How To Compensate for the Missed Obligatory Fast of Ramadan?

Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat

Question

When I was 16 and 18 years old, my mom did not allow me to fast. She said I can’t study and will not do well in exams. Now we both realized we made mistake. Could you tell me what should I do now?

Also, I had a lot of qada fast to do due to not fasting during my periods. I didn’t know I have to redo it. Later, I realized I had to, so I did, but now I’ve come to know that it is better to feed one poor person for one day to stay on the safe side. Do I have to feed him two times or three times a day?

Answer

All you have to do is make up the missed fasts in both of the above situations and repent for the fasts you missed when your mother stopped you from fasting. She should repent, too.

Thumb Rule

The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said,

“There can be no obedience to any created being if it is disobedience of Allah – Perfect and Exalted is He.” [Ahmad]

Use this as a rule of thumb if you are placed in that situation again.

Not for Compensation

As for the feeding, you don’t have to do that. Doing so would be an act of charity, but it is not needed to compensate for the fasts.
[Shurunbulali, Maraqi al-Falah]

May Allah grant you the best of both worlds.
[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim Reasat
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat began his studies in Arabic Grammar and Morphology in 2005. After graduating with a degree in English and History, he moved to Damascus in 2007, where, for 18 months, he studied with many erudite scholars. In late 2008, he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continued his studies for the next six years in Sacred Law (fiqh), legal theory (Usul al-fiqh), theology, hadith methodology, hadith commentary, and Logic. He was also given licenses of mastery in the science of Quranic recital, and he was able to study an extensive curriculum of Quranic sciences, tafsir, Arabic grammar, and Arabic eloquence.