Fasting is Knocking* [[---Episode Two---]]

 *Fasting is Knocking*

[[---Episode Two---]]
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*Making up the Missed Ramadan Fasts*

بسم الله الرحمان الرحيم

There are two categories of people with valid excuses for not fasting a day of Ramadan.

One group of fasting-exempt people consists of those who miss fasting days in Ramadan for *valid temporary reasons,* most commonly sickness, travel, pregnancy, or breastfeeding. These are people who must fast days after Ramadan in place of the ones they missed during Ramadan.

The second group of fasting-exempt people consists of those who miss fasting days in Ramadan *for valid permanent reasons,* most commonly infirmity due to old age or chronic illness that prevents one from fasting. These people are obligated to pay a redemption fee (fidyah) but do NOT have to make up the fast.

Now,

*Why is Fidya important in Islam?*

To make up for missing fasts because Ramadan is a commandment from Allah.

Evidence:

"Fasting is for a fixed number of days, and if one of you be sick, or if one of you be on a journey, you will fast the same number of other days later on. For those who are capable of fasting (but still do not fast) there is a redemption: feeding a needy man for each day missed". 📚(Qur’an 2:184)

*Note:*

Fidya is primarily for those who are suffering from long term illness or unable to fast due to old age, and are not able to make up the fasts after Ramadan.

On the other hand,

Fidya payments support those going through hunger and malnutrition as it involves feeding a poor person for each day of missed fasts in Ramadan.

Looking after the vulnerable and the needy is an important obligation of a Muslim. The month of Ramadan brings the opportunity to give charity in the form of donations like Fidya, Kaffarah, Zakat-al-Fitr and Sadaqah. Donating to alleviate hunger justifies the rationale of Fidya's meaning.

Muslim Faithful!

Making up missed Ramadan fasts may be done at any time but the majority of scholars limited it to a specific time frame within which they must be made up, which is before the next Ramadan begins, because of the words of ‘Aishah (r.a.): *“I would owe missed Ramadan fasts but I would not be able to make them up except in Sha’ban, because of my duties towards the Prophet (PBUH).”* This is similar to prayer, which should not be delayed until the time for the next prayer comes.

According to the majority of scholars, it is not permissible to delay making up missed Ramadan fasts until the next Ramadan comes without an excuse, and that doing so incurs sin.

By implication,

If one who fall into the category of paying back the missed Ramadan fast *(as explained above)*, delays making up a missed Ramadan fast and another Ramadan set in, then, the person have committed a big sin and will face double punishment:*(that's paying all the missed Ramadan fast and feeding the needy for each of the days)*. Yes. This is evident in the report narrated from Ibn ‘Abbas, Ibn ‘Umar and Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with them) who said concerning the one who has to make up a missed fast but does not do so until the next Ramadan comes: “He must make it up and feed one poor person for each day.” This fidyah is for delaying it. It is permissible to offer the food before making up the fast, at the same time, or afterwards.”

Now,

(1) How much is redemption (fidya) fee?

(2) Can one pay fidya in value?

(3) Can one give fidya for each day, or can one give fidya for all the days in one go?

(4) What about the missed Ramadan fast of one who has died?

Answers to all the above questions in the next episodes of the article - In Shaa Allah

TO BE CONTINUED

سبحانك اللهم وبحمدك نشهد ان لا اله الا انت نستغفرك ونتوابوااليك