How do I make up missed fasts from years ago?

Step 1: Start with hope

Many Muslims have missed fasts because of illness, travel, pregnancy, periods or simply being away from practice. Feeling guilty is understandable, but don't let it stop you. Allah says:

Make tawbah (sincere repentance), intend to make up every day, and begin. If your missed days are from before you became Muslim, you owe nothing. See Do I have to make up missed Ramadan fasts?

Step 2: Count the days

• Go through each Ramadan you remember and note how many days you did not fast.
• Women should include days missed because of a period or postnatal bleeding.
• If you can't remember exactly, make your best honest estimate. If you are torn between two numbers, many scholars advise choosing the higher one to be safe.
• Write the total in a notebook or phone note and tick off each fast as you complete it.

If the counting is complicated, ask a trusted imam to help you work it out.

Step 3: Plan your fasts

You can make up days at any time, in a row or spread out. Aisha used to miss days of Ramadan and could only make them up in Sha'ban (Sahih al-Bukhari 1950). The only forbidden days are the two Eids, since the Prophet ﷺ forbade fasting on Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha (Sahih al-Bukhari 1991). Most scholars also avoid the three days after Eid al-Adha.

• Use short winter days. In Europe and North America, a winter fast is much easier than a summer one.
• Pick a weekly rhythm. Fasting Mondays and Thursdays is a common choice. See Why do Muslims fast on Mondays and Thursdays? If you owe 60 days and fast two days a week, you'll finish in about 30 weeks.
• Use holidays. Fast several days in a row when you have time off.
• Keep going gently. A steady pace beats a burst that ends in burnout.

Step 4: Know when fidya applies

Fidya means feeding a poor person for each day you could not fast. It is for people who will never be able to fast, such as the elderly or those with a chronic illness. If you can fast later, you make up the days instead. See What is fidya in Islam?

If you delayed your make-up days past the next Ramadan without a good reason, the Maliki, Shafi'i and Hanbali schools add fidya for the delay, while the Hanafi school says making up the days is enough. How to calculate this over many years is a detailed question, so speak to a scholar about your case.

If you're also catching up on prayers, see How do I make up missed prayers?