Is it permissible for me to continue fasting with the intention of making up my missed days?
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:
I am
in the process of fasting to make up the days I missed in Ramadan. Today is
waqfat Arafat. Is it permissible for me to continue fasting with the intention
of making up my missed days?
(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:
Sunnah or obligatory fast first
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 none 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 (or witnesses) the 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.
The obligatory fasts which one has perchance missed during
the month of Ramadan are a debt one owes
unto Allah Subhanah; and the absolute majority of the scholars and the jurists
in Islam are of the opinion that one should strive to fulfill their missed
obligatory fasts before they observe a Sunnah or a voluntary fast.
There is absolutely no harm if one intends and wishes to
fulfill one of their missed obligatory fasts on a day (like the day of Arafah,
or the days of Ashura, or Mondays, or Thursdays, or the 13th, 14th,
and 15th of each month, etc.) when it is considered a Sunnah to
fast.
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
Wister