Question Summary:
Can i miss a fast due to a cricket game?

Question Detail:

Assalamualaikum ,please do reply to this ques , its very important ,  i want to ask , i play cricket , and on 10-11th of june  , i have very important matches of my carrier and i cant leave it , ramzaan is going and i dont know what to do , i have to do practice for some days too like 4 days , my father wont allow me to leave these matches as these are very important and is emotionally attached to cricket as he too used to play cricket . Im trapped i dont know what to do , can i leave six fast ? And make it later after ramzaan or would it be gunaahe kabira ? Im trapped from all side , if leave the matches my whole year would be wasted and my dad will also become very sad and upset on me . Please advice . If i can make these fast later?? 

Answer :

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
We apologize for the much belated response.
Almighty Allah has ordered us to fast in the month of Ramadan with much emphasis.
Allah Ta’ala says,
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ 
“O you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you so that you may achieve Taqwaa (righteousness, God-fearing).” (Quran 2:183)
Consider the key words in the verse;
1) “Oh you who have Iman (faith)” Allah appeals to our sense of Iman.
2) “Fasting is prescribed for you” Fasting is one of those obligations wherein Allah expressly states its obligation in the Quran.
3) “As it was prescribed for those before you” Almighty Allah refers to fasting as an old obligation of the past.
It is clear from the various emphasis of the Quran that fasting in Ramadan is an emphasized order of Allah to fast.
Furthermore, fasting in Ramadan is one of the fundamental pillars of Islam.
Rasulullah (صلي الله عليه وسلم) said,
«بُنِيَ الْإِسْلَامُ عَلَى خَمْسٍ، شَهَادَةِ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ، وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ، وَإِقَامِ الصَّلَاةِ، وَإِيتَاءِ الزَّكَاةِ، وَحَجِّ الْبَيْتِ، وَصَوْمِ رَمَضَانَ»[1]
Islam is based on (the following) five (principles):
1. To testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and Muhammad is Allah’s Messenger.
2. To offer the (compulsory) prayers.
3. To pay Zakat.
4. To perform Hajj.
5. To observe fast during the month of Ramadan.
A Muslim should be sensitive to such an emphasized order of Allah and a fundamental pillar of Islam.
Allah created us to worship Him. Our lives should revolve around the worship of Allah.
Fasting in Ramadan is fardh upon a Muslim who is muqeem (not travelling) and who is not ill.[2]
If a person is travelling or is ill, he is excused from fasting.[3]
However, in that instance, he will have to do qadha (make up) for the missed fasts.
It is not permissible for you to leave out your Ramadan fasts to play cricket.
The explanation given by you to miss the Ramadan fasts to play cricket has no justification in Shariah. [4]
The obedience of Allah has priority over the obedience and feelings of your father.
Rasulullah (صلي الله عليه وسلم) said,
لَا طَاعَةَ لِمَخْلُوقٍ فِي مَعْصِيَةِ اللهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ
“There is no obedience of the creation in the disobedience of Allah, the most exalted.”[5]
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Saad Haque
Student Darul Iftaa
New Jersey, USA
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.