He was afflicted with an illness that prevented him from fasting, and it persisted until his death
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Fatwa number ( 14458 )
Q: My father passed away (may Allah have mercy on him) about twenty years ago, following a long-lasting illness. Eventually, the illness intensified and he suffered from severe thirst, drinking at every moment and never being satisfied with water no matter how much he drank. However, we only gave him a small amount, about one cup, every five minutes or so; if we gave him more, he would drink it due to the intensity of his thirst. His Eminence the Chairman: The purpose of the previous explanation is that the person mentioned was unable to fast. Ramadan arrived in one of the years when he was ill, and he fasted fourteen days with great hardship, and the time for
breaking the fast did not come until he was in a pitiable state due to extreme hunger and thirst. Finally, he was unable to continue fasting for the remaining days of that month, which were sixteen days. Then this illness continued with him and increased day after day, and he suffered from severe emaciation due to the severity of the illness. Then the month of fasting arrived in the second year, and he was still suffering from this illness and was unable to fast that month in full. After the end of that month, he remained in this severe illness for about three months, and then he passed away (may Allah have mercy on him and grant him a spacious place in Paradise). He was left with a debt of fasting one month and sixteen days, meaning (46) days. I asked some of the scholars of knowledge (may Allah reward them with good), and they issued a ruling that he owes nothing as long as the illness persisted until he died. However, since I heard some other scholars on Saudi Radio have opinions on this matter that differ from what I had previously heard, and out of my desire for my father’s conscience to be clear and to do what the noble Shari'ah requires of me, I wished to seek your opinion, and I hope the response will be in writing. May Allah reward us with good and guide your steps on the path of goodness and illuminate the way for Muslims. If he owes a fidyah, I ask for clarification of its nature and whether it is permissible to send it to the deserving parties through channels like "Sunub al-Khayr" (Grains of Goodness)? And if he owes fasting, is it permissible for all his children, one of whom I am, who wish to participate in the fasting, to divide these days so that each one
takes a known number of days, or both together? Or is nothing required of him? In any case, the opinion belongs to Allah, then to your Eminence in this regard. We are awaiting your written answer. May Allah reward you with good, and peace.
A: If the matter is as you described, that the illness persisted with your father until his death and that he was unable to fast Ramadan during his illness until his time came, then nothing is required of your father, neither making up the fasts nor expiation. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: My father passed away (may Allah have mercy on him) about twenty years ago, following a long-lasting illness. Eventually, the illness intensified and he suffered from severe thirst, drinking at every moment and never being satisfied with water no matter how much he drank. However, we only gave him a small amount, about one cup, every five minutes or so; if we gave him more, he would drink it due to the intensity of his thirst. His Eminence the Chairman: The purpose of the previous explanation is that the person mentioned was unable to fast. Ramadan arrived in one of the years when he was ill, and he fasted fourteen days with great hardship, and the time for
breaking the fast did not come until he was in a pitiable state due to extreme hunger and thirst. Finally, he was unable to continue fasting for the remaining days of that month, which were sixteen days. Then this illness continued with him and increased day after day, and he suffered from severe emaciation due to the severity of the illness. Then the month of fasting arrived in the second year, and he was still suffering from this illness and was unable to fast that month in full. After the end of that month, he remained in this severe illness for about three months, and then he passed away (may Allah have mercy on him and grant him a spacious place in Paradise). He was left with a debt of fasting one month and sixteen days, meaning (46) days. I asked some of the scholars of knowledge (may Allah reward them with good), and they issued a ruling that he owes nothing as long as the illness persisted until he died. However, since I heard some other scholars on Saudi Radio have opinions on this matter that differ from what I had previously heard, and out of my desire for my father’s conscience to be clear and to do what the noble Shari'ah requires of me, I wished to seek your opinion, and I hope the response will be in writing. May Allah reward us with good and guide your steps on the path of goodness and illuminate the way for Muslims. If he owes a fidyah, I ask for clarification of its nature and whether it is permissible to send it to the deserving parties through channels like "Sunub al-Khayr" (Grains of Goodness)? And if he owes fasting, is it permissible for all his children, one of whom I am, who wish to participate in the fasting, to divide these days so that each one
takes a known number of days, or both together? Or is nothing required of him? In any case, the opinion belongs to Allah, then to your Eminence in this regard. We are awaiting your written answer. May Allah reward you with good, and peace.
A: If the matter is as you described, that the illness persisted with your father until his death and that he was unable to fast Ramadan during his illness until his time came, then nothing is required of your father, neither making up the fasts nor expiation. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.