falling under this category are allowed and permitted to discontinue or suspend fasting fur ng this month. They include:

1. The Sick: This comprises of those who are sick and as a result, lacks the ability to fast or continue the fast for a quite number of days. Where the sickness is just a very slight one (like a slight headache, catarrh, cold etc), one is not allowed not to fast. But, in a situation where the sickness persists and the concerned person finds it very difficult to continue with the fast, he is allowed to discontinue with the fast till he feels better and make up the missed days later. Evidence for this is contained in Q2 vs 184.

2. The Traveller: Travelling is moving out of a city to another. A traveller is also permitted to skip Romadon fast during the course of his journey. He has the sole discretion to either fast or choose not to. However, provided the journey does not bring any hardship or so, it is recommended that fasting is the best. See Q2 vs 184. But, if fasting while on the journey will cause him grievous hardship, he is required to suspend the fast and while he make up the missed days later.

3. The Aged:Those who have attained old-age and who have not, the capacity to fast are also exempted from fasting. They are expected to feed a poor person daily throughout the month of Ramadan.

4. The Pregnant: They are also exempted only if fasting is going to cause them harm. There are various scholarly opinions regarding the payment of fast missed by the pregnant who are incapacitated to fast during Romadon. However, the most outweiging of the five opinions held is that: based on the HADIITH reported by ibn `Abbaas, those in this category are required to do as the Aged, i.e feeding a poor person daily throughout the month and with no need of paying back.

5. The Breastfeeding women: The rule is the same as that of the pregnant.

6. Persistent Sickness: Those affected with persistent sickness are also allowed to have their fast break. Like that of breastfeeding women, aged persons and the pregnant, they are to feed a poor person daily.

B. Those who are manndated not to fast and to have it paid back only

Those discussed here are those who are by circumstances mandated and ordered not fast and to have it paid back later.

1. Women having their menstrual course: Women of this category are expected and mandated not to attempt fasting and meanwhile, they are required to pay back at later time.

2. Women experiencing the blood flow after post-childbirth: The Islamic ruling is also the same as those in their monthly period. They are disallowed to make an attempt to fast.

3. He who cares for his life: For he who cares for his life, there is permissibility for him to skip fasting and have them paid back at subsequent time.

C. Those who are not legible to have the fast paid back nor feed poor person

Those in this category are those who have no right to skip fasting during the month of Romadon and they include those who possess the following:

a. That they are Muslim;

b. They have attained puberty stage;

c. That they are sane;

d. Healthy and not sicked;

e. Resident and not Traveller, and

f. Women who are free from Hayd (monthly flow) and Nifaas (post-childbirth blood flow).