What is the ruling on visiting a father who has dementia?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Question:
A listener named Muqham ibn Barakah al-Mutayri sent a message containing a question in which he says: My father used to pray and fast—praise be to Allah—but now he has grown old and lost his memory; he no longer knows about prayer or fasting. Is it obligatory for me to visit him? Please guide us. May Allah reward you with good.
Answer:
As long as he is in this condition, he owes nothing due to his mental impairment; he owes nothing, neither fasting nor prayer. As for visiting him, it is a duty of kindness to visit him, look after him, honor him, and strive to do what benefits him and sets him right. Alternatively, you may appoint a caretaker to look after him, while you also attend to him and visit him; for a father has a great right. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
A listener named Muqham ibn Barakah al-Mutayri sent a message containing a question in which he says: My father used to pray and fast—praise be to Allah—but now he has grown old and lost his memory; he no longer knows about prayer or fasting. Is it obligatory for me to visit him? Please guide us. May Allah reward you with good.
Answer:
As long as he is in this condition, he owes nothing due to his mental impairment; he owes nothing, neither fasting nor prayer. As for visiting him, it is a duty of kindness to visit him, look after him, honor him, and strive to do what benefits him and sets him right. Alternatively, you may appoint a caretaker to look after him, while you also attend to him and visit him; for a father has a great right. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.