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:

Dear Brother Burhan,

I still have a question. You have written that one will have to fast the number of missed fast days at any other time of the year, and my question was that if one cannot complete missed fasts  days before the next Ramadan then what will happen? I heard that if one will fail to fast his/ her obligatory fasts days before the next Ramadan, so in this case he/she have to give kaffarah and fasts the missed fast days.

I hope I am clear with my question this time.

Kindly reply back as soon  as possible so if I have to complete the missed fast days before Ramadan.

My wife missed ten obligatory fasts in the last Ramadan. Till now she couldn’t make the missed 10 fasts since she got pregnant. Doctor says she have expected due date is August 31st or September 1st 2008 that is the first of Ramadan.

My question is can she make her 10 missed fasts after her give delivery? Someone told me that if she will not complete her missed fast before the next Ramadan then she have to pay kufarah for the ten obligatory fasts along with the fasting.

Even she will miss some or all the fast in coming Ramadan because of the bleeding after delivery.

(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 Ramadan pregnant

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.

My question is can she make her 10 missed fasts after her give delivery?

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.

It would obviously be preferred and best that if one perchance has missed some obligatory fasts of Ramadan to fulfill those number of missed fasts before the next Ramadan.

But if one has missed some obligatory fasts of Ramadan, and one was unable to fulfill those missed fasts before the advent of their next Ramadan due to a genuine reason (like pregnancy, post childbirth menstruation, etc.)……the scholars and the jurists in Islam are unanimous in their opinion that there is absolutely no harm if the person fulfills those missed number of fasts at a later date (ie. after their next Ramadan).

Your Question: ….Someone told me that if she will not complete her missed fast before the next Ramadan then she have to pay kufarah for the ten obligatory fasts along with the fasting.
Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verses 183-185:

183 O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you that ye may (learn) self-restraint.

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.

The ‘kaffarah’ or atonement of a missed fast is to fulfill that fast at a later date of their convenience, preferably before the advent of their next Ramadan.

The ‘kaffarah’ or atonement of feeding one who is poor and indigent for every fast missed is only for those who are terminally ill and have absolutely no hope of recovering their health, whereby they fear that their health would not permit them to make up their missed fasts even at a later date! For such people, Islam has allowed that they should feed one poor person for every fast they have missed as an atonement for their missed obligatory fasts. But if one is temporarily of ill health during the month of Ramadan, and hopes to recover from their health in the near future, it is obligatory upon them to make up the missed fasts of Ramadan by fasting the exact number of days at a later date.

Under no circumstances is one who has perchance missed their obligatory fasts obliged or required to do both: make up their missed fasts and pay the ‘kaffarah’ of feeding a poor for every fast missed.

In the particular case of your wife brother, if she has missed ten obligatory fasts of her previous Ramadan which she is unable to make up for a genuine reason before the advent of her next Ramadan….and there is a chance that she might miss a few more fasts (say ten more) the next Ramadan due to her state of pregnancy or childbirth……then all she has to do is make up the total missed fasts (10+10) whenever she recovers her health and is easy and convenient for her; and that would more than suffice as her ‘kaffarah’ or atonement for her missed fasts.

She would not be required to give any additional ‘kaffarah’ or atonement for her missed fasts other than making up the missed number of fasts.

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