Obligation of observing succession when vowing to fast for two successive months

Q: When someone makes a vow to observe Sawm (Fast) for two consecutive months, are they required to fast them consecutively or is it permissible to fast for thirty consecutive days and then pause to resume the fasting of the other thirty days consecutively later in the same year?

A: If a person makes a vow to observe Sawm for two consecutive months, they are obligated to fulfill their vow; fasting for sixty consecutive days. It is impermissible to fast them separately, because this is similar to the Sawm done as a Kaffarah (expiation) for involuntary manslaughter that is stated in the Saying of Allah (Exalted be He): ...and whosoever kills a believer by mistake, (it is ordained that) he must set free a believing slave until His Saying: And whoso finds this (the penance of freeing a slave) beyond his means, he must fast for two consecutive months It means that a person is not allowed to fast each month separately unless there is a Shar`y (Islamic legal) excuse (Part No. 23; Page No. 308) such as an illness that renders a patient unable to fast and it is obligatory to discontinue Sawm.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.