CAN THE ONE WHO HAS NOT REACHED PUBERTY FAST?
Ans: Yes, it is recommended.
Before puberty, fasting is not compulsory according to the consensus of scholars. The Prophet ﷺ said: "The pen is lifted from three people: a sleeping person until he awakens, a child until he reached puberty, and an insane person until he regains his sanity." {al-Tirmidhi #1423}
However, the child's guardian should encourage him to fast, according to his ability, so that he gets used to it, as was done by the Prophet's companions with their children. Al Rubayyi’ bint Mu’awwadh (may ALLĀH be pleased with her) said about fasting ‘Āshūrā’ at the time when it was mandatory to fast it and not voluntary: "We used to make our young boys fast, and we made them a toy made out of wool. If one of the boys cried [wanting] food, we would give him [the toy to distract him] until it was time to break the fast." {Al Bukhari #1960}
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymin (may ALLĀH have mercy on him) said: "A young child should not be forced to fast until he has reached the age of adolescence, but he may be told to fast if he is able to do it, so that he may get used to it and it will be easier for him after he reaches puberty. The Sahabah (may ALLĀH be pleased with them) – who are the best of this ummah – used to make their children fast when they were young."
{Majmu’ Fatawa al-Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymin, 19/28, 29}
Some people are quite lenient and lax when it comes to making their children fast. A situation may even arise where the young child feels enthusiastic and chooses to fast and is physically capable of doing so, then his father or mother order him to break his fast claiming that it is out of sympathy. Little do they know that real sympathy is in stressing the importance of fasting and teaching the child about it.
On the other hand, fasting becomes compulsory as soon as the signs of puberty appear: wet dreams, growth of coarse hair in the pubic area, menstruation for women, and reaching the age of fifteen. It then becomes prohibited to abandon it or to obey anyone, whether it be parents, society or a leader, who would authorize or order to abandon it without legitimate excuse.
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