Women Islamic laws

Q: What is the duty of those who, intentionally, do not fast?

A: One must observe the required compensatory fast for each missed day in addition to paying the stipulated kaffārah for each day. Paying kaffārah is accomplished either by fasting for two months per missed fast or by satiating 60 needy persons (or donating ¾ kg food to each of the 60).

Q: Concerning the fasts which I hadn’t observed during the early years of post-puberty, ought I to pay kaffārah in addition to observing the compensatory fasts?

A: You must compensate for all the missed fasts; assuming you hadn’t fasted without a legitimate excuse, you must – in addition to the compensatory fasts – pay kaffārah which is tantamount to either fasting for two months per missed fast or by satiating 60 needy persons (or donating ¾ kg food to each of the 60).

Q: Is it permissible to nullify mustaḥabb prayers?

A: Yes it is; however nullifying them after ẓuhr is makrūh.

Q: Is the ruling of breaking fast upon a believer’s offer applicable to all types of fast?

A: This ruling does not include that who keeps qaḍā’ fast for himself or on behalf of others whether as a volunteer or by hiring or keeping qaḍā’ fasting of a nadhr. On the other hand, it includes that who fasts for a mustaḥabb cause for oneself or on other’s behalf.

Q: I did not know that interruption in, discontinuation of, the intention of fasting invalidates fasting and requires making the fasting up but not the kaffārah. However, I am now aware of this ruling. Now I am sure that I was often intending eating while fasting either due to hanger or sickness but I then did not eat. Considering that I did not know this ruling, what is my duty now? And, does the ruling differ whether or not I was blamed for the lack of knowledge? If I am to pay kaffārah, then what is it?

A: The validity of your fasting is questionable and you should, by obligatory caution, complete your fasting [i.e. if you are observing the fasting now] and make it up later in qaḍā.