The ruling on one who is unable to fast due to old age and cannot afford to feed others due to poverty

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Question:
The questioner, Ibrahim, also asks and says: Please give us a ruling, if you would be so kind, about the old, decrepit man who is unable to fast and is poor, finding nothing in his possession. What is required of him? We ask for the answer. May Allah reward you with good.

Answer:
He owes nothing if he is unable to fast and poor to the extent that he cannot feed others; he owes nothing.

So fear Allah as much as you are able

فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْ

[al-Taghabun:16] So he owes neither fasting nor feeding, because he is unable to do both, fasting and feeding. This is if his mind is still with him. But if old age has altered his mind, he owes nothing even if he has money, because the obligation is lifted from him when his mind is lost. If he becomes senile and his mind changes, he owes neither fasting nor feeding.
But if his mind is still with him, yet he is unable to fast and unable to feed others, he owes neither fasting nor feeding; for Allah the Exalted says:

So fear Allah as much as you are able

فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْ

[al-Taghabun:16],

Allah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity

لا يُكَلِّفُ اللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا

[al-Baqarah:286]. 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.

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