Answered by Shaykh Sohail Hanif, SunniPath Academy Teacher
At what age does fasting become mandatory on a person, is it 7, 10 or on reaching puberty?
Assalamu alaykum
Fasting, like prayer and all other religious observances, is only obligatory on those who are morally responsible for their actions. This has been determined by the sacred law as the age of puberty. Prior to having reached puberty one is not responsible for one’s actions.
However one’s guardians are responsible for providing one with a good upbringing so as to facilitate one’s entry into adulthood.
This is why the Shariah has obliged the guardian to command children to pray and fast at the age of seven and to discipline them at the age of ten if they do not pray or fast. This discipline, when exercised through hitting, can only be with the hand, not a stick, and is not meant to exceed three blows; the point being to apprise the child of the seriousness of his act and not to physically harm him. [Ibn Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar, 1:235, Dar Li Ihya al-Turath al-Arabi]