A sick woman whom the doctors forbade from fasting, but she fasted for twenty days and then died months later; should the remaining days be fasted on her behalf, or
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The questioner : A sick woman whom the doctors forbade from fasting because it was difficult for her, but she forced herself and fasted for twenty days of last Ramadan. She passed away a month before completing the remaining ten days. What is obligatory regarding these remaining ten days? Should they be fasted on her behalf, or should food be given? Please advise me, may Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : It is obligatory for them to feed a poor person for each day on her behalf, because this woman, as it appears from the questioner’s statement, is unable to fast with an inability that is not expected to end. The one who is unable to fast with an inability that is not expected to end has the obligation of feeding. Accordingly, it is obligatory for them to feed ten poor people on behalf of this woman, because ten days remained for her, so they must feed ten poor people. But how is this done? Either they invite ten poor people to lunch or dinner, or they give each poor person approximately one kilogram, so the total is about ten kilograms, along with some meat to serve as a side dish.
The Shaykh : It is obligatory for them to feed a poor person for each day on her behalf, because this woman, as it appears from the questioner’s statement, is unable to fast with an inability that is not expected to end. The one who is unable to fast with an inability that is not expected to end has the obligation of feeding. Accordingly, it is obligatory for them to feed ten poor people on behalf of this woman, because ten days remained for her, so they must feed ten poor people. But how is this done? Either they invite ten poor people to lunch or dinner, or they give each poor person approximately one kilogram, so the total is about ten kilograms, along with some meat to serve as a side dish.