THE
PUNISHMENT OF BREAKING FAST AND THE
FIDYA (EXPIATION) FOR BREAKING THE FAST
ASSEMBLED BY
MALLAM ABBA ABANA, KUBWA, ABUJA, NIGERIA
http://variousislamicdawadocuments.blogspot.com
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Bismillah
Walhamdulillah Was Salaatu Was Salaam 'ala Rasulillah. As-Salaam Alaikum
Wa-Rahmatullahi Wa-Barakatuhu. Amma Ba’d.
Praise be to
Allaah; we seek His help and His forgiveness. We seek refuge with Allaah from
the evil of our own souls and from our bad deeds. Whomsoever Allaah guides will
never be led astray, and whomsoever Allaah leaves astray, no one can guide. I
bear witness that there is no god but Allaah, and I bear witness that Muhammad
(Sal Allahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) is His slave and Messenger.
THE PUNISHMENT OF BREAKING FAST AND THE FIDYA (EXPIATION) FOR BREAKING THE
FAST
1 THE FIDYA
(EXPIATION) FOR BREAKING THE FAST IS FOR THE OLD AND THE AILING
Al-Bukhari reported that; Ata
heard Ibn Abbas recite: وَعَلَى الَّذِينَ يُطِيقُونَهُ فِدْيَةٌ طَعَامُ
مِسْكِينٍ (And as for those who can fast with difficulty, (e.g., an
old man), they have (a choice either to fast or) to feed a Miskin (poor person)
(for every day). Ibn Abbas then commented, "(This Ayah) was not
abrogated, it is for the old man and the old woman who are able to fast with
difficulty, but choose instead to feed a poor person for every day (they do not
fast).''
Others reported that Sa`id
bin Jubayr mentioned this from Ibn Abbas. So the abrogation here applies to the
healthy person, who is not traveling and who has to fast, as Allaah (Subhanahu
Wa Ta’ala) said: فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ
(So whoever of
you sights (the crescent on the first night of) the month (of Ramadan, i.e., is
present at his home), he must observe Sawm (fasting) that month. (holy
Quran chapter 2:185)
As for the old man (and
woman) who cannot fast, he is allowed to abstain from fasting and does not have
to fast another day instead, because he is not likely to improve and be able to
fast other days. So he is required to pay a Fidyah for every day missed.
This is the opinion of Ibn
Abbas and several others among the Salaf who read the Ayah: (And
as for those who can fast with difficulty, (e.g., an old man)), to mean those
who find it difficult to fast as Ibn Mas`ud stated.
This is also the opinion of
Al-Bukhari who said, "As for the old man (person) who cannot fast, (he
should do like) Anas who, for one or two years after he became old fed some
bread and meat to a poor person for each day he did not fast.''
"Anas could no longer
fast. So he made a plate of Tharid (broth, bread and meat) and invited
thirty poor persons and fed them.''
The same ruling applies for
the pregnant and breast-feeding women if they fear for themselves or their
children or fetuses. In this case, they pay the Fidyah and do not have
to fast other days in place of the days that they missed.
شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِى أُنزِلَ فِيهِ
الْقُرْآنُ هُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَـتٍ مِّنَ الْهُدَى وَالْفُرْقَانِ
Holy
Quran chapter 2:185 The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur'an, a
guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion
(between right and wrong).
فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ
الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ وَمَن كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَى سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ
أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ
So
whoever of you sights (the crescent on the first night of) the month (of
Ramadan, i.e., is present at his home), he must observe Sawm (fasting) that
month, and whoever is ill or on a journey, the same number (of days which one
did not observe Sawm (fasting) must be made up) from other days.
يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلاَ يُرِيدُ
بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ
Allaah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) intends for you
ease, and He does not want to make things difficult for you.
وَلِتُكْمِلُواْ الْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُواْ
اللَّهَ عَلَى مَا هَدَاكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
(He
wants that you) must complete the same number (of days), and that you must
magnify Allaah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala)
(i.e., to say Takbir ( Allaahu Akbar:
Allaah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) is the Most Great)) for having guided you
so that you may be grateful to Him.
2 THE AMOUNT OF FIDYAH[1].
If
Ramadaan comes and a person is unable to fast because he is elderly or sick
with no hope of recovery, then he is not obliged to fast because he is unable
to do so. So he should not fast and he should feed one poor person for each
day.
Allaah
says (interpretation of the meaning): “O you who believe! Observing
As-Sawm (the fasting) is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those
before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqoon (the pious). 184. [Observing
Sawm (fasts)] for a fixed number of days, but if any of you is ill or on a
journey, the same number (should be made up) from other days. And as for those
who can fast with difficulty, (e.g. an old man), they have (a choice either to
fast or) to feed a Miskeen (poor person) (for every day). But whoever does good
of his own accord, it is better for him. And that you fast is better for you if
only you know”[Holy Quran Chapter al-Baqarah 2:183-184].
al-Bukhaari
(4505) narrated that Ibn ‘Abbaas said: This has not been abrogated. It refers
to old men and old women who are not able to fast, so they should feed a poor
person for each day.
Ibn
Qudaamah said in al-Mughni (4/396): If fasting is too difficult for
an old man or an old woman, and will cause them intense hardship, then they are
allowed not to fast, and they should feed one poor person for each day. If they
are also unable to feed a poor person, then they do not have to do anything,
for “Allaah burdens not a person beyond his scope” [al-Baqarah 2:286].
If a sick person has no hope of recovery, he is allowed not to fast, and he
should feed one poor person for each day, because he comes under the same
ruling as an old man. End quote.
In al-Mawsoo’ah
al-Fiqhiyyah (5/117) it says: The Hanafis, Shaafa’is and Hanbalis are
agreed that the fidyah for not fasting should be paid when there is no hope of
making up the missed fasts because of old age which makes a person unable to
fast, or sickness from which there is no hope of recovery, because Allaah says
(interpretation of the meaning): “And as for those who can fast with difficulty,
(e.g. an old man), they have (a choice either to fast or) to feed a Miskeen
(poor person) (for every day)” [al-Baqarah 2:184]. What is meant is those
for whom it is too difficult to fast. End quote.
Shaykh
Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said in Fataawa al-Siyaam (p.111): It is essential
to note that the sick may be divided into two categories:
1 –
Those for whom there is the hope of recovery, such as those with temporary
sickness from which there is the hope of recovery. In this case the ruling is
as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “but if any of you is ill or
on a journey, the same number (should be made up) from other days” [al-Baqarah
2:184]. All they have to do is wait until they are better, then fast. If it
so happens that the sickness continues and the person dies before recovering,
then there is no sin on him, because Allaah has only enjoined him to make it up
from other days, but he died before those other days came. This is like a
person who dies in Sha’baan before Ramadaan begins – so it should not be made
up on his behalf.
2 –
Cases where sickness is ongoing, such as cancer – Allaah forbid – kidney
disease, diabetes and similar chronic diseases where there is no hope of
recovery. These people are allowed not to fast in Ramadaan, but they have to
feed one poor person for each day, like old men and women who are unable to
fast, so they may not fast and should feed one poor person for each day. The
evidence for that in the Qur’aan is the verse in which Allaah says
(interpretation of the meaning): “And as for those who can fast with
difficulty, (e.g. an old man), they have (a choice either to fast or) to feed a
Miskeen (poor person) (for every day)” [al-Baqarah 2:184].
5.2
With regard to the manner of feeding, one has the choice between giving each
poor person half a saa’ of food such as rice and the like (i.e., approximately
one and a half kilograms) or making food and inviting the poor to eat.
Al-Bukhaari
said: As for an old man who is unable to fast, after Anas grew old, for one or
two years he fed a poor person with bread and meat and he did not fast. End
quote.
Shaykh
Ibn Baaz was asked about an elderly woman who was unable to fast – what should
she do?
He
replied: She should feed one poor person for each day, giving half a saa’
of the local staple food, such as dates, rice, etc, which is equivalent to
approximately one and a half kilograms. This was stated by a number of the
companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), such as
Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him). If she is poor and is unable to
feed a poor person, then she does not have to do anything. This expiation may
be given to one or more people at the beginning of the month or in the middle
or at the end. And Allaah is the Source of strength. End quote. Majmoo’
Fataawa Ibn Baaz (15/203).
Shaykh
Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said in Fataawa al-Siyaam (p. 111): The sick person
who has an ongoing sickness, and elderly people, both male and female, who are
unable to fast, must feed one poor person for each day, whether that is by
giving this food to the poor or by inviting the same number of poor people as
days in the month to a meal, as Anas ibn Maalik (may Allaah be pleased with
him) used to do when he grew old. He would gather together thirty poor people
and that was instead of fasting for a month.
The
Standing Committee (11/164) was asked about the giving of food by one who is
unable to fast in Ramadaan such as old men, old women and the incurably
sick.
They
replied: If a person is unable to fast in Ramadaan because of old age,
such as elderly men and women, or it is very difficult for them to fast, then
they are allowed not to fast, but they have to feed one poor person for each
day, giving half a saa’ of wheat, dates or rice etc, the same as he gives to
his own family. The same applies to a sick person who is unable to fast or for
whom it is very difficult to fast, and there is no hope of recovery for him,
because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Allaah
burdens not a person beyond his scope” [Holy Quran chapter al-Baqarah 2:286]
“and
[Allaah] has not laid upon you in religion any hardship”[ Holy Quran chapter
al-Hajj 22:78]
““And
as for those who can fast with difficulty, (e.g. an old man), they have (a
choice either to fast or) to feed a Miskeen (poor person) (for every day)””[
Holy Quran chapter al-Baqarah 2:184]
3 THE PUNISHMENT FOR BREAKING THE FAST IN RAMADAAN WITH
NO EXCUSE[2]
Fasting
in Ramadaan is one of the pillars on which Islam is built. Allaah tells us that
He has prescribed it for the believers of this ummah [nation], as He prescribed
it for those who came before them. Allaah says (interpretation of the
meaning): “O you who believe! Observing As-Sawm (the fasting) is
prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may
become Al-Muttaqoon (the pious”[Holy Quran Chapter al-Baqarah 2:183].
Al-Bukhaari
(8) and Muslim (16) narrated that Ibn ‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him)
said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
“Islam is built on five (pillars): the testimony that there is no god but
Allaah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah; establishing prayer; paying
zakaah; Hajj; and fasting Ramadaan.”
Whoever
does not fast has abandoned one of the pillars of Islam, and is committing a
grave major sin. Indeed some of the salaf were of the view that he is a kaafir
[disbeliever] and apostate – we seek refuge with Allaah from that.
Abu
Ya’la narrated in his Musnad from Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased
with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
“The bonds of Islam and the bases of religion are three, on which Islam
was founded. Whoever gives up one of them becomes a kaafir thereby and it is
permissible to shed his blood: the testimony that there is no god but Allaah,
the prescribed prayers and fasting Ramadaan.”
This
hadeeth was classed as saheeh by al-Dhahabi, and as hasan by al-Haythami in Majma’
al-Zawaa’id, 1/48, and by al-Mundhiri in al-Targheeb wa’l-Tarheeb,
no. 805, 1486. Classed as da’eef by al-Albaani in al-Silsilah al-Da’eefah,
no. 94. Al-Dhahabi said in al-Kabaa’ir, p. 64.
Whoever
does not fast in Ramadaan without being sick or having any other excuse that
allows him not to fast is more evil than the adulterer or drunkard, indeed they
doubted his Islam and thought that this was heresy.
A
saheeh report which warns against not fasting was narrated by Ibn Khuzaymah
(1986) and Ibn Hibbaan (7491) from Abu Umaamah al-Baahili who said: I heard the
Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) say: “Whilst I
was sleeping two men came to me and took my by the arm and brought me to a
cragged mountain. They said, ‘Climb up.’ I said, ‘I cannot.’ They said, ‘We
will make it easy for you.’ So I climbed up until I was at the top of the
mountain. Then I heard loud voices. I said, ‘What are these voices?’ They said,
‘This is the howling of the people of Hell.” Then I was taken until I saw
people hanging by their hamstrings, with the sides of their mouths torn and
blood pouring from their mouths.’ I said, ‘Who are these?’ He said, ‘These are
people who broke their fast before it was time.’” Classed as saheeh by
al-Albaani in Saheeh Mawaarid al-Zam’aan, no. 1509.
Al-Albaani
(may Allaah have mercy on him) said: This is the punishment of those who fasted
then broke the fast deliberately before the time for breaking the fast came, so
who about those who do not fast at all? We ask Allaah to keep us safe and sound
in this world and in the Hereafter.
One
should hasten to repent to Allaah before the destroyer of pleasures that splits
people apart [i.e., death] takes him unawares. Today there is action and no
reckoning, but tomorrow there will be the reckoning and no action. Note that
whoever repents, Allaah will accept his repentance, and whoever draws closer to
Allaah one hand span, Allaah will draw closer to him one cubit. For Allaah is
Most Generous, Forbearing and Most Merciful, as He says (interpretation of the
meaning): “Know they not that Allaah accepts repentance from His slaves
and takes the Sadaqaat (alms, charity), and that Allaah Alone is the One Who
forgives and accepts repentance, Most Merciful?”[ Holy Quran chapter al-Tawbah
9:104].
If
you try fasting and find out how easy it is and what comfort it brings and how
close it brings you to Allaah, you will never give it up.
Think
about what Allaah says at the end of the verses on fasting (interpretation of the
meaning):
“Allaah
intends for you ease, and He does not want to make things difficult for you”[
Holy Quran chapter al-Baqarah 2:185].
The
phrase, “so that you may be grateful to Him” shows that fasting is a
blessing for which we must give thanks. Hence some of the salaf used to wish
that the whole year was Ramadaan.
We
ask Allaah to help you and guide you, and to open your heart to that which will
bring you happiness in this world and in the Hereafter.
4 IT IS NOT PERMISSIBLE FOR ONE WHO IS FASTING TO INSULT
ANYONE[3]
Committing
sins during the day in Ramadaan, such as swearing or insulting others, does not
invalidate the fast as such, but it detracts from the reward for fasting. These
sins may take away all of the reward, and the fasting person is left with
nothing as a result of his fast apart from hunger and thirst.
The
fasting person is enjoined to guard all his faculties against disobeying
Allaah. The purpose behind fasting is not simply to refrain from eating and
drinking, rather the purpose is to refrain from disobeying Allaah and to
achieve piety or fear of Allaah. Allaah says (interpretation of the
meaning):
“O
you who believe! Observing As-Sawm (the fasting) is prescribed for you as it
was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqoon (the
pious.)”[ Holy Quran chapter al-Baqarah 2:183]
The
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever does not
give up false speech and acting upon it, Allaah has no need of his giving up
his food and drink.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1903, 6075.
False
speech includes all kinds of speech that are haraam, such as lying, backbiting,
slandering, insulting and cursing.
And
the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “If any one of
you is fasting, let him not utter obscenities or act in an ignorant manner, and
if anyone insults him or wants to fight him, let him say, I am fasting.”
Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1894; Muslim 1151.
Al-Haafiz
said: “Let him not utter obscene speech” means let him not say any foul
words.
“Let
him not act in an ignorant manner” means let him not do any of the actions done
by ignorant people such as yelling, being foolish, etc. What is meant by
this hadeeth is that he should not react in kind, rather he should limit
himself to saying, “I am fasting.”
If
the fasting person is commanded not to react to one who insults him, how can it
be appropriate for him to mistreat people or be the first to insult them?
Al-Nawawi
said: Note that the prohibition against obscene speech, ignorant action,
argument and insults on the part of one who is fasting is not restricted only
to him, rather each of these things is forbidden in general, but the
prohibition is stronger in the case of one who is fasting.
Al-Haakim
narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger
of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Fasting does not
just mean abstaining from food and drink, rather fasting means abstaining from
idle and obscene speech. If someone curses you or treats you in an ignorant
manner, then say, ‘I am fasting, I am fasting.’”
Ibn
Maajah (1690) said: Abu Hurayrah said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “It may be that the fasting person gets
nothing from his fast apart from hunger, and it may be that the one who prays
qiyaam at night may get nothing from his qiyaam but a sleepless night.”
5 DELAYING MAKING UP RAMADAAN FASTS UNTIL THE NEXT
RAMADAAN BEGINS[4]
The
imams are agreed that whoever does not fast some days of Ramadaan has to make
up those days before the next Ramadaan comes.
They
quoted as evidence for that the hadeeth narrated by al-Bukhaari (1950) and
Muslim (1146) from ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) who said: “I used
to have fasts that I still owed from Ramadaan, and I could not make them up
until Sha’baan, and that was because of the position of the Messenger of Allaah
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) [as a husband].”
Al-Haafiz
said: It may be understood from her keenness to fast them in Sha’baan that
it is not permissible to delay making up fasts until the next Ramadaan
begins.
If
a person delays making up fasts until Ramadaan begins, one of the following two
scenarios must apply.
1 –
The delay is for a reason, such as being sick and the sickness lasting until
the following Ramadaan begins. There is no sin on a person for delaying in this
case, because he has an excuse, and he only has to make up the days missed. So
he should make up the number of days that he did not fast.
2 –
There is no reason for the delay, such as when a person was able to make up the
fasts but he did not do so before the following Ramadaan began.
This
person is sinning by failing to make up the fasts with no excuse. The imams are
agreed that he must make up the fasts, but they differed as to whether along
with making up the fasts he must also feed one poor person for each day or
not.
Maalik,
al-Shaafa’i and Ahmad said that he must feed a poor person, and they quoted as
evidence for that the reports narrated from some of the Sahaabah such as Abu
Hurayrah and Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with them).
Imam
Abu Haneefah (may Allaah have mercy on him) was of the view that he does not
have to feed a poor person as well as making up the fasts.
He
quoted as evidence the fact that Allaah commands the one who does not fast in
Ramadaan only to make up the missed fasts, and He did not mention feeding a
poor person. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “and whoever is
ill or on a journey, the same number [of days which one did not observe Sawm
(fasts) must be made up] from other days”[al-Baqarah 2:185]. See al-Majmoo’,
6/366; al-Mughni, 4/400
This
second view was also favoured by Imam al-Bukhaari (may Allaah have mercy on
him). He said in his Saheeh: Ibraaheem (i.e., al-Nakha’i) said: If
a person neglects (to make up missed fasts) until the next Ramadaan comes, he
should fast the missed days of both months. But he did not think that he has to
feed a poor person. There was also a mursal report from Abu Hurayrah and Ibn
‘Abbaas which says that he should also feed a poor person. Then al-Bukhaari
said: But Allaah does not mention feeding a poor person, rather He says
(interpretation of the meaning):
“…the
same number [of days which one did not observe Sawm (fasts) must be made up]
from other days”[al-Baqarah 2:185]. Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah
have mercy on him) said, when noting that it is not obligatory to feed a poor
person:
With
regard to the words of the Sahaabah, their use as evidence is subject to
further discussion if it goes against the apparent meaning of the Qur’aan. In
this case, saying that it is obligatory to feed a poor person goes against the
apparent meaning of the Qur’aan, because Allaah only enjoined making up the
same number from other days, and He did not mention more than that. Based on
this, we should not oblige the slaves of Allaah to do any more than they need
to fulfil their duty. But what was narrated from Ibn ‘Abbaas and Abu Hurayrah
may be interpreted as referring to what is mustahabb, not what is obligatory.
The correct view with regard to this issue is that a person does not have to do
anything more than making up the missed fasts, but he is sinning if he delays
doing so. Al-Sharh al-Mumti’, 6/451.
Based
on this, then what is obligatory is to make up the fasts only, but if a person
wants to be on the safe side and feed one poor person for each day missed, then
that is good.
The
woman who asked this question – if she delayed making up the fasts with no
excuse, has to repent to Allaah and resolve not to repeat this mistake in the
future.
And
Allaah is the One Whom we ask to help us to do that which He loves and which
pleases Him.
6 HOW CAN HE MAKE UP MISSED FASTS[5]?
If
he did not fast for a reason, such as sickness or travelling, or menstruation
in the case of women, then he must make it up after Ramadaan, and he must make
up the number of days that he did not fast, because Allaah says (interpretation
of the meaning): “and whoever is ill or on a journey, the same number [of
days which one did not observe Sawm (fasts) must be made up] from other
days”[al-Baqarah 2:185].
‘Aa’ishah
(may Allaah be pleased with her) said: That (i.e., menstruation) would happen
to us and we would be told to make up the fasts, but we were not told to make
up the prayers. Narrated by al-Bukhaari (321) and Muslim (335).
The
time for making up the fasts lasts until the next Ramadaan begins; he can make
them up at any time during this period, on consecutive days or
separately.
It
is not permissible for him to delay making them up after the following
Ramadaan, unless he has an excuse.
But
if he did not fast deliberately, with no excuse, then one of two scenarios must
apply:
1 –
He did not decide not to fast from the night before, and he did not intend to
fast. In this case making up the fast is not valid, because fasting is an act
of worship that is linked to a specific time, and if a person fails to do it,
it is not valid after that time, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever does an action that is not in accordance
with this matter of ours will have it rejected. Narrated by al-Bukhaari (2697)
and Muslim (1718).
2 –
He did intend to fast from the night before, and he started the day fasting,
then he broke his fast during the day with no excuse. He has to make up this
day, because he started to do it, which makes it like a vow that he must
fulfil. Hence the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) commanded
the one who had intercourse during the day in Ramadaan to make up that day, and
he said to him: “Fast one day in its place.” Narrated by Ibn Majaah (1671),
classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Sunan Ibn Majaah.
In
addition to that, if he broke the fast during the day without any excuse by
having intercourse, he must make it up and also offer expiation. For
information on this expiation and the rulings thereon,
The
one who breaks his fast with no excuse also has to repent to Allaah, regret
what he has done, resolve never to do it again, and do a lot of righteous deeds
such as observing naafil fasts and so on. Allaah says (interpretation of the
meaning): “And verily, I am indeed forgiving to him who repents, believes
(in My Oneness, and associates none in worship with Me) and does righteous good
deeds, and then remains constant in doing them (till his death)”[Ta-Ha 20:82].
7 WHEN MAKING
UP MISSED RAMADAAN FASTS, THEY NEED NOT BE DONE CONSECUTIVELY[6]
The
imams are agreed that in order to make up missed Ramadaan fasts, one must fast
a number of days equal to the number of days when you did not fast, because
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“and
whoever is ill or on a journey, the same number [of days which one did not
observe Sawm (fasts) must be made up] from other days”[al-Baqarah 2:185].
It
is not essential that these days be consecutive; you may fast them one after
the other, or you may fast them separately, whether you fast one day each week
or each month, or whatever is easy for you. The evidence for that is the verse
quoted above, because it does not specify that the days fasted to make up
missed Ramadaan fasts should be consecutive, rather it only stipulates that the
number of days fasted be equal to the number of days missed. Refer to al-Majmoo’,
6/167; al-Mughni, 4/408.
The
Standing Committee was asked: is it permissible to make up missed Ramadaan
fasts on separate days?
They
replied: Yes, it is permissible to make up missed fasts on separate days,
because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“and
whoever is ill or on a journey, the same number [of days which one did not
observe Sawm (fasts) must be made up] from other days”[al-Baqarah 2:185]. And Allaah did not
stipulate that these days must be consecutive. Fataawa al-Lajnah
al-Daa’imah, 10/346.
In Fataawa
al-Shaykh Ibn Baaz (15/352) it says: If a person did not fast for two or
three or more days, he must make up those fasts but they do not have to be on
consecutive days. If he does that, it is better, but if he does not there is
nothing wrong with that. And Allaah knows best.
8 OTHER CASES CONCERNING THE FAST
The authentic Sunnah
states that; Allah’s Messenger traveled during the month of Ramadan for
the battle for Makkah. The Prophet marched until he reached the area of Kadid
and then broke his fast and ordered those who were with him to do likewise.
Breaking the fast mentioned in this Hadith was not required, for the
Companions used to go out with Allaah's Messenger during the month of Ramadan,
then, some of them would fast while some of them would not fast and neither category
would criticize the others. If the command mentioned in the Hadith
required breaking the fast, the Prophet would have criticized those who
fasted. Allaah's Messenger himself
sometimes fasted while traveling.
For instance, it is reported
in the Two Sahihs that Abu Ad-Darda said, "We once went with Allaah's Messenger during Ramadan
while the heat was intense. One of us would place his hand on his head because
of the intense heat. Only Allah’s
Messenger and Abdullah bin Rawahah were fasting at that time.''
We should state that
observing the permission to break the fast while traveling is better, as Allaah's Messenger said about fasting while
traveling: ‘’Those who did not fast have done good, and there is no harm for those
who fasted’’. In another Hadith,
the Prophet said: ‘’Hold to Allaah's
permission that He has granted you.’’
Some scholars say that the
two actions are the same, as Aishah narrated that; Hamzah bin Amr Al-Aslami
said, "O Messenger of Allaah! I fast a lot, should I fast while traveling?''
The Prophet said: ‘’Fast if
you wish or do not fast if you wish’’.
It was reported that; if the
fast becomes difficult (while traveling), then breaking the fast is better.
Jabir said that; Allaah's Messenger saw a man who was being
shaded (by other people while traveling). The Prophet asked about him and he
was told that man was fasting.
The Prophet said: ‘’It is not
a part of Birr (piety) to fast while traveling’’. This was recorded by
Al-Bukhari and Muslim. As for those who ignore the Sunnah and believe in
their hearts that breaking the fast while traveling is disliked, they are
required to break the fast and are not allowed to fast. As for making up for
missed fasting days, it is not required to be consecutive. One may do so
consecutively or not consecutively. There are ample proofs to this fact. We
should mention that fasting consecutive days is only required exclusively
during Ramadan. After the month of Ramadan, what is required then
is to merely make up for missed days. This is why Allaah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) said: ‘’the same
number (should be made up) from other day’’.
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