One of the sisters’ mother passed away in the month of Shawwal, and she had been ill throughout the month of Ramadan and did not fast any of it. Is it obligatory for her daughter to fast on her behalf?

The questioner : One of the sisters’ mother passed away in the month of Shawwal, and she had been ill throughout the month of Ramadan and did not fast any of it. Is it obligatory for her daughter to fast on her behalf?

The Shaykh : It is not obligatory for her daughter to fast on her behalf. If her illness was a feared illness from which recovery is hopeless, then it is obligatory to feed a poor person for each day on her behalf. If her illness was a common illness from which recovery was expected, but Allah the Exalted decreed that she die, then she owes no making up of the fast at all. This is because illness is divided into two categories: a category from which recovery is not expected, and whose end is death, such as cancer and similar illnesses known to be incurable; for this, one feeds a poor person for each day.
The second category is one from which recovery is expected, but Allah Mighty and Majestic decrees that the illness continues until the person dies. For this, one does not feed on their behalf, nor does one fast on their behalf, because it was obligatory for them to make up Ramadan, but they were unable to do so. Yes.

The questioner : May Allah reward you.