Is it obligatory for the unconscious person to make up the prayer or the fast?

The questioner : A person who is unconscious for three days.

The Shaykh : Yes.

The questioner : If a person is unconscious for three days or more, whether in Ramadan or in another month, does he have to make up the prayer and the fast, or is it dropped from him as long as he is unconscious?

The Shaykh : He is not required to pray or fast; this is the stronger position. There is scholarly disagreement on this issue: some say he is required to make up both the prayer and the fast, and some say he is required to make up the fast but not the prayer. However, what appears to be the case is that he is not required to do so while unconscious. If he is rendered unconscious before the dawn until the sun sets, he owes no fast. If he is rendered unconscious before the dawn until the sun rises, he owes no prayer. Yes, that is correct.

The questioner : Okay, if he regains consciousness, for example, before the sun sets? Does he have to make it up or not?

The Shaykh : No, if he regains consciousness before the sun rises, and he is eating and drinking, he makes up that day.

The questioner : Yes, I mean regarding the obligation to make it up.

The Shaykh : He is required to make it up, because he is like a menstruating woman. Listen, she is like a menstruating woman when she becomes pure. Because if a menstruating woman becomes pure during the day, she is not required to abstain from food and drink according to the stronger position, but she is required to make up the fast.