Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Asalamalaykum! More than 15 years ago, I was studying in Mumbai (for 3 years) and during this time I didnot fast in Ramadhan. After coming home, I continued fasting normally in Ramadhans to come. I haven`t repayed those three Ramadhan months nor have I paid `kafaro`.People tell me that all the `rozas` I have performed are not accepted since I didn`t pay the `kafaro` for the three months I missed. Please advise. 

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Missed Fasts

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 185:

185 Ramadan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur'an as a guide to mankind also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (between right and wrong). So everyone of you who is present (at his home) during that month should spend it in fasting, but if anyone is ill or on a journey the prescribed period (should be made up) by days later. Allah intends every facility for you He does not want to put you to difficulties. (He wants you) to complete the prescribed period and to glorify Him in that He has guided you; and perchance ye shall be grateful.

Dear and Beloved Sister, fasting is an obligatory and prescribed duty our Lord Most High has laid upon those who sincerely believe in Him and the Last Day; and unless one has an absolutely valid reason, one should never ever miss this obligatory duty.

Regarding the atonement of the three months of fast which you missed almost 15 years ago, first and foremost you must turn to your Lord Most Gracious and seek His forgiveness for missing this obligatory duty; it is expected that you will find your Lord Forgiving and Merciful.

The opinion of the majority of the scholars in Islam is that if one has missed one’s fasts a very long time ago and if one has sought repentance for missing one’s obligatory duty, their repentance itself would suffice and Allah Subhanah, from His Vast and Endless Mercy and Grace, will forgive them their negligence and not hold them to account for their temporary lapse on the Day of Judgment.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 66 Surah Tahreem verse 8:

8 O ye who believe! Turn to Allah with sincere repentance (tawbatan-nasoohah): in the hope that your Lord will remove from you your ills and admit you to Gardens beneath which Rivers flow the Day that Allah will not permit to be humiliated the Prophet and those who believe with him. Their Light will run forward before them and by their right hands while they say "Our Lord! perfect our Light for us and grant us Forgiveness; for Thou has power over all things."

But if one so fears Allah, and is so repentant over his/her negligence at missing out on such an important and obligatory duty in one’s past and wishes to make amends; then one should make up those missed days of fasting over a period of time as an atonement of their missed fasts. This would be considered the best form of ‘tawbah’ or what Allah Subhanah Declares in the Quran as ‘tawbatan-nasoohah’ (absolutely sincere repentance).

We reiterate again that seeking repentance alone would suffice to obliterate the sin of missing one’s obligatory fasts which one missed a long time ago; but if one wishes to make absolutely sure and desires to make ‘tawbatan-nasoohah’, then it would be best to fast those missed days over a period of time which is convenient and easy for them; and that would be the best and purest form of manifesting one’s repentance to their Lord Most Gracious.

Your Statement: I haven`t repayed those three Ramadhan months nor have I paid `kafaro`

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 184:

184 (Fasting) for a fixed number of days; but if any of you is ill or on a journey the prescribed number (should be made up) from days later. For those who can do it (with hardship) is a ransom the feeding of one that is indigent. But he that will give more of his own free will it is better for him and it is better for you that ye fast if ye only knew.

Dear and Beloved Sister in Islam, the atonement of paying a ransom or ‘kaffara’ for each fast missed by feeding an indigent is only for those believers who are chronically ill and their age or health does not permit them to fast. If one is not chronically ill and their health or age or condition does not prevent them fasting, their atonement for missing fasts is to make up those missed fasts by fasting at any other time of the year.

Your Statement: People tell me that all the `rozas` I have performed are not accepted since I didn`t pay the `kafaro` for the three months I missed.

Our Lord is Most Gracious, Merciful, and Forgiving towards His sincere believers, and it does not behove and befit His Grace and Benevolence to not accept the worship of one who sincerely wishes and desires to worship Him!

The fact that you honored your duty of fasting all the months of Ramadan for the past fifteen years after having missed three years is in itself evidence and proof of your repentance and your sincere fear of your Lord Most High! Dear and Beloved Sister, rest assured that your Lord accepts the worship of His sincere and repentant believers, and He will never ever let go to waste any good deed of His believing slaves!

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chaper 21 Surah Anbiya verse 47:

47 We shall set up Scales of Justice for the Day of Judgment so that not a soul will be dealt with unjustly in the least. And if there be (no more than) the weight of a mustard seed We will bring it (to account): and enough are We to take account!

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 21 Surah Anbiya verse 94:

94 Whoever works any act of righteousness and has faith, his endeavor will not be rejected: We shall record it in his favor.

The people who told you that your fasts of fifteen years will not be accepted have simply not recognized the Vastness of The Lord Most Merciful’s Mercy. Rest assured beloved sister, that not even one of the fasts which you have done for your Lord will be rejected by Him; and Allah-Willing, you shall have your full and due reward for your obedience and worship.

Abu Hurairah reported the Messenger of Allah (saws) said: "Allah Subhanah Says: 'Every action of the son of Adam is for him except fasting, for that is solely for Me. I give the reward for it!'

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan