Delaying making up for the missed days of Sawm until the following Ramadan

Q 2: When I was fourteen years old, I had the monthly period and I did not tell my family about it. In Ramadan, I did not fast for five days and did not make up for them. I did the same thing for three years. When I got married I made up for these days, but I did not pay expiation for them. Am I obligated to pay expiation for breaking my Sawm (Fast) in those days?

A: It is an obligation upon a woman who starts getting her monthly period to fast Ramadan. Not making up for the missed days of Sawm due to menstruation is a mistake committed by the questioner, and she should repent to Allah from that. However, if she has already made up for these days, which she did not fast due to her menstruation, she is still obliged to feed a needy person for each day she missed fasting by giving half a Sa` (1 Sa` = 3 kg. Approx.), which she should give to the poor, because of her delay in making up for these days until the following Ramadan without an excuse. On the other hand, there is nothing wrong with her if she gives the entire amount of expiation to one poor person or to more than one person.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.