What is obligatory for an elderly woman who is unable to fast, make up the fasts, or feed the poor?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : She says she is an elderly, ill, and weak woman. Her illness prevents her from performing the obligation of fasting, and her illness worsens if she fasts, even if it is only for half the day. Therefore, she breaks her fast for the entire month and is unable to make up the fasts. This has occurred over several years. She says her financial capacity is extremely modest, making it impossible for her to perform the expiation for fasting, whatever it may be. What is required of me in this regard, given my financial situation?
The Shaykh : As for fasting, it is not obligatory for her to fast because she is among those who have an excuse. As for feeding the poor, feeding is a simple matter, because the entire month is sufficient with six sa' (a dry measure of about 3 kg) of rice with its meat for every five poor people; one sa' of rice with its meat for each of them. In my opinion, this is affordable for everyone, and praise be to Allah in this land. If she is able to do that, it is obligatory for her to do so. If she is not able and she has no money to this small extent, then feeding is also dropped from her. This is because obligations are dropped due to inability, as Allah the Exalted said:[At-Taghabun 64:16] and the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): Sahih al-Bukhari 7288 and His saying: [Al-Baqarah 2:286], yes.
The questioner : Her second question.
The Shaykh : As for fasting, it is not obligatory for her to fast because she is among those who have an excuse. As for feeding the poor, feeding is a simple matter, because the entire month is sufficient with six sa' (a dry measure of about 3 kg) of rice with its meat for every five poor people; one sa' of rice with its meat for each of them. In my opinion, this is affordable for everyone, and praise be to Allah in this land. If she is able to do that, it is obligatory for her to do so. If she is not able and she has no money to this small extent, then feeding is also dropped from her. This is because obligations are dropped due to inability, as Allah the Exalted said:
So fear Allah as much as you are able
فاتقوا الله ما استطعتمAnd if I order you to do something, then do of it as much as you can.
إذا أمرتكم بأمر فأتوا منه ما استطعتمAllah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity
لا يكلف الله نفساً إلا وسعهاThe questioner : Her second question.