Ruling on Missing Ramadan Fasts Due to Earning Livelihood
Source: Fatawa Arkan-e-Islam
If a person missed the fasts of Ramadan in order to earn a livelihood for himself and his children, what is the ruling regarding this action?
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh. Ammā baʿd:
The ruling regarding someone who misses the fasts of Ramadan for the sake of earning sustenance for himself and his children is as follows:
If the person missed the fasts based on a mistaken reasoning — such as assuming that just as it is permissible for the sick to miss the fasts, it would also be permissible for him because he cannot fast while working:
Then he must make up (qadā') all the missed fasts of Ramadan.
Then the fasts should be observed on his behalf.
If the heirs do not fast on his behalf, then feeding one needy person as compensation for each missed fast will suffice.
If he left the fasts without any valid excuse or incorrect reasoning, then the stronger opinion among the scholars is:
◈ The statement of the Prophet ﷺ:
«مَنْ عَمِلَ عَمَلًا لَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ اَمْرُنَا فَهُوَ رَدٌّ»
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Aqḍiyah, Bāb: Revoking Invalid Rulings, Ḥadīth: 1718, 1718)
“Whoever does an act that is not in accordance with our matter, it is rejected.”
◈ Just as an act of worship with a fixed time cannot be performed before its time, it likewise cannot be performed after its time, unless there is a valid excuse, such as:
◈ The Prophet ﷺ said:
«مَنْ نَام عنَ صَلَاةً اَو نسيهاْْفليُصَلِّيَهَا إِذَا ذَکَرَهَا، لَا کَفَّارَةَ لَهَا إِلَّا ذَلِکَ»
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Mawāqīt, Bāb: One Who Forgot a Prayer, Ḥadīth: 597;
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Masājid, Bāb: Making Up Missed Prayers, Ḥadīth: 684 [315])
“Whoever forgets a prayer or sleeps through it, its expiation is that he performs it when he remembers it. There is no other expiation except that.”
◈ The issue of ignorance requires further elaboration, but a detailed explanation is not feasible in this context.
ھٰذَا مَا عِنْدِي وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
Source: Fatawa Arkan-e-Islam
❀ Question:
If a person missed the fasts of Ramadan in order to earn a livelihood for himself and his children, what is the ruling regarding this action?
❀ Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh. Ammā baʿd:
The ruling regarding someone who misses the fasts of Ramadan for the sake of earning sustenance for himself and his children is as follows:
◈ If He Missed the Fasts with a Misguided Interpretation (Ta'wīl):
If the person missed the fasts based on a mistaken reasoning — such as assuming that just as it is permissible for the sick to miss the fasts, it would also be permissible for him because he cannot fast while working:
➊ If he is alive:
Then he must make up (qadā') all the missed fasts of Ramadan.
➋ If he has passed away:
Then the fasts should be observed on his behalf.
If the heirs do not fast on his behalf, then feeding one needy person as compensation for each missed fast will suffice.
◈ If He Missed the Fasts Without Any Justification or Misinterpretation:
If he left the fasts without any valid excuse or incorrect reasoning, then the stronger opinion among the scholars is:
➊ Acts of worship with fixed times are not accepted if performed outside their prescribed time without a valid excuse.
➋ The individual should engage abundantly in good deeds, voluntary acts, and seek forgiveness (istighfār).
❖ Supporting Evidence for This Ruling:
◈ The statement of the Prophet ﷺ:
«مَنْ عَمِلَ عَمَلًا لَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ اَمْرُنَا فَهُوَ رَدٌّ»
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Aqḍiyah, Bāb: Revoking Invalid Rulings, Ḥadīth: 1718, 1718)
“Whoever does an act that is not in accordance with our matter, it is rejected.”
❖ Principle Regarding Time-Bound Acts of Worship:
◈ Just as an act of worship with a fixed time cannot be performed before its time, it likewise cannot be performed after its time, unless there is a valid excuse, such as:
➊ Ignorance
➋ Forgetfulness
❖ Guidance in the Case of Forgetfulness:
◈ The Prophet ﷺ said:
«مَنْ نَام عنَ صَلَاةً اَو نسيهاْْفليُصَلِّيَهَا إِذَا ذَکَرَهَا، لَا کَفَّارَةَ لَهَا إِلَّا ذَلِکَ»
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Mawāqīt, Bāb: One Who Forgot a Prayer, Ḥadīth: 597;
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Masājid, Bāb: Making Up Missed Prayers, Ḥadīth: 684 [315])
“Whoever forgets a prayer or sleeps through it, its expiation is that he performs it when he remembers it. There is no other expiation except that.”
❖ On the Matter of Ignorance:
◈ The issue of ignorance requires further elaboration, but a detailed explanation is not feasible in this context.
ھٰذَا مَا عِنْدِي وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
