She writes in her letter: My menstrual period started at an early age, and I was thirteen years old. Ramadan came, and I did not fast for the entire month because I was unable to do so.
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : She writes in her letter: My menstrual period started at an early age, and I was thirteen years old. Ramadan came, and I did not fast for the entire month because I was unable to do so, and I was too shy to tell my family about it. The second year, I fasted the month of Ramadan, but I have not made up the missed fasts to this day, and I am too shy to tell anyone about it. What should I do now that I have grown up and five years have passed since then? I ask for your guidance on what is required of me and what I must do?
The Shaykh : A Muslim should not be shy about the truth, for shyness about the truth is cowardice and weakness.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : It is obligatory for a Muslim to be strong and courageous in his religion, especially in matters concerning such great obligations. It was obligatory for her to make up the fasts of Ramadan in that year, but since she neglected this until the present year, she must repent to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) and acknowledge that she has committed a sin. She should feel remorse, persist in supplication to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) to forgive her for what has passed, and then make up these days that are required of her.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : If she wishes, she may make them up separately, and if she wishes, she may make them up consecutively, because when Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) made it obligatory to make up Ramadan, He said[Al-Baqarah 2:184] and did not say consecutively, nor did He say like Ramadan. As for the one who makes it obligatory to make them up consecutively, he has no evidence for this, because the consecutiveness in performing Ramadan is only obligatory due to its being in Ramadan.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : As for making up the fasts, the matter is broad. The person who has fasts to make up may delay them until there remains in Sha'ban an amount equal to what he owes.
The questioner : Yes, you have done well.
Hifa's final question.
The Shaykh : A Muslim should not be shy about the truth, for shyness about the truth is cowardice and weakness.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : It is obligatory for a Muslim to be strong and courageous in his religion, especially in matters concerning such great obligations. It was obligatory for her to make up the fasts of Ramadan in that year, but since she neglected this until the present year, she must repent to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) and acknowledge that she has committed a sin. She should feel remorse, persist in supplication to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) to forgive her for what has passed, and then make up these days that are required of her.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : If she wishes, she may make them up separately, and if she wishes, she may make them up consecutively, because when Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) made it obligatory to make up Ramadan, He said
an equal number of days [are to be made up]
فعدة من أيام أخرThe questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : As for making up the fasts, the matter is broad. The person who has fasts to make up may delay them until there remains in Sha'ban an amount equal to what he owes.
The questioner : Yes, you have done well.
Hifa's final question.