How Many Fasts Should I Make Up If I’m Not Sure?

Answered by Ustadha Shazia Ahmad

Question

Unfortunately, I used to masturbate, not knowing that this would break my fast and require a bath before praying. I have now repented. However, I do not know how many fasts I broke. I can only remember doing the act while fasting twice, but I am pretty sure I did this more than twice. How many fasts do I need to make up?

Answer

Thank you for your question. May Allah reward you for leaving your habit in the past, repenting, and transforming yourself. I pray that others derive strength from your example.

Calculate

I advise you to take some time to calculate to the best of your ability how many fasts you have missed; overestimate a little. Record or make a document with this information, then make a schedule to make up these fasts gradually.

Take advantage of fasting on the blessed sunna days such as; the tenth Muharram, the day of `Ashura with the day before it or after it, the six days of Shawwal, the first nine days of Dhu’l Hijjah, the white days, Mondays and Thursdays, the 15th of Sha`ban, and others.

Please see these links as well for practical details:
How Do I Make Up Fasting Days I Missed Due to Various Reasons?
Can I Delay Making up Fasts After This Ramadan? [Shafi’i]
How Can I Make Up a Large Number Of Missed Fasts?

Please review the basic fiqh of fasting here: The Fiqh of Fasting Ramadan According to the School of Imam Shafi’i

May Allah give you the best of this world and the next.
[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria, for two years, where she studied aqidah, fiqh, tajweed, tafsir, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin and completed her Masters in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan, where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She later moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.