Answered by Ustadh Tabraze Azam
Question: Salam Alaykum
Is it a duty to fast whilst preparing for exams?
Answer: Wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,
I pray that you are in the best of health and faith, insha’Allah.
Yes, it remains obligatory to fast during exam periods.
Consider some of the tremendous virtues of fasting, and the success in this life and the next, of those who put Allah first in their own lives, preferring Allah even when things outwardly seem more difficult.
Abu Hurayra reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “Allah, the Mighty and Exalted said, ‘Every action of the son of Adam is for himself except for fasting. It is Mine and I repay it.’…” [Bukhari & Muslim]
Abu Sa’id al-Khudri reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “No slave fasts one day in the way of Allah without Allah putting his face seventy years’ journey away from the Fire on account of that day.” [Bukhari & Muslim]
The sunna of the Holy Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) is to take the means, and that means eating and resting well, working hard, and making much supplication– remembering that the supplication of the fasting person is answered, particularly in the moments before breaking the fast. And make the Prayer of Need (salat al-hajah) part of your daily routine. [see: How Does One Perform The Prayer Of Need (salat al-haja)?]
Please see: Missing Fasts because of Exams and: Not Fasting in Ramadan to Study for an Important Exam and: Supplication for Success in Exam
And Allah alone gives success.
wassalam,
Tabraze Azam
Checked & Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani.