Egypt’s Dar al-Ifta has ruled that it is permissible for students who are obligated to study or sit for exams during the month of Ramadan to break their fast if fasting will negatively impact their study performance or if there is a strong probability that it will lead to grade failure or compromise exam results. This ruling follows the necessity of studying and sitting for exams during the month of Ramadan. Students are however required to make up their missed fast days after they finish their exams.

Egypt’s Dar al-Ifta emphasized that this is an exceptional ruling of necessity based on the legal maxim that states “necessity is estimated by the extent thereof.” The fatwa is governed by certain conditions the absence of which renders fasting obligatory. These conditions include the existence of genuine harm resulting from fasting, a strong probability that fasting will cause students to fail or negatively impact their exam results, studying cannot be postponed until after Ramadan, and finally that this concession operate only as long as the necessity is existent.