Rules of Kaffarah and Making Up Missed Fasts

Fasting during the blessed month of Ramadan is an essential pillar of Islam, as prescribed by Allah (SWT) in the Quran. Fasting is a physical and spiritual act of worship that requires a person to abstain from food, drink, and other invalidating actions from dawn till sunset. However, certain circumstances, such as illness, travel, or other valid reasons, may cause one to miss a fast or violate its conditions. In such cases, Muslims are required to make up for the missed fasts and, in some situations, perform Kaffarah (atonement).

Understanding the rules of Kaffarah and the process of making up missed fasts is crucial for every Muslim who is striving to fulfill their religious obligations properly. This blog post will provide a detailed and comprehensive explanation of the rules of Kaffarah, the situations that require making up missed fasts, and the correct way to perform both, based on Quranic teachings and authentic Hadith.

The Obligation of Fasting in Islam

Fasting is one of the Five Pillars of Islam and is compulsory for every adult Muslim who is capable of fasting. Allah (SWT) commands:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ
O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous. (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:183)

Fasting during Ramadan is an act of obedience and worship meant to increase a Muslim’s consciousness of Allah (taqwa). The month of Ramadan is special, and the fasting experience brings numerous spiritual and physical benefits. However, sometimes due to unavoidable circumstances, a person may miss a fast, or in rare cases, violate the fast.

What Is Kaffarah?

Kaffarah is the Islamic term for atonement or compensation for a missed fast or a broken fast due to reasons other than legitimate exceptions such as illness, travel, or menstruation. Kaffarah comes into play when a person intentionally breaks their fast without a valid reason, or when they fail to observe the required fasts during Ramadan.

In such cases, the individual is obligated to make amends by performing Kaffarah, which, depending on the situation, can involve feeding the poor or fasting for additional days. The concept of Kaffarah is meant to purify the individual and ensure that they compensate for their failure to properly observe the fast.

The Types of Missed Fasts and Their Atonements

There are various situations that can lead to a missed or invalidated fast, and each situation has its corresponding Kaffarah or ruling. These situations include making up missed fasts, intentional invalidation of a fast, and cases where the fast is broken due to error or forgetfulness. Below, we will examine the specific rules related to each situation.

Making Up Missed Fasts (Qada’)

A person who misses a fast due to a valid reason such as illness, pregnancy, breastfeeding, travel, or menstruation is required to make up the missed fast once the excuse is no longer valid. The missed fast should be made up as soon as possible, but it is permitted to delay the makeup fast until later. There is no Kaffarah involved in this case, as the fast was missed for an excusable reason. The individual is simply required to perform Qada’ (making up the missed fasts) when they are able to do so.

وَإِذَا فَارَقْتُمْ فَصَّامُوۡا فِي صَارِحِهِۦ
And when you have completed the fasts, then remember Allah, glorifying Him. (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:185)

If a person has missed several fasts in the past due to illness or any of the valid reasons, they should make a sincere effort to fast them as soon as they are able. The general rule is that making up missed fasts should take precedence over other forms of worship, and delay should be avoided unless there is a valid excuse.

Intentionally Breaking the Fast

If a person intentionally breaks their fast by eating, drinking, or engaging in sexual relations during daylight hours of Ramadan without a valid excuse, they are required to offer Kaffarah. The Kaffarah for breaking a fast intentionally involves two primary options:

Fasting for Two Consecutive Months
The individual must fast for two consecutive months without interruption as atonement for their actions.

Feeding 60 Needy People
Alternatively, if the individual is unable to fast for two months due to health reasons or other valid difficulties, they are required to feed 60 poor people, providing each person with two meals for the day (or equivalent in monetary value).

This ruling is supported by the Hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW), where a man who broke his fast by engaging in sexual activity was advised to perform Kaffarah as follows:

عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ رَضِيَ اللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: “جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَ: أَفْطَرْتُ فِي رَمَضَانَ.” فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: “تُحَرِّرُ رَقَبَةً” قَالَ: “لَا”، قَالَ: “فَصُمْ شَهْرَيْنِ مُتَتَابِعَيْنِ”، قَالَ: “لَا”، قَالَ: “فَإِطْعِمْ سِتِّينَ مِسْكِينًا”.
Narrated by Umar ibn Al-Khattab (RA): A man came to the Prophet (SAW) and said, “I broke my fast during Ramadan.” The Prophet (SAW) said to him, “Free a slave.” The man replied, “I can’t.” The Prophet (SAW) said, “Fast two consecutive months.” The man replied, “I can’t.” Then the Prophet (SAW) said, “Feed sixty poor people.” (Sahih Bukhari)

This Hadith makes clear that intentional invalidation of the fast requires atonement (Kaffarah), and it provides three options to fulfill the obligation.

Unintentional Breaking of the Fast

In Islam, if a person breaks their fast unintentionally due to forgetfulness, accident, or coercion, their fast remains valid, and they do not need to make up for it or offer any expiation. This ruling is based on the mercy and leniency of Islamic teachings.

If someone eats or drinks out of forgetfulness, their fast is not invalidated. The Prophet ﷺ said:

مَنْ أَكَلَ أَوْ شَرِبَ نَاسِيًا فَلْيُتِمَّ صَوْمَهُ إِنَّمَا أَطْعَمَهُ وَسَقَاهُ اللَّٰهُ
Whoever eats or drinks forgetfully, let him complete his fast, for what he has eaten or drunk was given to him by Allah. (Sahih Bukhari)

Similarly, if a person accidentally swallows food, water, or dust, such as while rinsing the mouth, their fast remains valid. They are not held accountable for what is done unintentionally. Likewise, if a person is forced to eat or drink against their will, they are not responsible, and their fast remains intact.

Islamic teachings emphasize that Allah does not burden a soul beyond its capacity (Qur’an 2:286). Acts done without intention or under duress are not considered sinful. Therefore, as long as the act of breaking the fast is unintentional, the fast continues without any penalty, highlighting Islam’s compassionate approach to human error and forgetfulness.

The key here is that the act of eating or drinking was done in forgetfulness, and no punishment or atonement is required for such acts.

Women’s Menstruation and Postpartum Bleeding

Women who experience menstruation or postpartum bleeding during Ramadan are exempt from fasting. They are not required to perform Kaffarah for missing the fasts during these times. Instead, they are required to make up the fasts once the menstruation or bleeding ends. The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) mentioned:

فَإِذَا حَاضَتْ إِحْدَاهُنَّ فِي رَمَضَانَ فَفَارَقَتْهُ فَلَا صَوْمَ عَلَيْهَا حَتَّى تَطْهُرَ
When one of them menstruates in Ramadan, she does not fast until she is purified. (Sahih Muslim)

Women are required to make up these missed fasts after Ramadan and are not required to perform Kaffarah.

The Case of a Sick Person or Traveler

If a person is ill or traveling during Ramadan and is unable to fast due to their condition, they are allowed to break their fast. The individual is then required to make up the missed fasts later, but there is no Kaffarah required. Allah says in the Quran:

وَمَن كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ
And if any of you is ill or on a journey, then an equal number of other days. (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:184)

The person who is sick or traveling must make up the missed fasts once they recover or return from their travel.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Kaffarah and making up missed fasts are important components of maintaining the sanctity of fasting during Ramadan. Muslims are required to observe strict guidelines and rulings when it comes to fasting, and missing or breaking a fast can lead to specific obligations. Kaffarah is necessary when one intentionally breaks the fast, but it is not required for missed fasts due to valid reasons such as illness, menstruation, or travel. For these situations, making up the missed fasts (Qada’) is required.

It is crucial for Muslims to seek knowledge and understanding of the rules regarding fasting to ensure that they fulfill their religious obligations in the best manner possible. The Quran and Hadith provide clear guidance, and by following these teachings, we can maintain the purity and significance of our worship during Ramadan.

May Allah (SWT) accept our fasts and grant us the ability to fulfill all our religious duties properly. Ameen.