I am required to make up fasting for five days that I did not fast during Ramadhaan. Is it permissible for me to perform ‘Umrah? Should I make up these days before going to ‘Umrah or can I do that when I return?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

There is no connection between performing ‘Umrah and making up fasting for missed days during Ramadan. It is permissible for one who is required to make up fasting to go and perform ‘Umrah. None of the scholars is of the view that ‘Umrah should not be performed before making up fasting for missed days during Ramadan.

If you did not fast during these days due to an excuse, such as menstruation, sickness or a similar reason, you are required to make up fasting of these missed days before the coming of the next Ramadan. In a Hadeeth, ‘Aa’ishah said: "Sometimes I missed some days of Ramadan, but could not make up fasting except in the month of Sha‘baan." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Hastening to make up for missed fasting is better, more likely to absolve one of liability and features racing to obedience, as Allaah The Exalted Says (what means): {So race to [all that is] good.}[Quran 2: 148]

It is permissible for you to delay making up fasting of these days until you return from ‘Umrah, as long as you do so before the next Ramadan. However, it is better for you to hasten to make up fasting of these days.

As for a person who missed fasting during Ramadan without a Sharee‘ah-approved excuse, he is required to immediately make up fasting for the missed days, according to the preponderant view.

An-Nawawi said:

The missed days of Ramadan are like prayer. If one did not fast due to a Sharee‘ah-approved excuse like menstruation, post-partum bleeding, sickness, fainting or traveling, immediate making up is not required as long as it is done before the next Ramadan comes. But if one abandoned fasting during Ramadan without a Sharee‘ah-approved excuse, there are two relevant opinions like the prayer. The preponderant view, according to the scholars of Khurasaan as well as some of the scholars of Iraq, is that he is required to immediately make up fasting.

Consequently, if you missed fasting during Ramadan without a Sharee‘ah-approved excuse, you are required to immediately make up fasting for the missed days. Nevertheless, not observing making up of fasting does not invalidate ‘Umrah.