Fasting Came in 3 Stages

The legislation of Ramadan in terms of its obligation went through three stages.

Our Shaykh Muhammad Al-Amari حفظه الله said: Allah made fasting obligatory in three stages.

The First Stage

In the first stage, the Muslims were only obligated to fast one day in the entire year, and that was the Day of Ashura:

Ibn Umar narrated:

عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَالَ صَامَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَاشُورَاءَ، وَأَمَرَ بِصِيَامِهِ‏.‏ فَلَمَّا فُرِضَ رَمَضَانُ تُرِكَ‏.‏

“The Prophet (ﷺ) observed the fast on the 10th of Muharram (‘Ashura), and ordered (Muslims) to fast on that day, but when the fasting of the month of Ramadan was prescribed, the fasting of the ‘Ashura’ was abandoned.”

Sahih Al-Bukhari 1892

The Second Stage

In the second stage, the Muslims who had the strength to fast were given a choice to either fast in the month of Ramadan, or to feed a poor person for every day they chose not to fast. This abrogated the obligation of fasting on the Day of Ashura, and it was replaced by something more heavy and difficult; i.e. fasting the days of Ramadan.

Allah said:

وَعَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ يُطِيقُونَهُۥ فِدۡيَةٌ طَعَامُ مِسكِينٍۖ فَمَن تَطَوَّعَ خَيۡرًا فَهُوَ خَيرٌ لَّهُۥۚ وَأَن تَصُومُواْ خَيرٌ لَّكُمۡۖ إِن كُنتُم تَعلَمُونَ

“As for those who can only fast with hardship, a compensation can be made by feeding a needy person [for each day]. But anyone who volunteers to give more, it is better for him. Yet fasting is better for you, if only you knew.”

Surah Al-Baqarah 2:184

The Third Stage

In the third and final stage, Allah made fasting on every capable Muslims obligatory, and abrogated the ruling of “choosing” to not fast and feeding a poor person as compensation.

Salamah bin Akwah narrated:

كُنَّا فِي رَمَضَانَ عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مَنْ شَاءَ صَامَ وَمَنْ شَاءَ أَفْطَرَ فَافْتَدَى بِطَعَامِ مِسْكِينٍ حَتَّى أُنْزِلَتْ هَذِهِ الآيَةُ ‏{‏فَمَنْ شَهِدَ مِنْكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ‏}‏

“We, during the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), in one month of Ramadan (observed fast according to our liking). He who wished to fast fasted and he who wished to break broke it and fed a needy person as an expiation; till this Ayah was revealed, ‘He who witnesses among you the month (of Ramadan) he should observe fast during it.’ [Surah Al-Baqarah 2:184]”

Sahih Muslim 1145b