The Ruling on Fasting on Behalf of the Deceased or Feeding
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My grandmother reached Ramadan while she was an old woman who was unable to fast. My father was lenient in this matter regarding feeding for each day of fasting that his mother broke. My grandmother passed away, and my father, out of ignorance or negligence, left this matter undone. What is obligatory for him now? And if I provide the feeding on his behalf, does that remove this sin from him?
First: May Allah reward you. The feeding is not upon your father, for it is not obligatory for a husband to feed on behalf of his wife’s fasting.
The questioner: She is his mother.
The Shaykh: Nor is it upon him for his mother, nor is it her expiation. Matters of worship are obligatory upon each person individually; they are not of the nature of financial maintenance. It is true that financial maintenance is obligatory upon the one for whom it is obligatory, according to the conditions known to scholars, but the obligation related to worship is upon the person himself.
In any case: If he or one of his brothers wishes to feed a poor person for each day on her behalf, that is good.
First: May Allah reward you. The feeding is not upon your father, for it is not obligatory for a husband to feed on behalf of his wife’s fasting.
The questioner: She is his mother.
The Shaykh: Nor is it upon him for his mother, nor is it her expiation. Matters of worship are obligatory upon each person individually; they are not of the nature of financial maintenance. It is true that financial maintenance is obligatory upon the one for whom it is obligatory, according to the conditions known to scholars, but the obligation related to worship is upon the person himself.
In any case: If he or one of his brothers wishes to feed a poor person for each day on her behalf, that is good.