If a person delays making up missed Ramadaan fasts until the next Ramadaan
begins, then if that was for a reason such as sickness, pregnancy or
breastfeeding and the like, then he or she does not have to do anything except
make up the missed days. But if there was no excuse, then he or she has sinned
and must make up the missed days, but does he or she have to pay a fidyah or
not? There is a difference of opinion among the scholars. The majority are of
the view that the fidyah must be paid, and it is feeding one poor person for
every day. We previously stated that the more correct view is that the fidyah is
not obligatory, but the one who pays it in order to be on the safe side has done
well.
This fidyah – according to those who say that it is required – becomes
obligatory upon that person as soon as the next Ramadaan begins, and he may
offer it at that time, or delay it until he makes up those fasts, but it is
better to hasten to do it so as to fulfil his obligation.
It says in al-Mawsoo’ah al-Fiqhiyyah (28/76): Making up missed Ramadaan fasts
may be done at any time but the majority of scholars limited it to a specific
time frame within which they must be made up, which is before the next Ramadaan
begins, because of the words of ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her): “I
would owe missed Ramadaan fasts but I would not be able to make them up except
in Sha’baan, because of my duties towards the Prophet (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him).” This is similar to prayer, which should not be delayed
until the time for the next prayer comes.
According to the majority of scholars, it is not permissible to delay making up
missed Ramadaan fasts until the next Ramadaan comes without an excuse, and that
doing so incurs sin, because of this hadeeth of ‘Aa’ishah. If a person delays
that then he must offer the fidyah: feeding one poor person for each day,
because of the report narrated from Ibn ‘Abbaas, Ibn ‘Umar and Abu Hurayrah (may
Allaah be pleased with them) who said concerning the one who has to make up a
missed fast but does not do so until the next Ramadaan comes: “He must make it
up and feed one poor person for each day.” This fidyah is for delaying it. It is
permissible to offer the food before making up the fast, at the same time, or
afterwards. End quote.
Al-Mardaawi al-Hanbali (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
He should offer food that is acceptable for expiation. It is permissible to give
the food before making up the fast, at the same time, or afterwards. al-Majd –
meaning Ibn Taymiyah, the grandfather of Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah – said
that the best is to give it beforehand, in his view, so as to hasten to do good
and to rid oneself of the problem of postponing. End quote from al-Insaaf
(3/333).
May Allah accept our deeds.