Q 1:
I am a woman. Due to an illness, I could not fast the month of Ramadan eight years ago. Now I am aware that it is an obligation upon me to make up for the missed days of fast in Ramadan. I desire to comply with the Islamic law and make up for these days, but I can not due to a pectoral disease,
which affects my health very much. My question is: Can I feed sixty needy people instead of the fast, or am I (Part No. 9; Page No. 49) required to fast and feed the needy? Can the expiation be given as money instead of food?Also, I have a brother who deliberately did not fast one day of Ramadan about six years ago with no legal excuse, and now he wants to make up for this missed day. However, some people told him that it is impossible to make up for this day even if one is to fast the rest of his life. Given this, he has not made up for it until now.Please provide me with Fatwa regarding these questions. I am very frustrated and I direly need your guidance. May Allah reward you greatly.
A:
You must make up for the number of days of fast which you had missed in the month of Ramadan eight years ago, and you should also ask Allah's (Exalted be He) Forgiveness for this sin. Moreover, you are obligated to feed a needy person by giving him half of a Sa` (1 Sa`=3 kg. Approx.) from the staple food of your country in lieu of every day you make up for. However, if you are unable to make up for the days which you had missed because of an illness, then you should feed a needy person by giving him one kilogram and a half of food for every day of fast you had missed. Similarly, your brother has to make up for the day which he intentionally missed fasting during Ramadan and should repent to Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) in addition to feeding a needy person because of his delay in making up for this day.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.