If the exams for high school graduation are held in Ramadaan, is it permissible for a student to break his fast in Ramadaan so that he will be able to concentrate in the exam?
Praise be to Allaah.
It is not permissible for one who is accountable to break his
fast in Ramadaan because of exams, because that is not one of the excuses
that are allowed in sharee’ah. Rather he has to fast, and do his studying
and revision at night if it is too hard for him to do that during the day.
Those who are in charge of exams should be kind to the
students and not make the exams in Ramadaan, thus serving two interests, the
interests of the fast and to help the students prepare for the exams. It was
narrated in a saheeh report from the Messenger of Allaah (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him): “O Allaah, whoever is put in charge of any
of the affairs of my ummah and is kind to them, show kindness towards him,
and whoever is put in charge of any of the affairs of my ummah and is harsh
towards them, show harshness towards him.” (Narrated by Muslim in his
Saheeh). So my advice to those who are in charge of exams is to be kind
to the students and not to have exams in Ramadaan, but to have them before
or after. We ask Allaah to give us all strength.
