What is the intention for making up overdue Ramadan fasts from many years ago, and does the expiation for delaying the make-up fasts multiply with the number of years, or is it the expiation for a single day? Is it permissible to give the cost of two meals to a needy person for each day of delay?

It is sufficient for the intention to make up for missed Ramadan fasts for a Muslim to intend at night that he will fast to make up for a day he missed. The intention should be made by the heart before Fajr and after sunset. If the delay was due to an excuse, only making up the fast is obligatory. If it was without an excuse, making up the fast is obligatory along with an expiation for the delay, which is one mudd of food for each delayed day. The expiation does not multiply with the passing of years. The majority of jurists hold that giving monetary value instead of food is not permissible, while the Hanafis and Ibn Taymiyyah permit giving monetary value out of necessity, provided it is equivalent to 750 grams of food.