Algerian Imams: “Baccalaureate Candidates Should Not Fast in Ramadan

At the time many pupils who will sit for the baccalaureate exam during the month of Ramadan, worried about the fasting and temperatures that the meteorology services expected to reach up to 45 degrees Celsius in some internal and Southern states, because it will effect the focus on answering the questions, Algerian imams issued a fatwa about the fasting for candidates of this exam, in the case of their exposure to health damage, provided that the intention of fasting is featured, as these imams called upon the administration that is supervising the conduct of the baccalaureate exam to provide eating and drinking in the educational institutions where pupils will sit for the exams.

In this context, Secretary-General of the National Coordination of Imams and Staff of Religious Affairs and Endowments, Djelloul Hadjimi, said that Iftar is permissible to the danger level for the students who would accept to sit again for exams in some baccalaureate degree modules on 19, 20, 21,22, and June 23, explaining that the danger is not just about the desert areas, but even if the examiner in these institutions lives near the sea, as once the pupil feels the loss of consciousness and influence by fasting, due to a disease or shortness of breath, he/she is entitled to break the fast and the institution should provide eating and drinking.

“Pupils who would sit against for the Bac exam, should be diligent in taking food and water during the Sohour, and their intention during the Sohour should be fasting and not taking breakfast, only if the hardship will reach the degree of risk, which means that the examiners should carry with them the intake of water, food and medicine.”

For his part, Sheikh Mohamed Charif Kaher, called for the need to provide the institutions where the pupils will sit for exams, with snacks and cold water for pupils who have to breakfast after the sense that their health will affect their focus, as he asserted; “We do not say to the baccalaureate pupils to break the fast, but the pupil is a self doctor, and if he/she felt in risk, he should take the breakfast, and fast again on other days.”

Sheikh Kaher explained; “Breakfast of these pupils may not be taken after the intention of fasting and access to the danger. Pupils should deliberately take the breakfast before 10:00 and 11:00 am on the exam’s day or before their sense of losing consciousness.