Fasting Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam. Every sane and physically able Muslim, over the age of puberty, must fast all of its days. However, there are certain circumstances in which fasting is not allowed. In these situations certain days of Ramadan are missed. How does a person in these situations make up for the missed fast?
God’s commands are a heavy responsibility, but they include consideration and ease for people. In the passages of fasting, God states the following principle, “God wants ease for you, not hardship.” [2:185]
Let us break down the reasons as to why someone may not fast:
The first reason is sickness. Sickness could be a day when someone is unwell and therefore unable to fast. It can be an illness that lasts for several days. Someone could be seriously ill throughout the whole of Ramadan.
The second reason is travelling. The nature of travelling can often include fatigue and tiredness, so God has made a concession for travellers to break their fast on the days they are away from home.
About these first two categories the Quran states, “So any one of you who is present for the month of Ramadan should fast, and anyone who is ill or on a journey should make up for the lost days by fasting on other days later.” [2:185]
Therefore, both the sick and travellers are not obliged to fast during the days of their sickness or travel respectively. Rather they are to make up those missed days after the month of Ramadan as God mentions in the passage above.
There are people who are suffering from long-term chronic or terminal illnesses. A related category is the elderly and infirm who are too weak to fast. In these situations when a person is completely unable to fast due to a terminal illness, old age or infirmity, they are to feed one poor person for each day missed. God says, “For those who can only fast with extreme difficulty, compensation can be made by feeding a needy person for each day not fasted” [2:184]
The third reason is the category of women during the menstrual cycle and post-partum bleeding. Both are excused and restricted from fasting during this naturally occurring condition. They are to make up the days when they are able to after the month of Ramadan.
The fourth reason is the category of pregnant and breastfeeding women. Fasting may negatively affect their health or the health of their babies. In this case, they are excused from fasting in Ramadan and are to make up the days when they are able to.
In all the above cases wherein fasts are being made up, they should be completed before the next Ramadan, giving one an eleven-month time window. It is recommended to make up the fasts as soon as one can. One may opt to delay in making them up so long as they are completed before the following Ramadan.