What is the established position regarding making up fasts in Ramadan for one who broke them: consecutive days or separate days?

The questioner : What is the established position regarding making up the days that a fasting person missed in Ramadan: consecutive days or separate days? Especially since we looked into the research in *Irwaa' al-Ghalil* and found it extensive, allowing for choice, and we looked into some of the non-extended research in *al-Silsilah al-Da'ifah* and found it obligating consecutive days.

The Shaykh : No, does it not obligate consecutive days, and what else, and does it not permit?

The questioner : It does not permit.

The Shaykh : It does not permit separating them. This is what I hold to this day, with some clarification, which is the ability to do so. That is, consecutive days are the original rule, but not a pillar. If it becomes difficult for him, then separating them is permissible. But if he is able to not separate them and can do them consecutively, one day after another, and so on, until he makes up the days he owes, that is what we hold. There is a hadith on this that we have produced in some books. Yes, that is what we hold, and Allah knows best.

The questioner : There is a hadith on this.

The Shaykh : There is a hadith that commands consecutive days.

Another questioner : Whoever has days from Ramadan to make up, let him do them consecutively and not break them up.

The Shaykh: Yes.
Al-Halabi : Do you lean toward the authenticity of the hadith or its weakness?

The Shaykh : Toward its authenticity. Based on its authenticity, we say this ruling. Otherwise, if its weakness is established, its indication falls away.
Al-Halabi : My Shaykh, I mention in *Irwaa'* that you leaned toward weakening it in detail. In detail of the evidence. But in *al-Silsilah al-Da'ifah*, in the second volume, it was mentioned as a research, not a verification, so you used it as evidence.

The Shaykh : Yes, that is it. So now the issue needs to be compared.
Al-Halabi : To be looked into.

The Shaykh : Yes, between the two researches, between the two researches.
Al-Halabi : In terms of the argument, of course. Some of our brothers lean toward the earlier one, meaning which book is earlier by its age.

The Shaykh : No, that is a weak argument. On the contrary, meaning if we wanted to say, meaning the earlier one is the argument, meaning their thought or the opposite?
Al-Halabi : No, the opposite, of course.

The Shaykh : The opposite is reasonable.

The questioner : Rather, the opinionThe Shaykh : held, or the opinionThe Shaykh : of the later one, when is it? When we know the later book.

The Shaykh : That is it. But the rule, as you quote from some of the brothers, is that the later one is what appears to be the basis. But the truth is, to be decisive now, as long as there are two differing transmissions, comparison is necessary, as I said.
Al-Halabi : In terms of the argument.

The Shaykh : Yes. And in brief, I say if it is finally established that this hadith commanding consecutive days is not authentic, it may be defective due to stopping at a Companion or anomaly or something like that, then in that case, it is a matter of choice. Yes, perhaps you will remind me, even by phone.

The questioner : Tonight, if Allah wills.

The Shaykh : If Allah wills.