I have missed many days throughout several months of Ramadan, and I do not exactly know how many days I missed. Can I pay a charity instead of fasting those days?

Answer

Praise Be to Allah and Peace Be Upon His Messenger.

Referring to your question. You must pay an effort to know the exact number of days you missed years ago and make all of them up unless you have a legal excuse (e.g. a chronic disease) which prevents you from fasting. In such a case, you can pay a ransom.

Now, what are the consequences if one does not make them up after Ramadan in the same year? 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, his answer was:

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, they have different opinions.

A. The Maliki, Shafi’i, and the Hanbali schools decide that the one 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 other Ramadan.

B. Abu Hanifa (the Hanafi school) finds that a Muslim should make up those days only. He says: “It is acceptable if a Muslim delays unconditionally compensation; however, it is much better if they make up missing days instantly as they are asked to complete the duty. This opinion was strongly chosen 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. Assuring that compensation should be instant earlier than the other 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 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. (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