My husband died and he had a fast for the month of Ramadan remaining. Do I fast on his behalf or not?

Question:
My husband died, and he had a fast for the month of Ramadan remaining. Do I fast on his behalf, or not? May Allah reward you with good.

Answer:
This is a matter on which there is scholarly disagreement. The majority hold that fasting established in the original Shari'ah cannot be performed by a substitute, because it is a substitute act of worship that does not accept delegation. The Muslim is required to perform it himself, and no one else can take his place. It is only reported that one fasts on behalf of the deceased in the case of a vowed fast, as the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Whoever dies with a fast remaining, his guardian fasts on his behalf.” In another narration, it specifies “a vowed fast.” This narration qualifies the general narration, clarifying that one only fasts on behalf of another in the case of a vowed fast. Some of the precise scholars hold that it is permissible to fast on behalf of the deceased in general, whether it is what is obligatory by the original Shari'ah, such as fasting Ramadan, or what is obligatory by a vow. They cited the generality of the saying of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him): “Whoever dies with a fast remaining, his guardian fasts on his behalf,” and the fact that the deceased can have Hajj and 'Umrah performed on his behalf, and these are acts of worship in which delegation is allowed, so fasting is the same. Thus, the matter is one of scholarly disagreement. In any case, if you fast on his behalf, we hope that it will benefit him, if Allah wills. May Allah reward you with good.