How Do I Make Up 12 Years of Fasts Missed Due to an Illness?

Answered by Ustadh Tabraze Azam
Question: I am an epileptic. I could not fast for around 12 years or so because I could not stay without food and I could not get up in between my sleep. But for the past 4 years I have been fasting with lot of care. My family take a lot of care during this period. I am not yet cured and have no idea when I can fast like any other individual and also make night prayers.
How I should make up my fasts? Everyone advices against it, even my doctor, but I can’t accept it.
Answer: Wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,
I pray that you are in the best of health and faith, insha’Allah.
Calculate the number of days you have missed, make a plan to make them up with consistency and with taking the best means, and then strive to complete them asking Allah at every moment for sincerity and acceptance.
However, you should take the doctor’s word into consideration, and proceed in a sustainable manner, verifying with local, reliable scholars if need be. The religion is mercy. Try your best, and be optimistic about what Allah has in store for you.
May Allah give you ever cure and well-being in this life and the next.
Please see: Making up Obligatory Fasts and Prayers and: When Does An Illness Allow One To Break The Fast? and: How Can I Benefit From Ramadan When I Can’t Fast Due to Being Ill?
And Allah alone gives success.
wassalam,
Tabraze Azam
Checked & Approved by Faraz Rabbani