A person has been in a state of ritual impurity (janabah) for years due to ignorance about the necessity of performing the ritual bath (ghusl). After realizing the requirement, they seek guidance on whether they need to make up for missed prayers and fasts.
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1 Answer
Peace be upon you.
Ayatollah Khamenei (may Allah protect him):
You must make up all the prayers that you are certain you performed while in a state of janabah without a valid ghusl.
As for fasting, if you engaged in this act while fasting and were aware that it invalidates the fast, then you must make up the fast and also pay a compensation (kaffarah). If you were unaware of this but knew it was forbidden, then in addition to making up the fast, you are required to pay the kaffarah as a precaution. If you were unaware of the prohibition, as is the case in your question, you only need to make up the fast. Regarding the days after that, if you were ignorant of the issue of janabah or were certain that fasting was valid while remaining in a state of janabah, you do not need to make it up, and your fast is considered valid. However, it is advisable to make it up in the latter case. If you were aware of the issue of janabah but uncertain about the obligation of ghusl, you should make up those days as a precaution; otherwise, you must make up both the fast and the kaffarah.
Your situation: You must make up all the prayers you are certain you performed while in a state of janabah without a valid ghusl. As for fasting, if you engaged in this act while fasting, you only need to make up the fast. For the days you were in a state of janabah due to ignorance, you do not need to make them up.
Source: Special Inquiry.
Ayatollah Sistani (may Allah protect him):
You must make up for the prayers you performed after becoming janabah until your first valid ghusl, whether it was obligatory or recommended, such as the ghusl of Friday. If you are unsure about the number of those prayers, it is sufficient to make up the certain ones, meaning the least number.
You do not need to make up the fast if you were ignorant of the ruling and were excused for your ignorance.
Source: Official Website.
May you be successful in all good.