if I miss fasting, can I make it up later?

Question

If I miss fasting, can I make it up later?

Bottom Line

Yes, course.

Quick Answer

Those who miss fasting due to illness, travel, or menstruation must make up the missed days before the next Ramadan. If someone skips deliberately without excuse, rulings differ depending on intention: either it is not valid to make up (if never intended to fast) or they must make up the day (if they broke it during the day). Repentance is always required.

Key Takeaways

• Valid reasons (illness, travel, menstruation): Must be made up before next Ramadan.
• Skipping deliberately: Requires repentance, and sometimes making up or expiation.
• Fasting is tied to its time—deliberate neglect is a grave sin.

Detailed Answer

If fasting is missed due to illness, travel, or menstruation, the days must be made up later. Allah says:

“…and whoever is ill or on a journey, then the same number of days [which one did not fast] must be made up from other days.”
Al-Baqarah 2:185

‘Aishah (RA) said: “That (menstruation) would happen to us, and we were told to make up the fasts, but we were not told to make up the prayers.”
Sahih al-Bukhari 321

When to make up missed fasts

The time to make up lasts until the next Ramadan. They may be done consecutively or separately. It is not allowed to delay beyond the next Ramadan without an excuse.

Not fasting with no excuse

If someone deliberately skips without excuse:

• No intention to fast: If one never intended from the night before, it cannot be made up. Fasting is time-bound worship. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever does an action that is not in accordance with this matter of ours will have it rejected.”
  Sahih al-Bukhari 2697
• Started fasting, then broke it: If someone began fasting but broke it without excuse, they must make up the day, similar to fulfilling a vow. The Prophet ﷺ instructed the man who had intercourse in Ramadan: “Fast one day in its place.”
  Sunan Ibn Majah 1671

Fidyah and Repentance

If the fast was broken deliberately by intercourse, expiation (kaffarah) is required in addition to making up the day. For all deliberate skipping, repentance is essential—regret, resolve not to repeat, and righteous deeds like extra fasting. Allah says:

“And indeed, I am forgiving to whoever repents, believes, and does righteous deeds, and then remains guided.”
Ta-Ha 20:82

What This Means for You

If you miss fasting for a valid reason, make up the days before the next Ramadan. If you skip without excuse, repent sincerely, and depending on the case, make up the day or also offer expiation. Deliberate neglect is serious, but Allah’s door of forgiveness is always open.

And Allah knows best.

References

Primary Sources

Qur’an

1. Al-Baqarah 2:185: Making up missed fasts due to illness or travel.
2. Ta-Ha 20:82: Allah forgives those who repent and remain steadfast.

Hadith

3. Sahih al-Bukhari 321: ‘Aishah on making up fasts but not prayers.
4. Sahih Muslim 335: Same narration from ‘Aishah.
5. Sahih al-Bukhari 2697: Actions not in accordance with the Sunnah are rejected.
6. Sahih Muslim 1718: Same principle of rejected acts.
7. Sunan Ibn Majah 1671: Prophet ﷺ commanded making up a day if broken by intercourse.

Secondary Sources

8. Ibn Qudamah, al-Mughni: Discussion on qada’ of fasts and fidyah obligations.
9. Al-Nawawi, Sharh Sahih Muslim: Commentary on repentance and rulings of missed fasts.