A surgeon should strive to find all possible means to observe fasting as Allah has enjoined. If a surgeon tried all possible means and they did not work out and he cannot find other work in which he can fast and he will be harmed by giving up his job, then it is permissible for him to break the fast on the days on which fasting causes considerable hardship.

It is not permissible for you to skip fasting because of work. You have to look for means that will help you to combine fasting and working in a way that will not harm you.

Eleven tips on how to get your children accustomed to fasting: 1. Telling them of the virtues of fasting. 2. Prior experience of getting used to fasting, such as fasting a few days in the month of Sha`ban. 3. Fasting part of the day and increasing the time gradually. 4. Delaying Suhur (pre-dawn meal) until the last part of the night. 5. Encouraging them to fast by giving them rewards each day or each week. 6. Praising them in front of the family. 7. Instilling a spirit of competition for the one who has more than one child. 8. Distracting the one who gets hungry by letting him sleep or play permissible games. 9. It is preferable for the father to take his son — especially after `Asr — to attend the prayer and lessons, and to stay in the mosque to read the Quran and remember Allah. 10. Arranging visits during the day and night to families whose young children are also fasting, so as to encourage them to carry on fasting. 11. Rewarding them with permissible trips after iftar, or making the kinds of food, sweets, fruits and juices that they want.