Non-Muslim (Kafir)
Fasting is not obligatory on a non-Muslim because he is not
commanded to fast and even if he decides to fast and follows
all the regulations, it will not be accepted by Allah (SWT). If
he or she wants to fast the Islamic fast, he has to declare the
Kalimah first, and only then will the fast be accepted. Simi-
larly, the non-Muslim {Kafir) is not obligated to perform any
Islamic duties. If he converts to Islam during the month of
Ramadan, for instance, in the middle of the month, it becomes
incumbent upon him to fast the remaining days. There will be
no making up the days he missed before becoming Muslim.
Allah (SWT) states:
“Say to the unbelievers, if they desist from unbe-
lief, their past would be forgiven of them…”
(Al-Qur’an 8:38)
If one converts to Islam during the daytime in Ramadan, say
10:00 a.m. in the morning, he or she should observe the rest of
the day in fasting. That is, from 10:00 a.m. until sunset, he
should not break his fast.