Table of Contents
Reasons Fasts May Be Missed
In Ramadan, some Muslims are excused from fasting on certain days. Missing a fast does not always mean sin. The ruling depends on the reason, and this directly affects how a person must make up what was missed.
Allah says about Ramadan fasting and those who are excused:
“So whoever among you is ill or on a journey, then an equal number of days (are to be made up) later. And upon those who can fast with difficulty, a ransom of feeding a poor person (for each day). But whoever volunteers extra, it is better for him. And to fast is better for you, if you only knew.”
(Qur’an 2:184)
And He says again, clarifying the general rule:
“So whoever among you is ill or on a journey, then (let him fast) an equal number of other days. Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship, and (He intends) for you to complete the number and to magnify Allah for having guided you, and that you may be grateful.”
(Qur’an 2:185)
From these verses and the Sunnah, the main reasons that can allow a person to miss fasting include illness, travel, menstruation, postnatal bleeding, pregnancy, breastfeeding, old age with permanent weakness, and some severe or dangerous work circumstances. The details of when it is allowed to break the fast belong to other chapters, but here we focus on what comes after the fast is missed.
The Prophet ﷺ said regarding a woman who menstruates in Ramadan:
A woman asked ʿĀʾishah (may Allah be pleased with her), “Why does a menstruating woman make up the fasts but not the prayers?” She said, “This used to happen to us, and we were commanded to make up the fasts but we were not commanded to make up the prayers.”
(Muslim)
This hadith proves that some missed fasts must be made up, while missed prayers during menstruation are not made up.
Basic Rule: Making Up Missed Fasts
The general rule is simple. Anyone who misses days of Ramadan with a valid excuse must make up the exact number of days after Ramadan, when he or she is able.
“Then an equal number of other days.”
(Qur’an 2:185)
This means if someone missed 3 days, they must fast 3 separate days later. The days do not have to be consecutive, unless a person chooses to fast them consecutively.
Core rule: Whoever misses any days of Ramadan with a valid excuse must make up the same number of days after Ramadan when able, before the next Ramadan if possible.
The missed fasts are made up as separate individual days. They are not kept as a single long continuous month. Each day is counted on its own as one fast, similar in intention to a Ramadan fast, but outside the month.
Intention for these make-up fasts (qaḍāʾ) must be made from the night before, just as for an obligatory fast. The person should clearly intend in their heart that this is a make-up fast for Ramadan, not a voluntary fast.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Actions are only by intentions, and each person will only have what he intended.”
(Bukhari, Muslim)
So a person should distinguish between a make-up fast and a nafl (voluntary) fast by intention.
Who Must Make Up Fasts
There are several types of people who must make up missed fasts, and for them the main consequence is only to fast those days later, without feeding the poor in addition in most cases.
The Sick Person Who Recovers
If a Muslim was ill in Ramadan and could not fast, or fasting would have harmed him, then he is allowed to break the fast and must make up the same number of days after he recovers.
“So whoever among you is ill or on a journey, then an equal number of other days.”
(Qur’an 2:185)
When he becomes healthy again, he waits for a time when fasting does not harm him, then he makes up. There is no sin for the delay while he was sick, because Allah allowed the break for ease.
The Traveler
The traveler who breaks his fast during a journey also makes up the same number of days after Ramadan when he is back at home or when traveling becomes easy and fasting is not difficult for him.
The Prophet ﷺ used to fast on some journeys and not fast on others, and he accepted both options for his companions, if the difficulty was not severe. In one narration:
“It was said to the Prophet ﷺ that some people had difficulty fasting on a journey, and he said, ‘It is not righteousness to fast while traveling.’”
(Bukhari, Muslim)
If the traveler breaks the fast, he simply makes up those days when resident and able.
Women in Menstruation or Postnatal Bleeding
A woman in her menses or in postnatal bleeding must not fast. She does not sin by missing. When she becomes pure, she must make up those days.
The hadith of ʿĀʾishah mentioned earlier is the main proof:
“We were commanded to make up the fasts, but not commanded to make up the prayers.”
(Muslim)
This shows that every day missed due to menstruation or postnatal bleeding is obligatory to make up.
Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women
Pregnant or breastfeeding women who fear harm for themselves or their child are allowed to break the fast. They then make up later when the fear is gone and they are able.
Although the details of different scholarly opinions involve feeding in some scenarios, the clear and safe view for a beginner is that they must make up the missed days as soon as they have the health and ability after pregnancy or breastfeeding.
The general verse applies to them, by analogy with the sick:
“So whoever among you is ill or on a journey, then an equal number of other days.”
(Qur’an 2:184–185)
They break the fast in Ramadan when fasting will cause real difficulty or harm. After that period, they should use any period of health and strength to make up the missed days.
Those Who Missed Fast for a Temporary Excuse
Anyone who had a temporary excuse like a sudden dangerous weakness, temporary severe conditions at work, or a medical procedure that required breaking the fast, must make up those days when the excuse is gone. The key is that the excuse was temporary and expected to end.
The same verse applies, and once they are able, they should start making up.
Who Does Not Make Up Fasts but Feeds Instead
Some people do not make up fasts because, for them, the difficulty is permanent, not temporary.
Very Elderly and Chronically Ill
The very elderly person who cannot fast, and the one with a chronic illness that will not improve, and for whom fasting is dangerous or impossible, do not make up the missed days.
Instead, they pay a fidyah, which is feeding one poor person for each day.
“And upon those who can fast only with great difficulty, a ransom (fidyah) of feeding a poor person (for each day).”
(Qur’an 2:184)
Ibn ʿAbbās (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
“This verse has not been abrogated. It refers to the very old man and woman who are not able to fast. For each day they should feed one poor person.”
(Reported by al-Bukhari in a suspended form)
So the rule is that if they truly cannot fast and the condition will not improve, they do not make up fasts but feed instead.
Permanent inability, such as old age or chronic illness that does not allow fasting, removes the obligation to make up fasting. Instead, one poor person is fed for each day.
They cannot simply leave the days without any compensation. The feeding is their way of honoring the command of Allah within their ability.
Timing of Making Up Missed Fasts
Making Up Before the Next Ramadan
It is recommended and safer to make up all missed days before the next Ramadan arrives. Many companions used to do this.
ʿĀʾishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said:
“I used to have days to make up from Ramadan, and I would not be able to make them up except in Shaʿbān, because of my duties with the Prophet ﷺ.”
(Bukhari, Muslim)
This shows that she delayed until Shaʿbān, the month before Ramadan, and that this was accepted. It also shows that making up within the year is valid, and that there is some flexibility if there is a valid reason.
If a person can make up earlier in the year, that is better. If they need to spread out the days, that is also allowed. They can choose non consecutive days, as long as the total number is completed.
Delaying Without a Valid Excuse
If a person delays making up missed fasts beyond the next Ramadan without a valid excuse, then he has committed a sin by delaying an obligation.
The obligation of making up does not disappear. He still must make up the days. Many scholars also say that he should feed one poor person for each day delayed, as an extra compensation. This is based on the practice of some companions.
The most important thing is that he repents to Allah for the delay, resolves not to repeat such neglect, and then starts making up the days as soon as possible.
Delaying make-up fasts past the next Ramadan without a valid excuse is sinful. The person must still make up all days and should repent sincerely.
If the delay was due to a continued illness, pregnancy that extended into another pregnancy, breastfeeding that continued, or any other genuine ongoing excuse, then there is no sin. In such a case, when the excuse ends, the person simply makes up the fasts. The delay is forgiven because Allah says:
“Allah does not burden a soul beyond its capacity.”
(Qur’an 2:286)
Combining Intentions: Make-Up and Voluntary Fasts
Sometimes people want to fast on days that are recommended, such as Mondays and Thursdays, or the day of ʿArafah, and at the same time they still have missed Ramadan fasts to make up. The question is whether they can combine the intention.
The safest path and the one that removes all doubt for a beginner is:
A person with missed obligatory fasts should focus first on making up those fasts. He can fast his make-up days on the recommended days like Mondays, Thursdays, or the white days, and hope that Allah gives him both rewards.
The obligation of making up is primary. If he fasts with the clear intention that this is a make-up fast of Ramadan, it is valid, and it may be hoped that the extra day also receives some of the general reward of fasting on a blessed day.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“The most beloved deeds to Allah are those that are most consistent, even if they are few.”
(Bukhari, Muslim)
So a person can plan a consistent routine, such as making up fasts every Monday and Thursday, until the missed days are complete. This protects the rights of Ramadan and still takes advantage of recommended times for fasting.
Making Up Fasts of a Deceased Person
Sometimes a Muslim dies and leaves some days of Ramadan unperformed, and there is a question about whether someone can fast on his behalf.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Whoever dies and he had fasts to make up, his guardian should fast on his behalf.”
(Bukhari, Muslim)
Based on this, if a person owed obligatory fasts, and he had the time and ability to make them up but did not, then his closest relative may fast those days for him. Many scholars also allow, or even prefer, that an amount of charity be paid from his estate to feed a poor person per day in addition or instead, depending on circumstances.
If the deceased was unable to fast at all due to continuous illness until death, then there is no sin on him and nothing is required in terms of fasting. This is because Allah does not hold a person to account for what he truly could not do.
Again, the key principle is that the deceased must not be punished when he had a permanent excuse.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“When a human being dies, his deeds come to an end except for three: ongoing charity, beneficial knowledge, or a righteous child who prays for him.”
(Muslim)
A child fasting or giving charity on behalf of his parent falls from this spirit of goodness to the deceased, and Muslims should intend this as a form of kindness.
How to Make Up Fasts Practically
For a beginner, making up missed fasts can feel difficult, especially if many days were missed. It becomes easier with planning and intention.
First, count the number of missed days as accurately as possible. If exact number is unknown, a person should make a reasonable estimate and then choose a number that he believes safely covers all days.
Second, plan a schedule. One person might fast one or two days each week. Another might fast several days in a row during a quiet period. There is no requirement to make them consecutive for Ramadan make-up days.
Third, ensure the intention is clear in the heart from the night before that this is a make-up fast of Ramadan.
Fourth, avoid breaking the fast without a valid excuse once the day has begun. The basic rules of what breaks a fast and what does not remain the same as in Ramadan.
Allah reminds us:
“So fear Allah as much as you are able, and listen and obey and spend; it is better for your souls. And whoever is protected from the greed of his soul, then those are the successful.”
(Qur’an 64:16)
A Muslim who carefully makes up his missed fasts is obeying Allah according to his ability and purifying his soul from laziness and neglect.
Repentance for Missed Fasts Without Excuse
There are some who, before they learned about Islam properly or before they practiced, did not fast in Ramadan at all or missed many days without a valid excuse. When they return to Allah, the question arises: what must they do now?
First, they must repent sincerely. This means regretting the sin, stopping it, and resolving not to repeat it.
Allah says:
“Say, ‘O My servants who have transgressed against themselves, do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, He is the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful.’”
(Qur’an 39:53)
Second, they must make up as many of those missed fasts as they can. They should try to count or estimate and then fast accordingly, even if it takes months or years.
Third, they should increase in voluntary deeds such as extra fasting, charity, and prayer. These voluntary deeds fill the gaps and help repair what was neglected.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Follow a bad deed with a good deed, it will erase it.”
(Tirmidhi)
They should not despair. Instead, they should see every make-up fast as an opportunity that Allah is giving them to correct their past and come closer to Him with renewed sincerity.
Spiritual Meaning of Making Up Fasts
Making up missed fasts is not only a legal duty. It also has a deep spiritual meaning.
First, it trains a Muslim to respect the limits of Allah. When a duty was left unfulfilled because of a legitimate excuse, the believer still feels that he owes Allah something and that he must complete the number of days that Allah commanded.
“And (He intends) for you to complete the number and to magnify Allah for having guided you, and that you may be grateful.”
(Qur’an 2:185)
Second, it reminds the believer that time is precious. Each missed day of Ramadan is not light. Making up is a form of honoring the special gift of Ramadan, even outside its month.
Third, it increases humility. A person who makes up missed days remembers his weakness, whether due to illness, travel, or other reasons, and thanks Allah for recovery and the chance to worship again.
Fourth, it can function as a bridge back to obedience for those who turned away in the past. Every make-up fast becomes a sign that they have chosen the path of obedience again, and that they hope Allah will forgive what came before.
The Prophet ﷺ informed us of Allah’s mercy for those who return:
“Allah is more joyful at the repentance of His servant than one of you who finds his lost camel in a desert.”
(Bukhari, Muslim)
So when a believer stands to fast a make-up day, he should feel that this is not only settling a duty, but also a moment of joy, because Allah has allowed him to try again.
In this way, making up missed fasts strengthens discipline, renews taqwā, and deepens a Muslim’s relationship with his Lord.