It is advisable to promptly make up for missed fast days consecutively as soon as possible. Postponing them until the next Ramadan is not permissible unless there is a valid excuse, such as prolonged illness. If one delays without a valid excuse until the following Ramadan, he/she is obligated to offer a penalty known as ‘mud,’ which is approximately 700-750 grams of food, to the poor for each missed fast day, in addition to making up the missed days. Should the delay extend to the second Ramadan, the penalty doubles to two ‘mud’ (approximately 700-750 grams) per missed day, and this addition continues annually.
In the event of an individual passing away with unfulfilled fast days that the he/she was capable of observing but did not, it becomes the responsibility of his/her family members to pay a similar penalty of one ‘mud’ (approximately 700-750 grams) of food for each missed day.
Need ‘mud’ (المُدّ), no need ‘make up’ (القَضاء)
If someone misses a fast due to old age or an illness from which recovery is unlikely, he/she is required to give one ‘mud’ (approximately 700-750 grams) for each fast day he/she misses.”
Exempted, but obliged to make up
Certain individuals are exempt from fasting but are obligated to make up for missed fasting days. This entails fasting one day for each day missed. These include:
- Those who are ill and refrain from fasting due to concerns about exacerbating their illness or delaying recovery.
- Travelers.
- Individuals who have left the Islamic faith.
- Women experiencing menstruation or postnatal bleeding.
Expiation for Nullifying Ramadan Fast through Sexual Intercourse
When Ramadan fasts are annulled due to sexual intercourse, along with making up for the missed fast days, expiation is mandatory for each day nullified. The expiation follows a specific order:
- Freeing a Muslim slave who is free from harmful defects. If this isn’t possible,
- Fasting consecutively for two months. If fasting is not possible,
- Feeding sixty impoverished individuals.
Failure to fulfill any of these three options leaves the expiation as an unresolved obligation.
It’s important to note that the woman involved in the sexual intercourse does not have to offer expiation.
Obligatory Qada (Making Up) for Eating or Drinking in Uncertainty
Qada (making up) of a fast becomes obligatory in specific scenarios of uncertainty regarding eating or drinking:
- If one eats believing it is nighttime but later realizes it is daytime.
- If one eats while guessing that the sun has set, but remains uncertain whether he/she ate before or after sunset.
However, Qada (making up) is not obligatory when one eats presuming that dawn has not arrived, but remains uncertain whether he/she ate after or before dawn.