Question:
A woman did not fast in Ramadan 1382 AH due to a valid excuse—she was breastfeeding her child. Now, that child has grown up and is 24 years old, but she has not yet made up for those missed fasts. This delay was not due to negligence or laziness, but out of ignorance. What should she do now?
Answer:
This woman is obligated to make up for the missed fasts as soon as possible, even if she does so on separate days. She must fast the same number of days that the Muslims fasted in that Ramadan.
Additionally, she must also give charity (fidya)—which is feeding one needy person for each missed fast—as an expiation (kaffarah) for delaying the qada until the next Ramadan. Since she delayed making up the fasts until many years passed, she must now fast and give fidya.
For an entire month of missed fasts, she should provide approximately 45 kilograms of rice (one full sack) as fidya.
She should also have been diligent in seeking knowledge about religious obligations. This is a well-known ruling: if someone misses fasting due to a valid excuse, they must make up the fasts as soon as possible and should not delay it unnecessarily without a valid reason.
(Shaykh Ibn Jibreen – رحمه الله)
