A newly-delivered woman making up for the missed days of fast

Q 1: My wife broke her fast in some days during Ramadan due to her childbirth. I keep advising her to make up for these days, and she usually expresses her willingness to do so. However, she does not fulfill her promise; she would observe the fast for a couple of days and then abandon it. What is the ruling on this?

A: If the case is as you have mentioned, your wife is obligated to make up for the days on which she broke her fast in Ramadan due to her delivery. It is not permissible for her to delay making up for them until the next Ramadan. If she does so with no excuse, she would be sinful and must repent to Allah. Accordingly, she should start making up for them immediately and offer Kaffarah (expiation) to compensate for her negligence, i.e., she should feed a needy person about one and half a kilo of rice or any other staple food of the country for each day.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings of Allah be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and his Companions.