Making up missed Ramadan fasts
Whoever missed fasts in Ramadan for a valid reason, such as illness, travel or menstruation, makes them up later. Those who cannot fast at all pay a fidya instead.
أَيَّامٗا مَّعۡدُودَٰتٖۚ فَمَن كَانَ مِنكُم مَّرِيضًا أَوۡ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٖ فَعِدَّةٞ مِّنۡ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَۚ وَعَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ يُطِيقُونَهُۥ فِدۡيَةٞ طَعَامُ مِسۡكِينٖۖ فَمَن تَطَوَّعَ خَيۡرٗا فَهُوَ خَيۡرٞ لَّهُۥۚ وَأَن تَصُومُواْ خَيۡرٞ لَّكُمۡ إِن كُنتُمۡ تَعۡلَمُونَ ﴿١٨٤﴾
Ayyaman maʿdoodatin faman kana minkum mareedan aw ʿala safarin faʿiddatun min ayyamin okhara waʿala allatheena yuteeqoonahu fidyatun taʿamu miskeenin faman tatawwaʿa khayran fahuwa khayrun lahu waan tasoomoo khayrun lakum in kuntum taʿlamoona
[Fasting for] a limited number of days. So whoever among you is ill or on a journey [during them] - then an equal number of days [are to be made up]. And upon those who are able [to fast, but with hardship] - a ransom [as substitute] of feeding a poor person [each day]. And whoever volunteers excess - it is better for him. But to fast is best for you, if you only knew
Quran 2:184 · Surah Al-Baqara · Translation: Saheeh International · Transliteration: Tanzil.net
Who makes up, who pays fidya?
- Make up (qada): travellers, the temporarily ill, menstruating women and women after childbirth, one day for each day missed.
- Fidya: the elderly and the chronically ill who cannot fast and are not expected to be able to, feed one poor person for each day.
- Pregnant and breastfeeding women who fear for themselves or the child make up the days according to all schools; some schools add a fidya if they feared only for the child.
When and how
- Before the next Ramadan. Aisha used to make up her missed fasts in Sha'ban (al-Bukhari, Muslim).
- Separate days are fine according to most scholars; consecutive days are better.
- Intention: for a make-up fast, make the intention the night before, before Fajr.
- Whoever delays without excuse until after the next Ramadan still makes up the days; the Maliki, Shafi'i and Hanbali schools add a fidya for each day, the Hanafi school does not.
Fidya and kaffarah
- Fidya: one meal or its value for a poor person per day; many councils publish an amount each year.
- Kaffarah: only for deliberately breaking a Ramadan fast by intercourse (in the Hanafi and Maliki schools also by eating or drinking): fasting two consecutive months, or if that is impossible feeding sixty poor people.
Fasts owed by the deceased
Whoever dies owing fasts, his heir fasts on his behalf.
Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim
Many scholars apply this to vowed fasts and say fidya is paid from the estate for missed Ramadan fasts; others allow the heir to fast for both.
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Frequently asked questions
Can I combine a make-up fast with Mondays or the six days of Shawwal?
A make-up fast on a Monday or Thursday is valid and many scholars hope for both rewards. For the six days of Shawwal, many say make up Ramadan first, so you have completed Ramadan before the six days.
I do not know how many fasts I missed. What do I do?
Make your best estimate and fast that number, rounding up rather than down to be safe.
This article was written with the help of AI. Quran verses are inserted directly from the Quran text (translation: Saheeh International); it is general information, not a religious ruling (fatwa). For your own situation, ask a qualified scholar. Found a mistake? Write to support@hadaff.de.