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Is it permissible to break a fast for missed obligatory fasting days upon the husband's request after intending to fast, or should it be refused due to the absence of a valid religious excuse?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

"The Imams and the majority have agreed that making up Ramadan [fasts] due to a valid excuse, such as menstruation or travel, is obligatory with leniency, and it is not permissible to delay it beyond Sha'ban, as narrated from Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her. If a woman has [Ramadan fasts] to make up and her husband is present and she needs him, she should not rush to make them up except with his permission, as long as there is ample time. And if she fasts a voluntary fast without his permission, he has the right to break her fast through intercourse, and he has the right to interrupt her voluntary prayer, due to the hadith: ""A woman should not fast when her husband is present except with his permission."" However, if her fasting is obligatory, such as Ramadan or other obligatory fasts, and its time is limited, then she does not need to ask her husband's permission. And if it is for an obligatory [fast] with ample time, then the more correct opinion is that the husband does not have the right to make his wife break her fast if it is making up for Ramadan, because it is like a vow, and does not require the husband's permission. Therefore, the husband does not have the right to break her fast if it is making up for Ramadan, and she must refuse his request.

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Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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