Making up Obligatory Fasts and Prayers

Answered by Ustadh Tabraze Azam

Question: There was a period of my life when I was casual about my prayers and my fasts, and sometimes would even break my fasts. The fasts that I need to make up are so much that I have never kept track, nor do I see it as a possibility to go back and count, for I do not know how many days I have broken my fast.

As far as the prayers go, I see it as a possibility to calculate missed prayers, but it seems like it will take me about 5-6 years to catch up.

What can I do now to reconcile my actions of the past and to make sure to fulfill my obligations to Allah? Should I be doing the fast of dawood for the rest of my life with the intention of making up those fasts?

Answer: Wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,

I pray that you are in the best of health and faith, insha’Allah.

First of all, one should express one’s gratitude to Allah for having inspired one with deep concern of one’s religion, a need for directing oneself to Him, and then following up with asking and seeking answers.

Secondly, one should sincerely repent to Allah for one’s mistake, seeking the divine mercy, love and care. See: A Reader on Tawba

Making up Obligatory Prayers

With regards to your prayers:

[1] Make a reasonable, safe estimate of the number of prayers that you think you have missed

[2] Make a manageable schedule, and pray them consistently, without fail

Strive to complete them as they were due (with the sunna actions) and making the intention of drawing closer to one’s Lord.

Making up Obligatory Fasts

As for your obligatory (Ramadan) fasts, you will need to:

[1] Perform a single expiation. The expiation is to fast sixty consecutive days. Ensure that either `Eid does not fall in one’s sixty day period.

[2] Next, make a reasonable, safe estimate of the number of fasts that you think you have missed. Do this by:

[a] Assuming there are thirty days of Ramadan each year

[b] Counting the number of years of Ramadan between puberty and the time one is reasonably sure that one was fasting the whole month. (For example, 15 years would be 450 fasts)

[c] Making a reasonable, safe judgement on how many of these were valid and how many were not. (For example, assuming 5 fasts were valid each year, 300 fasts would need to be made up)

[d] And then commit to fasting them until you lift them entirely from your dues.

[Shurunbulali, Maraqi al-Falah; `Ala al-Din `Abidin, al-Hadiyya al-`Ala’iyya]

Turning to Allah

Use this whole period of your life as a juncture of turning to Allah, realizing the words of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), “The one who repents from sin is like the one who never sinned.” [Ibn Maja], and committing to becoming the strong believer — firm in faith, and rooted in action.

And Allah alone gives success.

Wassalam,

Tabraze Azam

Checked & Approved by Faraz Rabbani