I did not fast the previous Ramadan as I delivered my baby a week before Ramadan. Two months later, I got pregnant again, and thus, I was unable to make up the days. I really did try to fast, but I was unable to complete the day till sunset. Soon, Ramadan is coming and I had not made up the days and I may not fast the coming Ramadan as I may deliver my baby during Ramadan. What shall I do?

Answer

Praise Be to Allah and Peace Be Upon His Messenger.

Referring to your question, a Muslim should be careful and make sure that they make up any day they miss in Ramadan earlier than the following Ramadan. In case one did not make the days up through a year or even more, they must start as soon as possible.

Now, what are the consequences if one does not make them up after Ramadan up to the following Ramadan?  Should a Muslim fast the same number of days, or should they fast and pay ransom?

Shaikh Muhammad Ahmad Hussain, the General Mufti (Muslim Legal Scholar), in the Palestinian Legal Verdict Council, was once asked a similar question. He said: “Actually, a Muslim should make up the days they miss immediately after Ramadan unless there is a serious excuse which prevents them from fasting. All scholars have consensus that if a Muslim delays compensation as they are excused, they are not required to pay ransom. However, if the delay was not excused, Muslim legal scholars have different opinions.

A. The Maliki, Shafi’i, and the Hanbali schools decide that anyone who does so is considered to be sinful; they must pay ransom and fast. They depended on what Aisha RRA said.

Aishah RRA, one of the prophet Muhammad’s wives, said that when she had some part of Ramadan to makeup, she would be able to do so only in Sha’ban, the eighth month of the Hijri calendar. Related by Al-Bukhari. What is concluded from this narration is that she was careful not to delay fast compensation after the following Ramadan.

B. Abu Hanifa (the Hanafi school) finds that a Muslim should make up the same number of days only. He says: “It is allowed to a Muslim to delay compensation regardless of being excused; however, it is much better if they make up missing days instantly as they are asked to complete the duty. (Fath al-Qadeer: 2/274) This opinion was strongly overweighed by al-Bukhari depending on the verse in Al-Baqarah Chapter: “but if any of you is ill or on a journey, the same number (should be made up) from other days. Al-Baqarah: 184. He noted that the verse only mentioned compensation without paying ransom and also he assured that compensation should be instant earlier than the following Ramadan.

How much should one pay as ransom?

The Higher Palestinian Legal Verdict Council decided the following: if a Muslim is suffering from a chronic disease which will not be cured, or if they are elderly whose health is retarded a year after another, they should pay ransom instead of fasting which equals feeding a poor two times instead of every missing day; provided that these two meals should be almost equal to what they themselves eat and no less than the fast-breaking charity which is decided to be ₪8 for this year (1436 H). (item: 1/129) Allah says: “but if any of you is ill or on a journey, the same number (should be made up) from other days. And 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). 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.” Al-Baqarah: 184