What should a 36-year-old Muslim woman residing in Europe do, who has not fasted previous Ramadans since her marriage at age 17 due to repeated pregnancies and breastfeeding, then due to a surgical operation and its complications that prevented her from fasting, and she is now remorseful and wishes to atone for what she missed, knowing that she cannot make up for what she missed or fast future Ramadans for health reasons and according to doctors' recommendations? Is it permissible to pay the expiation as a sum of money to charitable organizations in an Islamic country like Saudi Arabia because she does not know any poor people in her country of residence? And how many needy persons must be fed for approximately 20 past years? What is the sufficient amount in US dollars for each needy person? And can she send the appropriate amount to feed the needy in an Islamic country?

She is obligated to make up all the missed days as long as she is able. Feeding the poor is not sufficient unless she is permanently unable to make up the days, with no hope of recovery. In that case, she should feed one poor person for each day. It is permissible to give the expiation to a single poor person for all the days, and it is permissible to appoint an agent to distribute the expiation. The required amount for feeding is one mudd of food (approximately 750 grams) according to the Shafi'is, or half a saa' (approximately 1.5 kilograms) according to the Hanbalis, which is more precautionary.

As for her delay in making up those days, if she was ignorant of the prohibition of delaying, then there is nothing upon her. However, if she was aware and delayed making up the days without a valid excuse, then she must pay an expiation of feeding one poor person for each day she delayed.