In the second year of Hijrah, Muslims were commanded to observe fasting in the month of Ramadan every year.
The holy month of Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar. Muslims all over the world observe fasting during this blessed month.
Fasting is to abstain from eating, drinking and intercourse from dawn until sunset with the intention of worship. The fasting of Ramadan is obligatory on every Muslim, who is adult, sane, and capable of fasting, resident; not traveling.
Fasting of Ramadan is obligatory on Muslim women also who are free and clean from menstruation and puerperal blood.
The fasting lasts for a whole month, starting from sighting the crescent and ends with sighting the crescent for another month.
Muslims celebrate `Eid Al-Fitr on the end of the month of fasting.
At the end of fasting, giving charity is obligatory upon the head of the family for every person in his guardianship, young or old. A very poor person who does not have even the livelihood of his day is an exception from this ruling.
The charity of Fitr must be paid before the `Eid prayer and it is allowed to be paid at anytime during Ramadan in the form of money or grain.
The amount of Zakat Al-Fitr is $10 per person in the U.S.. In Indian currency, it is about 70 Rs.
Fidyah is an alternate for fasting. Those who cannot fast such as very old or terminally ill have to feed a poor twice a day or give them its equal money. However, it is only for those who never can be able to fast.
But those who are sick in Ramadan and there is hope of recovery later, they should fast the missing days on any other days of the year. Fidyah for 60 meals have been calculated as Rs 5,500 per person.