Chapter on Making up Fasts of the Month of Ramadan

It was narrated that Abdul Rahman ibn Abi Abdullah asked: "About making up the missed fasts of the Month of Ramadan during Dhul-Hijjah and interrupting it (for any reason). Imam عليه السلام said: 'Make it up in Dhul-Hijjah and interrupt it if you wish.'"

Al-Halabi narrated from Abu Abdullah عليه السلام: "If a man has missed fasts from the Month of Ramadan, he may make them up in any month he wishes, in consecutive days. If he is unable to do so, he may make them up as he is able, counting the days. Whether he separates the days or fasts them consecutively, both are acceptable."

Sulaiman ibn Ja'far Al-Ja'fari asked Abu Al-Hasan Al-Ridha عليه السلام about a man who has missed days from the Month of Ramadan. Can he make them up non-consecutively? Imam عليه السلام replied: "There is no harm in making up the fasts of the Month of Ramadan separately. The fasting that must not be separated is the fast of expiation for zhihar, expiation for shedding blood, and expiation for breaking an oath."

Jameel narrated from Zurara from Abu Ja'far عليه السلام regarding a man who becomes ill and the Month of Ramadan arrives while he is still sick. If he recovers after Month of Ramadan but does not make up the fasts before another Month of Ramadan arrives, what is his duty? Imam عليه السلام replied: "He should give charity for the first missed Month of Ramadan (a mudd of food for each day) and fast the second Month of Ramadan. However, if he recovered in between the two Month of Ramadans and did not fast until the next Month of Ramadan came, then he must fast both Month of Ramadans and also give charity for the first."

Ibn Mahboub narrated from Al-Harith ibn Muhammad from Buraid Al-Ijli from Abu Ja'far عليه السلام regarding a man who engaged with his wife during a day when he was making up a missed fast from Month of Ramadan. Abu Ja'far عليه السلام said: "If he engaged with her before midday, there is nothing upon him except to fast another day in place of that day. However, if he engaged with her after the sun had passed its zenith, then he must feed ten needy people, giving each a mudd of food. If he cannot afford this, he should fast one day in place of the missed day and add three additional days as expiation for what he did." It has also been narrated: "If he broke his fast before midday, there is no penalty upon him. But if he broke his fast after midday, then he must offer expiation similar to that required for breaking a fast during Month of Ramadan."

Sama‘ah narrated from Abu Basir, who said: I asked Abu ‘Abd Allah عليه السلام about a woman making up missed fasts from Month of Ramadan, and her husband compels her to break her fast. Imam عليه السلام said: "It is not appropriate for him to compel her to break her fast after the sun has passed its zenith."

Sama‘ah asked Abu ‘Abd Allah عليه السلام about the statement: "The fasting person has the option until the sun passes its zenith." Imam عليه السلام replied: "That applies to obligatory fasts. As for voluntary fasts, one may break the fast at any time they wish until sunset."

Ibn Faddal narrated from Salih ibn Abd Allah al-Khath’ami, who said: I asked Abu ‘Abd Allah عليه السلام about a man who intends to fast and then meets his brother, who shares his faith, and his brother requests him to break his fast. Should he break his fast? Imam عليه السلام replied: "If it is a voluntary fast, it will suffice, and it will be counted for him. However, if it is a fast making up for an obligatory one, then he must make it up again."

Imam عليه السلام was asked about a voluntary fasting person who encounters a necessity. Imam عليه السلام said: "He is at liberty to decide until the time of ‘Asr (afternoon). If he delays until ‘Asr and then decides to fast, having not initially intended to, he may fast that day if he wishes."

Musa ibn Bakr narrated from Al-Fudayl, from Abu Abdullah عليه السلام, regarding a man obligated to fast for a month who completed fifteen days of fasting and then was interrupted by some matter. Imam عليه السلام said: "If he has fasted fifteen days, he may make up the remaining days. However, if he has fasted less than fifteen days, it will not suffice him, and he must start anew and fast a complete month."

Mansur ibn Hazim narrated from Abu Abdullah عليه السلام regarding a man who was fasting as expiation (for zihar) during Sha’ban and then Month of Ramadan began. Imam عليه السلام said: "He should fast the Month of Ramadan and then resume the expiation fast. However, if he was fasting for expiation and completed half a day more than the midpoint (of the fast), he can simply complete the remaining days."

Ibn Mahbub narrated from Abu Ayyub from Abu Abdullah عليه السلام regarding a man who had to fast for two consecutive months as expiation for zihar. He fasted the month of Dhu al-Qa'dah, and then the month of Dhu al-Hijjah began. Imam عليه السلام said: "He should fast the entirety of Dhu al-Hijjah, except for the Days of Tashreeq, and then make up for those three days at the beginning of Muharram to complete the two consecutive months of fasting. He should not approach his wife until he has completed fasting the three Days of Tashreeq that he missed. There is no issue if he fasts one month and then a few days of the following month, but if illness or another impediment arises, he may interrupt the fast and then complete the two consecutive months afterward."