Question:
Assalamualaikum ustaz. I want to ask regarding a question that has been on my mind. Is it permissible for me to replace (qadha’) my fasting due to my doubts regarding the fasting that I performed last Ramadhan? I want to replace my fast because there is a possibility that I made some mistake while I was fasting. I think that my fasting is incomplete and what I would do is I would replace all 30 days of fasting. Is this correct? Hope for an explanation from you to resolve my problem.
Answer:
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
Replacing (qadha’) one’s fast is obligatory when one purposely leave his fasting or if he performs one of the things that invalidates his fasting. This is what is done by Aisyah who narrated from Abu Salamah. She said:
كَانَ يَكُونُ عَلَيَّ الصَّوْمُ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ ، فَمَا أَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ أَقْضِيَهُ إِلاَّ فِي شَعْبَانَ ، الشُّغْلُ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ
“I had to complete some of the fasts of Ramadan, but I could not do it but during the month of Sha'ban due to my duties to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) or with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).”
Sahih Muslim (2657)
We would like to state that if one is doubtful regarding the fast that he performed in the past Ramadan, then it is unnecessary for him to replace it. The reason is, the fast is valid. This is in accordance with the Islamic legal maxim:
الأصل بقاء ما كان على ما كان
“The original ruling of something is maintained.”
We advise everyone not to be excessive in anything even when it involves matters of worship. This has been reminded by the Prophet PBUH in a hadith from Abdullah bin Mas’ud:
هَلَكَ الْمُتَنَطِّعُونَ. قَالَهَا ثَلاَثًا
“Ruined, were those who indulged in hair-splitting. He (the Holy Prophet) repeated this thrice.”
Sahih Muslim (6955)
Furthermore, one should avoid doubting oneself. This is the result of the whispers of shaytan which would only burden our everyday’s lives. Moreover, our father, the Prophet Adam AS himself is not unaffected by the whispers of shaytan. Allah SWT state:
فَوَسْوَسَ إِلَيْهِ الشَّيْطَانُ قَالَ يَا آدَمُ هَلْ أَدُلُّكَ عَلَىٰ شَجَرَةِ الْخُلْدِ وَمُلْكٍ لَّا يَبْلَ
Then Satan whispered to him; he said, "O Adam, shall I direct you to the tree of eternity and possession that will not deteriorate?"
Surah Taha (120)
Doubts is an illness that is cautioned by the Prophet PBUH where he also gave the solution for it. The Prophet PBUH said:
إِنَّ لِلشَّيْطَانِ لَمَّةً بِابْنِ آدَمَ وَلِلْمَلَكِ لَمَّةً فَأَمَّا لَمَّةُ الشَّيْطَانِ فَإِيعَادٌ بِالشَّرِّ وَتَكْذِيبٌ بِالْحَقِّ وَأَمَّا لَمَّةُ الْمَلَكِ فَإِيعَادٌ بِالْخَيْرِ وَتَصْدِيقٌ بِالْحَقِّ فَمَنْ وَجَدَ ذَلِكَ فَلْيَعْلَمْ أَنَّهُ مِنَ اللَّهِ فَلْيَحْمَدِ اللَّهَ وَمَنْ وَجَدَ الأُخْرَى فَلْيَتَعَوَّذْ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ ثُمَّ قَرَأَ (الشَّيْطَانُ يَعِدُكُمُ الْفَقْرَ وَيَأْمُرُكُمْ بِالْفَحْشَاءِ)
"Indeed the Shaitan has an effect on the son of Adam, and the angel also has en effect. As for the Shaitan, it is by threatening evil repercussions and rejecting the truth. As for the effect of the angel, it is by his promise of a good end and believing in the truth. Whoever finds that, let him know that it is from Allah, and let him praise Allah for it. Whoever finds the other then let him seek refuge with Allah from the Shaitan (the outcast) then recite: Shaitan threatens you with poverty and orders you to commit Fahisha (2:268)."
Sunan al-Tirmizi (3256) & Sunan al-Nasaie (11051) in al-Sunan al-Kubra
When doubts start to creep in, then recite أعوذ بالله من الشيطان الرجيم. May Allah SWT give us understanding and protect us from the whispers of shaytan that lead to doubts.