Fatwa by: Former Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Ibn Baz (رحمہ اللہ)
Question:
According to the well-known signs of puberty, I reached adulthood at the age of ten. In the first year of my puberty, I experienced the month of Ramadan. However, I did not fast that year without any valid excuse, simply because I was unaware of the obligation of fasting in Ramadan. Am I required to make up for those missed fasts? And is it necessary to pay kaffarah (expiation) in addition to making up the missed fasts?
Answer:
Along with repentance and seeking forgiveness, it is obligatory for you to make up the fasts for the month you missed. Additionally, if you are able, it is also obligatory to feed one poor person for each missed day as kaffarah. The amount to be given should be half a sa' (a traditional Islamic measure) of the staple food in your area, such as dates, rice, etc. If you are unable to provide the kaffarah due to financial difficulty, then making up the fasts alone will suffice.
Question:
According to the well-known signs of puberty, I reached adulthood at the age of ten. In the first year of my puberty, I experienced the month of Ramadan. However, I did not fast that year without any valid excuse, simply because I was unaware of the obligation of fasting in Ramadan. Am I required to make up for those missed fasts? And is it necessary to pay kaffarah (expiation) in addition to making up the missed fasts?
Answer:
Along with repentance and seeking forgiveness, it is obligatory for you to make up the fasts for the month you missed. Additionally, if you are able, it is also obligatory to feed one poor person for each missed day as kaffarah. The amount to be given should be half a sa' (a traditional Islamic measure) of the staple food in your area, such as dates, rice, etc. If you are unable to provide the kaffarah due to financial difficulty, then making up the fasts alone will suffice.
