How can my mother clear her conscience before God, as she neglected fasting for seven years out of ignorance and negligence, and for another twenty-three years due to a chronic illness?
Fasting Ramadan is one of the pillars of Islam. Whoever neglects it, whether out of ignorance or carelessness, must repent and make up for the missed days, along with feeding one poor person for each day whose make-up was delayed until the next Ramadan arrived. If the breaking of the fast was due to sexual intercourse, the major expiation (kaffarah kubra) becomes obligatory, which is freeing a slave. If one cannot find a slave, then fasting for two consecutive months. If one is unable to do that, then feeding sixty poor persons. This applies specifically to the man, according to the preponderant opinion. As for breaking the fast due to illness, it must be made up after recovery, as Allah says: "And whoever is ill or on a journey - then an equal number of other days." If the illness is expected to be cured, the mother should make up the fast after recovery. But if the illness is not expected to be cured, then she must feed one poor person for each day.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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