Got Ramadhaan fasts to make up?

by Asma bint Shameem

If you have Fardh fasts to make up from this past Ramadhaan,

then make them up in the first nine days of Dhul Hijjah.

🍃 The Prophet ﷺ said:

“No days in which the good deeds are better than these days – referring to the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah.”

(al-Bukhaari)

The Sahaabah exerted themselves really hard to do WHATEVER GOOD DEEDS they could do in these days, so that they could earn MAXIMUM rewards.

So if these are the BEST ten days of the ENTIRE year, and the Sahaabah were keen to do as many good deeds in these days as possible, then what better chance than this to make up the Ramadhaan fasts that you owe?

It’s recommended to fast the first nine days of Dhul Hijjah, if you’re not going for hajj.

🍃 Shaykh Dr. Saad al-Khathlan said:

“Whoever has missed fasts to make up from Ramadhaan, this is an opportunity to make them up during the first nine days of Dhul-Hijjah.

In this way, he performs an obligatory act during a virtuous time, and it is hoped that he will attain, along with making up the fasts, the virtue of fasting during these blessed days.

It has also been narrated from Umar ibn al-Khattab radhi Allaahu anhu that he considered it recommended to make up Ramadhaan fasts during the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah, and he said:

“There are no days in which making up Ramadhaan fasts is more beloved to me than these.”

🔺 Fast the day of Arafah

Even if you can’t fast all nine days of Dhul Hijjah, at least try to make up your Ramadhaan fast by fasting the day of Arafah which itself is expiation of sins of TWO years.

🍃 Someone asked the Prophet ﷺ about fasting on the Day of Arafah.

He said:

“It expiates for the past and coming years.” (Muslim)

🍃 Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said:

“If a person fasts the day of ‘Arafah or the day of ‘Ashoora’, and he still owes fasts from Ramadhaan, his fast will be valid.

But if he intended to fast that day to make up for a missed Ramadhaan fast, he will have TWO REWARDS: the reward of the day of ‘Arafah or the day of ‘Ashoora’, and the reward for making up the missed fast.”

(Fataawa as-Siyaam 438)

So go ahead and fast the first nine days of Dhul-Hijjah to make up your Ramadhaan fardh fasts.

Pay back the debt you owe Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala, in these virtuous days.

These are the perfect days for doing that.

May Allaah accept our ibaadaat and forgive our mistakes.

And Allaah knows best.