“During the month of Ramadhan the Qur’ān was sent down as a guidance to the people with clear signs of the true guidance, and as the Criterion (between right and wrong). So those of you who live to see that month should fast it, and whoever is sick or on a journey should fast the same number of other days instead. Allah wants ease and not hardship for you so that you may complete the number of days required, magnify Allah for what He has guided you to, and give thanks to Him.”
(Al-Qur’ān – 2:185)
Fasting in Ramadhan is an obligatory prayer. It is not only an act of worship and devotion and a means to nourish piety but also an act of gratefulness to God for His great bounty of true guidance in the form of the Qur’ān, revealed during this sacred month. Fasting is an excellent means to prepare ourselves to follow the path of guidance.
For those who fail to fast during that month owing to some legitimate reason God has kept the door of compensation open during other months of the year so that they need not be deprived of the opportunity to express their gratitude to Allah for revealing the Qur’ān.