Question:
When should the missed fasts be made up?
Answer:
For those who have missed fasting in Ramadan, it is better to make up the fasts consecutively; however, it is also permissible to complete the makeup fasts intermittently before the next Ramadan. If a person fasts six days of Shawwal before making up the missed Ramadan fasts, there is no harm in that either.
The command of Allah Almighty is:
فَعِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ
Complete the count of days (of fasting) in the other days.
❀ Allama Ubaidullah Mubarakpuri, may Allah have mercy on him, states under this verse:
إنه أمر بالقضاء مطلقا عن وقت معين فلا يجوز تقييده ببعض الأوقات إلا بدليل
The ruling on making up fasts is given without specifying any particular time, therefore it is not permissible to restrict it to any specific time without evidence.
❀ Sayyida Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, narrates:
كان يكون علي الصوم من رمضان، فما أستطيع أن أقضي إلا في شعبان
If I had any missed fasts of Ramadan, I would not fast them before Sha’ban.
❀ Hafiz Ibn Abdul Barr, may Allah have mercy on him, states:
The delay in making up Ramadan fasts by Sayyida Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, is evidence that there is leniency in making up fasts and that delay is permissible; also, this narration is evidence that the limit for delay is the month of Sha’ban.
❀ Hafiz Ibn Hajar, may Allah have mercy on him, writes:
From this hadith it is established that it is permissible to delay making up Ramadan fasts absolutely, whether due to an excuse or without an excuse.
❀ He also states:
From the apparent work of Imam Bukhari, may Allah have mercy on him, it seems that he considered leniency and intervals permissible in delaying the makeup fasts, because he mentioned narrations in his methodology in Tarjamat al-Bab accordingly; this is also the position of the majority.
