QA-ID-0036
QUESTION
If a person has multiple broken fasts over multiple Ramadans, is one kaffarah sufficient for all of them, or must they do one kaffarah per Ramadan?
ANSWER
﷽
If an individual intentionally breaks multiple fasts without a valid reason over several Ramadāns, they are obligated to perform one kaffārah per Ramadān. For instance, if someone intentionally broke 2 fasts in 2021, 3 fasts in 2022, and 1 fast in 2023, they would need to perform a total of 3 kaffārahs—one for each Ramadān. This is the correct position in the Hanafī School (see Jadd al-Mumtār 4/125; Bahār e Sharī’ah 5/995).
Each kaffārah entails fasting for 60 consecutive days and making up for the fasts that were broken. In the given example above, the individual would have to complete 3 sets of 60 consecutive fasts (totaling 180 fasts) and make up for the 6 fasts that were missed. Intentionally breaking the fast of Ramadān without a valid reason is a major sin. It is imperative for the individual to also sincerely repent and firmly resolve never to break any fasts again.
If a person has the ability to fast at any point during the year, they cannot fulfill the kaffārah by feeding 60 needy people. It is necessary for them to fulfill the kaffārah by fasting since they are capable of doing so.
والله تعالى أعلم
And Allāh Knows Best
Muhammad Kalim Misbahi
