Parenting Perspective 

When a teenager admits they are unsure about fasting during exams, it can stir anxiety in a parent’s heart. Fasting is a pillar of Islam, yet examinations can feel like defining moments in a young person’s life. This clash between religious duty and academic pressure can make a teenager feel torn, and if the conversation is handled harshly, they may retreat into silence or even resentment. 

In this moment, your teenager needs compassionate guidance, not immediate correction. Their honesty is a sign that they trust you enough to reveal their struggle, and it is vital that this trust is preserved. 

Acknowledge Their Pressure 

Begin by showing that you recognise their reality: ‘I understand that exams are a heavy responsibility, and it is natural to worry about how fasting might affect your energy.’ This statement does not compromise on faith; it validates their feelings as genuine. Teenagers are far more receptive to guidance when they first feel truly seen and heard. 

Teach a Balance Between Duty and Effort 

Help your child to see that fasting does not need to compete with their studies but can coexist with wise planning. Encourage them to adjust their study routines: 

• Focus on more demanding subjects in the hours after Suhoor when energy is highest. 

• Use the afternoon for lighter revision, review, or memorisation. 

• Incorporate short, restorative breaks to conserve mental and physical energy. 

This approach frames faith not as a barrier to success but as a support system that builds discipline. 

Share Inspiring Examples 

Many young Muslims around the world successfully fast while studying, training, or working. You can share stories of relatives or community members who managed both, not to dismiss your teenager’s struggle but to inspire them with the knowledge that it is possible. Emphasise that Ramadan is intended to strengthen, not weaken, teaching an endurance that benefits all areas of life, including academic effort. A powerful way to put this into practice is to offer to sit with your child and create a Ramadan study timetable together, transforming their anxiety into a structured plan. 

Spiritual Insight 

Facing difficulty with fasting during times of pressure is not a new phenomenon. The noble Quran reminds us that worship is not merely about abstention but about cultivating inner strength, self-control, and complete reliance on Allah Almighty. 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Baqarah (2), Verse 183: 

‘O you who are believers, fasting has been made obligatory upon you, in the same way that it was made obligatory upon those people before you, so that you may attain piety.’ 

This verse places fasting in its true context: it is a means of building taqwa, the spiritual consciousness and inner fortitude that helps a believer to face any challenge, including examinations. Fasting is not designed to break a person but to train the soul in patience and clarity. 

It is recorded in Sahih Bukhari, Hadith 1904, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘Fasting is a shield, and it is a strong fortress that protects from the Fire.’ 

When shared with a teenager, this hadith reframes fasting as a source of protection, not a penalty. It gives meaning to the sacrifice and assures them that every hour of abstention is not wasted but is, in fact, building a fortress of resilience and divine reward. 

By approaching their uncertainty with calm respect, you teach your teenager that faith is not about fear but about strength, strategic planning, and trust in Allah Almighty. Examinations are temporary, but the spiritual training of Ramadan endures within their character. In guiding them gently, you turn a moment of doubt into a lifelong lesson: that belief and worldly responsibility can indeed walk side by side, even under pressure.