What is the ruling on one who used to fast the entire ten days of Dhul Hijjah but then was unable to fast due to advanced age?
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The questioner : May Allah reward you. An elderly woman used to fast the ten days of Dhul Hijjah every year, except for this year. She says: "I was not able to fast except for three or four days." Does she have any sin upon her?
The Shaykh : As for the woman who used to fast the first ten days of the month of Dhul Hijjah, and in this year there was something preventing her, such as illness, fatigue, or something similar, we say, or advanced age.
We say: Voluntary acts of worship are not obligatory upon a person, even if he is healthy. So if it was a person's habit to fast the white days, for example, but he was unable to do so this month, or he was lazy about them, there is no blame on him for leaving them, because it is a voluntary act, do you understand? But if a person leaves this voluntary act for an excuse, if he leaves the voluntary act for an excuse, he is written the reward for it, by the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 5:6.
The questioner : Peace be upon you.
The Shaykh : And upon you be peaceMusannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 5:6. Make room for your brothers, come closer a little.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good, O Shaykh.
The Shaykh : The one after him.
The Shaykh : As for the woman who used to fast the first ten days of the month of Dhul Hijjah, and in this year there was something preventing her, such as illness, fatigue, or something similar, we say, or advanced age.
We say: Voluntary acts of worship are not obligatory upon a person, even if he is healthy. So if it was a person's habit to fast the white days, for example, but he was unable to do so this month, or he was lazy about them, there is no blame on him for leaving them, because it is a voluntary act, do you understand? But if a person leaves this voluntary act for an excuse, if he leaves the voluntary act for an excuse, he is written the reward for it, by the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
If he falls ill or travels
من مرض أو سافرThe questioner : Peace be upon you.
The Shaykh : And upon you be peace
He is written what he used to do while healthy and resident
كتب له ما كان يعمل صحيحا مقيماThe questioner : May Allah reward you with good, O Shaykh.
The Shaykh : The one after him.