Missed a Roza or Committed a Sin? This Mistake Could Cost You More Than You Think!
It is Ramadan, the holiest month in Islam, and its presence has engulfed the world in an atmosphere of devotion, unity and spiritual rejuvenation. All over the world, Muslims congregate in mosques, share iftars with family and friends, and engage in worship, asking for forgiveness and asking to be closer to their Lord. This holy month, filled with great blessings, typically spans 29 or 30 days, and fasting (sawm) from dawn till dusk is a primary duty for all able Muslim adults.
However, the uncertainties that life throws our way sometimes results in missing a fast — whether because of sickness, travel, or simply because we weren’t vigilant enough. This Ramadan if you have missed roza (fast), you might be pondering upon what will be the consequences and what you need to do to have the amends. Now let’s go over the rulings and the remedies as advised by Islam.
Consequences of Missing a Fast in Ramadan
The consequences of skipping a fast vary depending on the cause. Islamic law distinguishes between two broad types of missed fasts:
Again, this was a mistake, or a good excuse?
We should also note that there are some people who have reasons to miss a fast, including; being sick, pregnant, having their period, nursing, traveling, or being in extreme weakness.
In such cases:
These missed fasts have to be compensated (qada) in Ramadan before the next Ramadan arrives.
No sin also for missing the fast under these circumstances
1. If a person is not able to fast indefinitely due to chronic illness or old age, he must pay fidya (which is the feeding of a poor person for every day of fasting missed).
2. If it was intentional and without a valid justification, skipping a fast is a serious matter. It is the command of Allah to fast in Ramadan, and skipping it without a valid reason is an act of major sin.
In such cases:
1. Sincere repentance is required for the person and a quest for Allah’s forgiveness.
2. Make up for the missed fasts (qada) as soon as possible.
3. If the fast was intentionally broken by eating, drinking, or engaging in marital relations, to make imination, a heavy penalty (kaffarah) may be required, which includes fasting for 60 consecutive days or, if unable, feeding 60 poor people.
What to Do if You’ve Missed a Fast
If your roza was missed, the first thing to find out is what was the reason for the missed roza and perform the relevant remedy as follows:
If You Missed a Fast (Qada)
If the fast was missed without justification, then it needs to be completed before the next Ramadan. The delay in fasting is also to be avoided as soon as possible.
Offer Fidya if Necessary
If you are permanently incapable of fasting due to a chronic illness or old age, you are required to give fidya. Which normally, it is a poor person's food each fast that is wasted, which is equal to about 1.5 kg of staple food (like wheat, rice or dates).Ask Allah for Forgiveness (Tawbah) for Missed Fasts. If the fast was neglected deliberately, genuine remorse is of utmost necessity. Also, do increased acts of worship like nafl prayers, reciting Quran, and doing sadaqa. Try to keep the rest fasts as well. You have made enough atonement for the sin already. If the fast was deliberately broken by eating, drinking or having marital relations, then the expiation (kaffarah) applies of fasting 60 consecutive days. And if one cannot fast, then feeding 60 poor people is required.
New Hope — Moving Forward with Strong Faith
“If you missed a fast in Ramadan, it’s not a very good thing, but it’s not the end of the world,” Islam said. السلام على كل من تاب إلى الله الرحمن الرحيم. If you missed a fast, make up for it; step it up in your worship; and make a sincere agreement with yourself to observe your fasts properly going forward. Every worship done during Ramadan is indeed very productive because it is multiplied of the goodness by 700 times during Ramadan, and ramadan is a month of the spiritual cleansing.
You get the best out of Ramadan by repenting and doing better. And let us pray to Allah (SWT), may Allah accept our fasts, forgive the shortcomings of our fasting and give us the strength to benefit during this month in a sincere manner.
However, the uncertainties that life throws our way sometimes results in missing a fast — whether because of sickness, travel, or simply because we weren’t vigilant enough. This Ramadan if you have missed roza (fast), you might be pondering upon what will be the consequences and what you need to do to have the amends. Now let’s go over the rulings and the remedies as advised by Islam.
Consequences of Missing a Fast in Ramadan
The consequences of skipping a fast vary depending on the cause. Islamic law distinguishes between two broad types of missed fasts:
Again, this was a mistake, or a good excuse?
We should also note that there are some people who have reasons to miss a fast, including; being sick, pregnant, having their period, nursing, traveling, or being in extreme weakness.
In such cases:
These missed fasts have to be compensated (qada) in Ramadan before the next Ramadan arrives.
No sin also for missing the fast under these circumstances
1. If a person is not able to fast indefinitely due to chronic illness or old age, he must pay fidya (which is the feeding of a poor person for every day of fasting missed).
2. If it was intentional and without a valid justification, skipping a fast is a serious matter. It is the command of Allah to fast in Ramadan, and skipping it without a valid reason is an act of major sin.
In such cases:
1. Sincere repentance is required for the person and a quest for Allah’s forgiveness.
2. Make up for the missed fasts (qada) as soon as possible.
3. If the fast was intentionally broken by eating, drinking, or engaging in marital relations, to make imination, a heavy penalty (kaffarah) may be required, which includes fasting for 60 consecutive days or, if unable, feeding 60 poor people.
What to Do if You’ve Missed a Fast
If your roza was missed, the first thing to find out is what was the reason for the missed roza and perform the relevant remedy as follows:
If You Missed a Fast (Qada)
If the fast was missed without justification, then it needs to be completed before the next Ramadan. The delay in fasting is also to be avoided as soon as possible.
Offer Fidya if Necessary
If you are permanently incapable of fasting due to a chronic illness or old age, you are required to give fidya. Which normally, it is a poor person's food each fast that is wasted, which is equal to about 1.5 kg of staple food (like wheat, rice or dates).Ask Allah for Forgiveness (Tawbah) for Missed Fasts. If the fast was neglected deliberately, genuine remorse is of utmost necessity. Also, do increased acts of worship like nafl prayers, reciting Quran, and doing sadaqa. Try to keep the rest fasts as well. You have made enough atonement for the sin already. If the fast was deliberately broken by eating, drinking or having marital relations, then the expiation (kaffarah) applies of fasting 60 consecutive days. And if one cannot fast, then feeding 60 poor people is required.
New Hope — Moving Forward with Strong Faith
“If you missed a fast in Ramadan, it’s not a very good thing, but it’s not the end of the world,” Islam said. السلام على كل من تاب إلى الله الرحمن الرحيم. If you missed a fast, make up for it; step it up in your worship; and make a sincere agreement with yourself to observe your fasts properly going forward. Every worship done during Ramadan is indeed very productive because it is multiplied of the goodness by 700 times during Ramadan, and ramadan is a month of the spiritual cleansing.
You get the best out of Ramadan by repenting and doing better. And let us pray to Allah (SWT), may Allah accept our fasts, forgive the shortcomings of our fasting and give us the strength to benefit during this month in a sincere manner.
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