The Prayer and Fasting of an Elderly Sick Person
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Fatwa No. ( 11502 )
Q: My father is about seventy or eighty years old, and he suffers from several illnesses: 1 - Bronchial asthma in the lungs. 2 - Blood sugar (diabetes). 3 - Inflammation of the nerves and the joints of the spine. 4 - He is bedridden and has been unable to get up from the bed for three years. I ask you about the following: 1 - If he fasts and reaches midday, he is unable to continue the fast, so he breaks it, but he is unable to make it up. What should he do regarding fasting in Ramadan? 2 - He is unable to perform wudu' in the required manner, as he cannot sit or stand. What should he do if he wants to pray? 3 - His clothes may not be free from some impurity, such as drops of urine or remnants of feces, because sometimes he passes urine or feces without realizing it. I hope for a response to my questions.
A: First: If your father is unable to fast due to his old age or an illness that is not expected to end, he should break his fast and feed one poor person for every day with half a sa' of wheat, dates, rice, or similar staple food of the country. Second: If your father is unable to perform wudu' by himself or with the help of someone
assisting him, he should perform tayammum with clean earth. Third: If he cannot control his urine, or if he is unable to change his impure clothes, he should pray according to his ability, and he is excused for the impurity that affects him, and he should perform tayammum for every prayer. However, if he is able to wash the impurity from his clothes or body by himself or through someone else, or to replace them with clean clothes at the time of prayer, he is obligated to do so; based on the saying of Allah (Mighty and Majestic):[At-Taghabun 64:16] And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: My father is about seventy or eighty years old, and he suffers from several illnesses: 1 - Bronchial asthma in the lungs. 2 - Blood sugar (diabetes). 3 - Inflammation of the nerves and the joints of the spine. 4 - He is bedridden and has been unable to get up from the bed for three years. I ask you about the following: 1 - If he fasts and reaches midday, he is unable to continue the fast, so he breaks it, but he is unable to make it up. What should he do regarding fasting in Ramadan? 2 - He is unable to perform wudu' in the required manner, as he cannot sit or stand. What should he do if he wants to pray? 3 - His clothes may not be free from some impurity, such as drops of urine or remnants of feces, because sometimes he passes urine or feces without realizing it. I hope for a response to my questions.
A: First: If your father is unable to fast due to his old age or an illness that is not expected to end, he should break his fast and feed one poor person for every day with half a sa' of wheat, dates, rice, or similar staple food of the country. Second: If your father is unable to perform wudu' by himself or with the help of someone
assisting him, he should perform tayammum with clean earth. Third: If he cannot control his urine, or if he is unable to change his impure clothes, he should pray according to his ability, and he is excused for the impurity that affects him, and he should perform tayammum for every prayer. However, if he is able to wash the impurity from his clothes or body by himself or through someone else, or to replace them with clean clothes at the time of prayer, he is obligated to do so; based on the saying of Allah (Mighty and Majestic):
So fear Allah as much as you are able
فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْ
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.