The ruling on prayer and fasting for an elderly person with dementia
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The questioner: Our brother says: I have an elderly father who is unable to pray or fast. In fact, he does not perform the prayer correctly and is not strong enough to fast. Should I fast on his behalf, or feed a poor person for each day? And is it valid for his children to fast on his behalf individually, meaning they divide the month among themselves? Please advise us, may Allah reward you.
The answer: If his intellect has become disordered, then there is no prayer or fasting required of him. If his intellect has become disordered due to old age, such that he no longer retains matters or performs them correctly, and signs of dementia, diminished intellect, and inability to manage affairs appear in him, then he owes nothing, neither prayer nor fasting. This is because these matters are contingent upon intellect. If the intellect becomes disordered, the obligation of fasting, prayer, and other duties is lifted, except for financial rights such as zakah. Zakah is paid from his wealth if he has wealth, according to the correct view held by the majority of scholars. However, if his intellect remains intact and is not disordered, and he understands, then it is obligatory for him to pray, even if he is on his side or lying on his back. He prays with speech and intention. Likewise, he fasts if he is able to fast. If he is unable to fast due to old age, then a poor person is fed on his behalf for each day. He does not fast on his behalf; rather, a poor person is fed on his behalf for each day with half a sa' of the staple food of the country, approximately one and a half kilograms of the staple food of the country, such as dates, rice, wheat, or other staple foods of the people of the country. Yes.
The presenter: Our brother says: His father does not perform the prayer correctly?
The Shaykh: The meaning of this statement is that his consciousness is disordered. If his consciousness is disordered, then he owes nothing. But if he does not perform it correctly due to illness, meaning he is weak in... he is directed and guided so that he prays according to his condition. If he is unable to do so on his side, he lies on his back, says takbir intending the prayer, and recites al-Fatihah, for example. He says takbir intending ruku' and says: Subhana Rabbi al-Azim, Subhana Rabbi al-Azim. Then he says: Sami' Allahu li man hamidah, intending the rising, while he is in his state, lying on his back or on his side. Likewise, he says takbir intending sujud until the end. Yes.
The answer: If his intellect has become disordered, then there is no prayer or fasting required of him. If his intellect has become disordered due to old age, such that he no longer retains matters or performs them correctly, and signs of dementia, diminished intellect, and inability to manage affairs appear in him, then he owes nothing, neither prayer nor fasting. This is because these matters are contingent upon intellect. If the intellect becomes disordered, the obligation of fasting, prayer, and other duties is lifted, except for financial rights such as zakah. Zakah is paid from his wealth if he has wealth, according to the correct view held by the majority of scholars. However, if his intellect remains intact and is not disordered, and he understands, then it is obligatory for him to pray, even if he is on his side or lying on his back. He prays with speech and intention. Likewise, he fasts if he is able to fast. If he is unable to fast due to old age, then a poor person is fed on his behalf for each day. He does not fast on his behalf; rather, a poor person is fed on his behalf for each day with half a sa' of the staple food of the country, approximately one and a half kilograms of the staple food of the country, such as dates, rice, wheat, or other staple foods of the people of the country. Yes.
The presenter: Our brother says: His father does not perform the prayer correctly?
The Shaykh: The meaning of this statement is that his consciousness is disordered. If his consciousness is disordered, then he owes nothing. But if he does not perform it correctly due to illness, meaning he is weak in... he is directed and guided so that he prays according to his condition. If he is unable to do so on his side, he lies on his back, says takbir intending the prayer, and recites al-Fatihah, for example. He says takbir intending ruku' and says: Subhana Rabbi al-Azim, Subhana Rabbi al-Azim. Then he says: Sami' Allahu li man hamidah, intending the rising, while he is in his state, lying on his back or on his side. Likewise, he says takbir intending sujud until the end. Yes.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.