Must I make up the days I missed fasting in Ramadan due to childbirth and breastfeeding, or does offering expiation (feeding the poor) relieve me of the obligation to make up these days?
A woman must make up for the days she missed due to postpartum bleeding (nifās). Feeding the poor (iṭʿām) does not suffice as a substitute for making up these days as long as the woman is capable of fasting. As for the days she missed due to breastfeeding, fearing for herself or her child, there is a difference of opinion. The more cautious approach is to make up these days (qaḍāʾ) along with feeding one poor person for each day if the breaking of the fast was for the sake of the child. The expiatory payment (fidya) is not obligatory for delaying the make-up fast until the next Ramadan if the delay was due to a valid excuse.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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