Delay in making up for the missed days of fasting due to a Shar`y excuse entails only making up for these days

Q 3: What is the ruling on a woman that broke her fasting in Ramadan for a Shar`y (Islamically lawful) excuse but could not make up for it before the following Ramadan? She broke her fast the next Ramadan due to severe illness and she recovered afterward. Then, she started to make up the missed days of fasting of the first Ramadan, bought bread, and distributed it among her neighbors. Does this suffice the missed days of fasting?

A: If her delay in making up for the missed days of fasting until the next Ramadan was due to a valid excuse, then she must only make up for the missed days, and does not have to give out food. But if the delay was due to an invalid excuse (not Islamically lawful), she has to make up for the missed days of fasting and give out food for each day the amount of half a Sa` (1 Sa`=3 kg. Approx.) of the staple food of the country. She should also make Tawbah (repentance to Allah, Glorified be He).May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.