The Ruling on Making Up Missed Prayers on Behalf of the Deceased

Question:
Abu Ru'ad says: Shaykh, regarding the prayer, is it made up for my deceased father? He was ill in his final days, confined to his bed, and he abandoned the prayer while in his bed.

Answer:
The prayer is not dropped from a person as long as his mind remains, but he prays according to his condition, . A sick person does not abandon the prayer if he is able to pray, even if lying on his back. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: And in another narration: if he cannot do so, then let him lie on his back, facing the qiblah. So a sick person does not abandon the prayer, but he prays it according to his condition, even on the bed. If he is able to perform wudu with water, he performs wudu; otherwise, he performs tayammum with clean earth and prays. He does not abandon the prayer. As for making up the prayer, the prayer is not made up. The prayer is a physical act, and representation does not enter into it, neither for the living nor for the dead. Representation does not enter into it. Yes.