Assalamualaikum Warahmatullah
My wife was unable to fast during her two pregnancies and left almost 50 to 60 fasts during that time. What should she do in this situation when she did not fast due to a legitimate reason? If she cannot fast, is there a kaffarah or alternate for her?
Walaikumassalam Warahmatullah
الجواب وباللہ التوفیق
It is mandatory upon your wife to perform qadha for these missed fasts. The commandment regarding paying kaffarah (retribution) is for the person who has reached such an old age that due to weakness he/she is unable to fast at that point and there is no hope that they will become healthy in the future either. Similarly, kaffarah can also be paid by a person who is sick and cannot fast due to this sickness and his/her sickness is chronic from which there is no hope to become healthy in the future.
وللشیخ الفانی العاجز من الصوم الفطر ویفدی الخ وفي رد المحتار أي الذی فنیت قوتہ أو أشرف علی الفناء ولذا عرفوہ بأنہ الذی کل یوم في نقص إلی أن یموت، نھر، ومثلہ ما في قہستانی عن الکرمانی المریض إذا تحقق الیأس من الصحۃ فعلیہ الفدیۃ لکل یوم من المرض الدرالمختار مع ردالمحتار، کتاب الصوم، فصل في العوارض المبیحۃ لعدم الصوم، مکتبہ زکریا دیوبند ۳/۴۱۰۔
فقط واللہ اعلم بالصواب