The daughter of one of my relatives started menstruating at the beginning of Ramadhaan. However, her mother prohibited her from fasting under the pretext that she is still young as she is less than nine years old. I tried to draw the attention of the mother to the seriousness of this matter but she did not care. What is your opinion?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

Menstruation is one of the signs of puberty for females. Scholars differed concerning the case when a girl experiences menstruation at the age of nine. Is it a condition that she has completed her ninth year according to Shaafiʻi and Hanbali schools or is it enough to start the ninth year without completing it according to another opinion of the Shaafiʻi scholars and others as well?

Therefore, if this girl menstruated after completing nine years, then her puberty is proven and she is obliged to perform all that the adults are obliged to perform such as praying, fasting, wearing Hijab and other matters. It is impermissible for her mother to prevent her from fasting as long as she is capable of doing so. Rather, she should be encouraged to observe fast. Also, the girl may not obey her mother in this matter because it is related to what Allaah The Almighty enjoined. Obeying Allaah The Exalted is given precedence over obeying anyone else regardless of who they are. If she obeyed her mother and did not observe fasting, she should make up for this. Her mother should repent to Allaah The Almighty from preventing an assigned Muslim to perform what Allaah The Almighty imposed.

However, if she bleeds for a long period before completing her ninth year, that is to say a period of time that extends to menstruation and attaining the state of purity which is sixteen days, then there is a great difference among jurists over her puberty. Nevertheless, it is preferable that children are encouraged to observe fast to the extent that some jurists stated that the guardian of a child should order him (or her) to observe fast if he (or she) is capable of doing so, just as he orders him (or her) to pray.  

Allaah Knows best.