İsmail Çoban, from the Aziziye Mosque
When Muslims fail to complete their prescribed days of fast, they must make up for them later in the year
If a day of fasting during Ramadan is invalidated for whatever reason, Muslims must compensate for that day with an additional day of fasting before the arrival of the next month of Ramadan, says İsmail Çoban from the Aziziye Mosque.
It is permissible for him to delay his fast until Sha’baan, which is the eighth month of the Islamic calendar and the one that directly precedes Ramadan.
If, however, the following Ramadan arrives and he still has not made up the (missed) days without (a valid) reason, then he has committed a sin.
He must therefore make up those days along with feeding a poor person for every day (he has to make up) as this is what the group of companions of the Prophet Muhammad had ruled with.
As for he who had a valid excuse for delaying in making up the fasts, because of illness or travel, then he has to make up the days missed only and he does not have to feed any poor people.
MEDICINES
İsmail Çoban reminds us that a fast is invalidated with any manner of food, drink and sexual intercourse, but that medicine does not invalidate a fast provided it does not have any nutritional value.
Nonetheless, many Muslims prefer to keep on the safe side by having their injections after the iftar evening fast. Those who do not have this opportunity can take their treatment during the day, but will have to make up for the missed days later on. Make-up days are required after drip treatment, vitamin shots and blood transfusions.
OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES
Dental treatment – either with or without morphine – does not invalidate a fast, but swallowing blood or any of the substances used during the treatment would require a repeat.
Mr Çoban lists the other circumstances that require a make-up day as follows: extensive travel; long-term illness; eating or drinking without awareness of one’s actions; and involuntary consumption of substances.