Not Obligatory To Make Up Missed Days of Fasting Consecutively

6-7-2000 | IslamWeb

Question:

If one has to make up for missed fasts from Ramadan (around 20 or so days), do they have to make it up consecutively or can they fast Mondays and Thursdays only, until they make up the days?
Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

It is not compulsory for one to make up the missed fasts consecutively regardless of their number. Rather, it is permissible for him to make them up any time he wants to. It is narrated on the authority of Ibn ‘Umar may Allaah be pleased with him that the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said about making the missed fasts of Ramadan: “One may fast consecutively and on occasions.” Moreover, Ibn Abbas may Allaah be pleased with him narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: “There is no harm for you to make up the fasting occasionally since Allaah Says (what means): {…and [wants] for you to complete the period.} [Quran 2:185] [Imam Al-Bukhari]

If the month of Sha’ban has come and still one did not make up the fast that he missed last year and the remaining days of Sha’ban are just sufficient to make up the missed fasts, then in this case, he is obliged to fast consecutively because the time becomes very short just enough for him to make them up.

Allah knows best.

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