Making up missed fasts, specifically those intentionally broken without a valid reason, requires a significant expiation (kiffarah).
According to Islamic guidelines, to make up an intentionally broken fast, you are required to fast for two lunar months continuously (approximately 60 days) for every single day of fasting that was intentionally missed outside of the month of Ramadan. This type of making up is known as expiation or kiffarah and applies when a fast is broken deliberately without a legitimate excuse.
Understanding the Requirement
The key aspect of making up intentionally broken fasts is the continuity of the fasting period. The expiation mandates fasting for a consecutive sixty-day period for each day missed in this manner.
- Consecutive Fasting: The fasting must be uninterrupted. If the chain of fasting is broken for any reason other than a Shariah-approved excuse (like sickness or menstruation, which would then require restarting the 60 days), the entire 60-day period must be started over from the beginning.
- Duration: The requirement is for two lunar months, which is typically interpreted as 60 days.
- Applicability: This specific rule applies to fasts that were intentionally broken after starting them without a valid reason. It does not apply to fasts missed due to legitimate excuses (like illness, travel, or menstruation), which typically require making up the days on a one-for-one basis (qada), a different type of makeup not detailed in the provided reference.
Practical Example
Based on the reference:
| Days Intentionally Broken | Required Continuous Fasting |
|---|---|
| 1 Day | 60 Days (approx.) |
| 2 Days | 120 Days (approx.) |
| 3 Days | 180 Days (approx.) |
This means if a Muslim intentionally missed 3 days of fasting, they must fast for 180 days straight to make it up, as each day missed necessitates a separate 60-day consecutive fasting period.
Key Considerations
- This specific method of making up (kiffarah) is for intentionally broken fasts, not those missed due to valid excuses.
- The continuity of the 60-day fast is crucial.
- Seek guidance from a knowledgeable Islamic scholar for specific circumstances.
Understanding this requirement is important for those who have intentionally broken fasts and wish to fulfill their religious obligation of making them up correctly.
