✦ By: ʿUbaydullāh Ṭāhir (حفظه الله)
Narrated by ʿĀʾishah (رضي الله عنها):
“I used to have Ramaḍān fasts to make up, but I wouldn’t be able to do so except in Shaʿbān.”
→ (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 1950)
In another narration from Muslim:
“One of us would miss fasts during the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and we wouldn’t be able to make them up until Shaʿbān arrived.”
→ (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1146)
✔ It is permissible to delay the qadāʾ (make-up) of missed Ramaḍān fasts within the year, as long as they are completed before the next Ramaḍān.
✔ ʿĀʾishah (رضي الله عنها) delayed her qadāʾ due to obligations of serving the Prophet ﷺ — this shows valid reasons for delay are acceptable.
→ First, observe the current year’s fasts.
→ Then, make up the previous year’s missed fasts.
The correct opinion: Fidya is not obligatory, because its obligation lacks clear Shar‘i proof.
◈ It is permissible to delay the qadāʾ of Ramaḍān fasts within the year, but they must be completed before the next Ramaḍān.
◈ If delayed without valid excuse, one must still perform the qadāʾ, but fidya is not required according to the stronger view.
◈ If the next Ramaḍān begins before qadāʾ is done, then:
➝ Fast the current Ramaḍān first.
➝ Then complete the missed fasts afterward.
وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
❖ Hadith Evidence:
Narrated by ʿĀʾishah (رضي الله عنها):“I used to have Ramaḍān fasts to make up, but I wouldn’t be able to do so except in Shaʿbān.”
→ (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 1950)
In another narration from Muslim:“One of us would miss fasts during the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and we wouldn’t be able to make them up until Shaʿbān arrived.”
→ (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1146)
✿ Key Understandings from the Hadith:
✔ It is permissible to delay the qadāʾ (make-up) of missed Ramaḍān fasts within the year, as long as they are completed before the next Ramaḍān.
✔ ʿĀʾishah (رضي الله عنها) delayed her qadāʾ due to obligations of serving the Prophet ﷺ — this shows valid reasons for delay are acceptable.
✿ What if Someone Delays Qadāʾ Past the Next Ramaḍān?
- If a person fails to make up the missed fasts before the next Ramaḍān, two things apply:
① They must make up the missed fasts after the new Ramaḍān ends.
→ First, observe the current year’s fasts.
→ Then, make up the previous year’s missed fasts.
② Is Fidya (compensation by feeding the poor) required?
- Some scholars say: Yes, feeding one poor person per delayed day is necessary.
- Others, including many scholars of Ahl al-Ḥadīth, say: No fidya is required, because no authentic evidence makes it obligatory.
The correct opinion: Fidya is not obligatory, because its obligation lacks clear Shar‘i proof.
Conclusion:
◈ It is permissible to delay the qadāʾ of Ramaḍān fasts within the year, but they must be completed before the next Ramaḍān.
◈ If delayed without valid excuse, one must still perform the qadāʾ, but fidya is not required according to the stronger view.
◈ If the next Ramaḍān begins before qadāʾ is done, then:
➝ Fast the current Ramaḍān first.
➝ Then complete the missed fasts afterward.
وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
