538. Can I Make Up Ramadhaan Fast In The Last Half Of Shabaan?

By Asma bint Shameem 

*I have a few days of Fardh fasts left from last Ramadhaan that I need to make up.*

*Can I make them up even in the last half of Sha’baan?*

ANSWER

It’s true that the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said:

“When Sha’baan is halfway through, do not fast.” 

(Abu Dawood, at-Tirmidhi - saheeh by al-Albaani)

This is a GENERAL prohibition and it is *disliked* to fast in the second half of Sha’baan for a person who’s not used to fasting, in case he becomes weak before Ramadhaan starts. 

*However*, there are *EXCEPTIONS* to this prohibition such as:

- if a person is in the HABIT of fasting regularly like Mondays and Thursdays etc 

- if a person has to MAKE UP a *missed* fast 

In these situations it’s ALLOWED for us to fast in the second half of Sha’baan so that we can quickly make up any obligatory fasts that we may owe before the next Ramadhaan comes up. 

Imaam an-Nawawi said regarding this issue:

“If a person has to make up a day from Ramadhaan, then he has to fast it, (even in the last half of Sha’baan) because the time left for him to make it up has become very short.” (al-Majmoo’ (6/399)

The scholars said:

“Making up missed Ramadhaan fasts may be done at any time but the majority of scholars limited it to a specific time frame within which they must be made up, which is before the next Ramadhaan begins, because of the words of ‘Aa’ishah radhi Allaahu anhaa: “I would owe missed Ramadhaan fasts but I would not be able to make them up except in Sha’baan, because of my duties towards the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam.” 

This is similar to *prayer*, which should not be delayed until the time for the next prayer comes.”

(al-Mawsoo’ah al-Fiqhiyyah (28/76)

You see, the obligatory fasts are a kind of DEBT that we owe our Rabb, Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala. 

*Isn’t it better to return the debt to the Lender as soon as possible?*

So go ahead and make up any days that you have leftover before the upcoming Ramadhaan even if you have to fast in the last two weeks of Sha’baan.

CLEAR your DEBT with your Rabb. 

And Allaah knows best.