❖ Question:
I am a 23-year-old young man. My father encouraged me to fast when I was about 15 years old, and I began observing fasts. However, I would fast on some days and skip on others, as I did not fully understand the true meaning of fasting. Once I reached maturity and an age of awareness, I began fasting the entire month of Ramadan without missing a single day—praise be to Allah. My question is: Am I required to make up the missed fasts from previous years? It should be noted that from the age of 18, I started keeping all the fasts of Ramadan regularly.❖ Answer:
A person becomes obligated to follow Islamic rulings once they complete the age of fifteen, as this is considered a sign of puberty (bulūgh) in Islamic law. Thus, anyone who neglects fasting after reaching this age has indeed abandoned an obligation.Therefore, it is necessary for such a person to make up (qaḍāʾ) the missed fasts of Ramadan that were not fully observed or not observed at all after attaining puberty. Lack of understanding of the wisdom behind fasting does not excuse one from this obligation.
Moreover, it is also required to offer expiation (kaffārah) by feeding one poor person for each missed day.
If the exact number of missed fasts is unknown, the person should make up a number of days sufficient to be confident that the obligation has been fulfilled.
Allah knows best.
— Shaykh Ibn Jibreen رحمه الله
