A man who used to break his fast in Ramadan due to negligence, then repented afterwards, but does not know the number of days he broke his fast: what is obligatory for him to do now?
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The questioner : May Allah reward you with good. The questioner says: A man used to break his fast in Ramadan due to negligence, then repented afterwards.
The Shaykh : How was it? What was it?
The questioner : He used to break his fast in Ramadan due to negligence, then repented afterwards, and he does not know the number of days he broke his fast. What is obligatory for him to do now?
The Shaykh : As for if he did not fast at all, the stronger opinion is that he does not make up the fasts, because if he made them up, it would not benefit him. He must repent and rectify his deeds.
And some scholars said: He must make up the fasts, because if a traveler breaks his fast, he makes it up, and he is excused; so one who is not excused is all the more so. But the correct view is that he does not make them up. And this is a useful rule for students of knowledge: every act of worship that is restricted to a specific time, if a person delays it beyond its time without an excuse, making it up does not benefit him. Because if we said it benefits him, that would be contrary to the truth. For the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sahih Muslim 1718b And unfortunately, this issue occurs often. A person leaves the prayer in the early part of his life, or fasting, then Allah grants him repentance. We say: Praise be to Allah who granted you repentance, and you must be steadfast. As for making it up, it will not benefit you. Even if you prayed that prayer a thousand times, it would not benefit you.
And as for if he started fasting and then broke it, then he must make it up, because when he started it, he became like one who vowed it, so making it up is obligatory for him. Likewise, if he started the prayer and then broke it, he must make it up, because starting it is like vowing it. And whoever vows to obey Allah, let him obey Him. So there is a distinction: if one left fasting entirely and did not fast, we do not tell him to make it up, but we say: Repent to Allah, and even if you made it up, it would not benefit you. But if he broke it after he had started it, then making it up is obligatory for him.
The Shaykh : How was it? What was it?
The questioner : He used to break his fast in Ramadan due to negligence, then repented afterwards, and he does not know the number of days he broke his fast. What is obligatory for him to do now?
The Shaykh : As for if he did not fast at all, the stronger opinion is that he does not make up the fasts, because if he made them up, it would not benefit him. He must repent and rectify his deeds.
And some scholars said: He must make up the fasts, because if a traveler breaks his fast, he makes it up, and he is excused; so one who is not excused is all the more so. But the correct view is that he does not make them up. And this is a useful rule for students of knowledge: every act of worship that is restricted to a specific time, if a person delays it beyond its time without an excuse, making it up does not benefit him. Because if we said it benefits him, that would be contrary to the truth. For the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
He who did any act for which there is no sanction from our behalf, that is to be rejected.
من عملا عملا ليس عليه أمرنا فهو ردAnd as for if he started fasting and then broke it, then he must make it up, because when he started it, he became like one who vowed it, so making it up is obligatory for him. Likewise, if he started the prayer and then broke it, he must make it up, because starting it is like vowing it. And whoever vows to obey Allah, let him obey Him. So there is a distinction: if one left fasting entirely and did not fast, we do not tell him to make it up, but we say: Repent to Allah, and even if you made it up, it would not benefit you. But if he broke it after he had started it, then making it up is obligatory for him.