If a person delays making up missed fasts until the next Ramadan because of an excuse such as ongoing illness, travel, pregnancy or breastfeeding, then he or she only has to make up the fasts. If there was no excuse, then the one who delayed it has to repent and seek forgiveness, and – according to the majority of scholars – he has to offer a Fidyah by feeding one poor person for each day, as well as making up the fasts. The correct view is that the Fidyah is not required, but if one does that in order to be on the safe side, that is good.

If Ramadan comes and a person is unable to fast because he is elderly or sick with no hope of recovery, then he is not obliged to fast, but he should feed one poor person for each day. With regard to the manner of feeding, one has the choice between giving each poor person half a Sa` of food such as rice and the like (i.e., approximately one and a half kilograms) or making food and inviting the poor to eat.