What is the ruling on fasting the entire month of Sha‘ban for a woman who did not fast on any day of Ramadan?

It is established in Islamic law that making up unperformed fast-days of Ramadan for one who did not fast due to a valid excuse—such as menstruation or travel—is considered an obligation with an extended time-frame[1]. This means that it does not require immediate fulfillment at the earliest opportunity. The majority of jurists, however, maintain that this permissibility extends only until the next Ramadan, and that it is impermissible to delay making up the unperformed fast-days without an excuse beyond Sha‘ban of the following year. In contrast, Hanafi scholars hold that making up unperformed fasts is not time-restricted and need not be completed within the same year. This is premised on the narration of the Mother of the Believers, ‘Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) who said, “I would have unperformed fast-days from Ramadan, and I would not be able to make them up except in Sha‘ban” (recorded by Bukhari and Muslim).[2]

The majority of jurists from the Maliki, Shafi‘i, and Hanbali schools of jurisprudence are of the view that whoever misses fast-days from Ramadan is obliged to make them up, and this obligation may be fulfilled at any time during the year except on days when fasting is prohibited, such as the two ‘Eids and the three days of Tashriq, provided the delay does not extend to the next Ramadan. Hanafis maintain that making up missed Ramadan fasts is not time-bound to the interval between Ramadans and may be deferred until the end of life without expiation.[3]

 

The ruling

It is permissible for a woman who has refrained from fasting in Ramadan to make up the fasts in Sha’ban, even if she fasts the entire month.

And Allah Almighty knows best.