Will Allah forgive me for Not Fasting?

In a Nutshell:

Allah (swt) is the Most Forgiving and Most Merciful. While missing a Ramadan fast is a sin, sincere repentance and making up the missed days can lead to Allah's forgiveness. Table of Contents:In a Nutshell Introduction Evidences from Quran and Hadith Will Allah Forgive Me for Not Fasting? 5 Misconceptions About Forgiveness for Missed Fasts 5 Objections to Making Up Missed Fasts 5 FAQs on Forgiveness and Missed Fasts (FAQs Will Allah Forgive Me for Not Fasting?) Conclusion Introduction Fasting during the month of Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars of Islam and an obligatory duty upon every able-bodied Muslim. However, circumstances can arise that prevent one from observing some or all Ramadan fasts - illness, travel, menstruation and pregnancy being valid reasons. The question arises: will Allah (swt) forgive a Muslim who misses Ramadan fasts? Islam's emphasis on Allah's (swt) boundless mercy suggests the answer is yes, sincere repentance and effort to make amends can lead to divine forgiveness. This answer explores forgiveness in Islam specifically as it pertains to deliberately or unintentionally missing Ramadan fasts. Evidences from Quran and HadithQuran Allah's Mercy and Forgiveness And whoever does a wrong or wrongs himself but then seeks forgiveness of Allah will find Allah Forgiving and Merciful. (Quran 4:110) Repentance: And turn to Allah in repentance, all of you, O believers, that you might succeed. (Quran 24:31) Making Up Missed Fasts: ...And whoever is ill or on a journey - then an equal number of other days. Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and [wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful." (Quran 2:185) Hadith Allah's Love for Repentance: The Prophet (pbuh) said: Allah is more pleased with the repentance of His slave than a person who loses his camel in a desert land and then finds it. (Sahih al-Bukhari) Importance of Sincere Repentance: The Prophet (pbuh) said: One who repents from sin is like one who did not sin. (Sunan Ibn Majah) Making Up Missed Fasts: Aisha (ra) said: I owed fasts from the month of Ramadan and I was not able to make them up except in the month of Sha'ban. (Sahih al-Bukhari) Will Allah Forgive Me for Not Fasting? The Quranic verses and hadith presented above strongly suggest that Allah's (swt) forgiveness is available to those who sincerely repent for missing fasts during Ramadan. Allah (swt) repeatedly emphasizes His boundless mercy and His love for those who turn to Him in repentance. Several important considerations emerge from this evidence: Intention: Missing fasts due to valid reasons like illness or travel differs from deliberate non-observance. Valid reasons generally necessitate making up missed fasts, while a deliberate choice to break fasts demands repentance on top of making them up. Repentance: True repentance involves acknowledging the sin, feeling remorse, seeking forgiveness and committing to avoid repeating the transgression. Making Up Missed Fasts (Qada): If the missed fasts were due to valid reasons, making them up becomes an obligation. Kaffarah: In some cases, like the inability to fast or breaking a fast intentionally for impermissible reasons, an expiation (kaffarah) may be required alongside repentance and making up the fasts. The kaffarah could involve feeding the poor or freeing a slave, with details of this expiation found in Islamic jurisprudence. Classical Scholars on the Importance of Repentance Classical scholars emphasize the centrality of repentance when it comes to missing fasts in Ramadan.Imam al-Ghazali emphasizes that while missing the fast is a major sin, Allah's (swt) mercy is vast and accepting of genuine repentance. Ibn Taymiyyah states that even in cases where kaffarah is necessary, it does not negate the need for sincere repentance. With the guidance of the Quran, Sunnah and scholarly opinions, it's clear that Allah (swt) offers forgiveness to those who sincerely repent after missing a fast. However, it's essential to make up missed fasts where possible and fulfill any necessary expiation. 5 Misconceptions About Forgiveness for Missed Fasts My sin is too big to be forgiven. This conflicts with Allah's (swt) attributes of mercy and forgiveness, emphasized repeatedly in the Quran and Sunnah. Even if I repent, Allah won't forgive me for missing fasts. Such a notion runs counter to the Islamic understanding of Allah's boundless mercy towards those who truly repent. It's okay if I skip making up missed fasts as long as I repent.While repentance is essential, so is the effort to make up missed fasts whenever possible. Making up the missed fast is enough, no need for repentance. True repentance - acknowledging the sin, feeling remorse and resolving to improve - is vital alongside making amends. It's pointless to make up missed fasts if I'm going to commit the same sin again. Every act of repentance strengthens one's resolve and pleases Allah (swt). The struggle against sin is ongoing. 5 Objections to Making Up Missed Fasts I'm too old or physically incapable of making up missed fasts. Consultation with a qualified Islamic scholar is necessary in such cases. Alternatives such as kaffarah might be considered if fasting causes significant hardship. My work schedule makes it impossible to fast. Every effort should be made to arrange one's work schedule to accommodate fasting if at all possible. I simply don't feel like fasting afterwards. Procrastination weakens one's resolve. It's best to make up missed fasts as soon as possible. I always seem to break my fasts when I make them up. Strengthening one's religious knowledge, commitment and seeking support from Allah can help overcome such challenges. I didn't miss the fasts deliberately, so why do I need to make them up? Even if a fast is missed due to a valid reason, making it up as soon as possible is still an obligation upon the Muslim. FAQs: Will Allah Forgive Me for Not Fasting?I deliberately missed fasts during Ramadan. Will Allah forgive me if I repent and make up the missed days? Allah's (swt) mercy is vast. If you sincerely repent, make up the missed fasts and potentially fulfill an expiation (kaffarah), Allah's forgiveness is possible.I missed several fasts due to illness. Is there a time limit for making them up? While it's best to make up the missed fasts as soon as possible, there's no strict time limit unless you intentionally delay them until the next Ramadan.What if I miss a fast while making up previous ones? You continue making up the missed fasts and complete them in sequence.Can I seek forgiveness directly from Allah without making up the missed fasts? True repentance involves making amends as well. Making up the missed fasts where possible is an important part of repentance.