Is There An Obligation To Make Up For The Missed Ramadan Fastings Within A Certain Period?

Is there an obligation to make up for the missed Ramadan fastings within a certain period?

Qada is required for fastings unobserved or nullified in Ramadan. It is stated in the Qur’an: “(Fasting) for a fixed number of days; but if any of you is ill, or on a journey the prescribed number (Should be made up) from days later.” (Baqarah, 2/184). There is no evidence on observing qada fastings consecutively. It is appropriate to observe qada fastings as soon as possible. Because it is a debt to Allah (swt) and no one knows when to die.

Qada for Ramadan fasting may be observed anytime except for the days when fasting is forbidden. Prophet Muhammad (saw) informed about two days when one is not allowed to fast: the first day of eid al-fitr, and all four days of eid al-adha. (Bukhari, Sawm, 66-67).

According to Hanafis, even though there is no time restriction to perform qada for Ramadan fasts, it is more appropriate to make up for them as soon as possible (Kasani, Bada’i,II, 104). According to Shafi’is, on the other hand, the qada for Ramadan needs to be performed until the next Ramadan. If one does not perform qada for Ramadan until the next Ramadan, one needs to perform qada and give fidyah (Nawawi, al-Majmu’, VI, 364; Shirbini, Mughni al-Muhtaj, I, 645).

Source: Presidency Of Religious Affairs The Turkey, High Board of Religious Affairs FATWAS