Fasting or Paying Fidya on Behalf of a Deceased – Authentic Ruling Based on Hadith

Fasting or Paying Fidya on Behalf of a Deceased Person – Detailed Fatwa


Source: Fatāwā ‘Ilmiyyah, Vol. 3 – Fasting, Sadaqat al-Fiṭr, and Zakāt Issues, p. 143

Question​

May Allah grant you a long life in the service of the Qur’an, Sunnah, and the protection of Islam.
Shaykh, I heard from my respected teacher, Shaykh al-Qur’an wal-Ḥadīth ʿAllāmah ʿAbd al-Salām al-Rustamī al-Salafī رحمه الله that if a person dies leaving unfulfilled Ramadan fasts, their heirs may fast on their behalf. Alternatively, paying fidya is also permissible. He mentioned that fasting on behalf of the deceased is proven from a marfūʿ ḥadīth, while the fidya report is mawqūf.


However, Shaykh al-Ḥadīth Mawlānā Gohar Raḥmān رحمه الله in Fatāwā Tafhīm al-Masā’il (Vol. 1, p. 142) cited two aḥādīth stating:


“No one can perform prayer or fast on behalf of another person.”


It is true that there is no evidence for performing ṣalāh on behalf of a deceased, nor can anyone do so. But in the case of severe illness preventing fasting, if the person dies in that state, the heir may fast on their behalf. Shaykh Gohar Raḥmān رحمه الله held that even this is not permissible.


This matter seems to contain apparent contradiction. Both sides’ evidences are presented below for review and reconciliation.

Evidence of ʿAllāmah ʿAbd al-Salām رحمه الله​

① Ḥadīth of ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها


"من مات وعليه صوم صام عنه وليه"
“Whoever dies with fasts due upon him, his heir should fast on his behalf.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, 1/262; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, 1/362)


② Ḥadīth of Ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنه
A man came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said:


“My mother died and she owed a month of fasting. Should I fast on her behalf?”
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“If your mother had a debt, would you pay it off?”
He replied: “Yes.”
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“The debt owed to Allah is more deserving of being paid.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, 1/362)

Evidence of Shaykh Gohar Raḥmān رحمه الله​

① Statement of Ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنه


“No one should pray on behalf of another, nor fast on behalf of another, but food should be given on his behalf.”
(al-Sunan al-Kubrā lil-Bayhaqī, 4/257; Mushkil al-Āthār, 3/141; Naṣb al-Rāyah, 2/463 – Ibn Ḥajar: chain authentic; al-Dirāyah, p. 177)


② Statement of Ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنه


“No one should pray on behalf of another, nor fast on behalf of another; but if you wish to do something, give charity or offer sacrifice on his behalf.”
(al-Sunan al-Kubrā lil-Bayhaqī, 4/257; Naṣb al-Rāyah, 2/463; Mushkil al-Āthār, 3/141 – Ibn Ḥajar: chain authentic; al-Dirāyah, p. 177)

Response & Detailed Analysis​

1. Ḥadīth of Umm al-Mu’minīn ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها​

"من مات وعليه صوم صام عنه وليه"
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, 1952; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, 1147 – Darussalam no. 2692)


Explanation:
Here “fasts due upon him” refers specifically to vowed fasts (nadhar), supported by three proofs:

First Proof​

Ḥadīth of Ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنه:
A woman said: “My mother died owing vowed fasts, should I fast on her behalf?”
The Prophet ﷺ said:


“Then fast on behalf of your mother.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, 1148 – Darussalam no. 2696)


Another narration:
A woman took a sea journey and vowed to fast for a month but died before fulfilling it. The Prophet ﷺ commanded her sister to fast on her behalf.
(al-Sunan al-Ṣughrā lil-Nasā’ī, 7/20, ḥadīth 3847; Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Khuzaymah: 2054)


Imām Abū Dāwūd رحمه الله titled this: “Chapter: Making up a vow on behalf of the deceased.” (Sunan Abī Dāwūd, 3308)


Conclusion: This evidence shows the ḥadīth applies to vowed fasts.

Second Proof​

Fatwā of ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها:
A woman asked: “My mother died owing Ramadan fasts; may I fast for her?” She replied:


“No. Instead feed one poor person for each day – this is better than you fasting for her.”
(Sharḥ Mushkil al-Āthār, 6/178 – ḥasan chain; authenticated in al-Jawhar al-Naqī, 4/257)


Conclusion: Ramadan fasts for a deceased are not to be observed; only fidya (feeding) is to be given.

Third Proof​

Fatwā of Ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنه:


“No one should pray or fast on behalf of another, but give fidya of one mudd of wheat for each day.”
(al-Sunan al-Kubrā lil-Nasā’ī, 2/175, ḥadīth 2918 – authentic chain; authenticated by Ibn Ḥajar, al-Dirāyah, 1/283, ḥadīth 375)


Note: 1 mudd ≈ 53 tolah (approx. 0.52 kg).

Views of the Scholars​

• Imām Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal & Imām Isḥāq ibn Rāhwayh:

“If the deceased had vowed fasts, they may be fasted on his behalf. If Ramadan fasts were missed, fidya should be given.”
(Sunan al-Tirmidhī, 718; Masā’il al-Imām Aḥmad wa-Isḥāq, 1/288, no. 679)

• Imām Abū al-ʿAbbās al-Qurṭubī:

“Aḥmad, Isḥāq, Abū Thawr, al-Layth, Abū ʿUbayd, and the Ẓāhiriyyah restricted it to vowed fasts only.” (al-Mufhim, 3/208, under ḥadīth 1014)

Examination of Shaykh Gohar Raḥmān’s Evidence​

• Narration from Ibn ʿAbbās:
  Found in al-Sunan al-Kubrā, Mushkil al-Āthār, Naṣb al-Rāyah, and al-Dirāyah – but these are fatwā statements, not marfūʿ aḥādīth. (Naṣb al-Rāyah, 2/463)
• Narration from Ibn ʿUmar:
  Also mawqūf, not marfūʿ. Ibn Ḥajar رحمه الله: “The authentic report from Ibn ʿUmar is mawqūf.” (al-Dirāyah, 1/283, ḥadīth 375)

Additional Notes​

• Weakness in Imām Mālik’s narration via Yaḥyā ibn Yaḥyā.
• Authentic statement from Abū al-Jahm al-ʿAlā’ ibn Mūsā:

Ibn ʿUmar said: “No one should fast or perform ḥajj on behalf of another.” (Juz’ Abī al-Jahm, p. 24 – authentic chain)


Note: “Ḥajj al-Badal” is permissible with conditions from authentic marfūʿ aḥādīth, provided the performer has already done his own obligatory ḥajj. (al-Tamhīd, 9/133)

Final Conclusion​

• Permissible: Fasting on behalf of a deceased is proven only for vowed fasts (nadhar).
• Ramadan Qada: No fasting on behalf of the deceased; instead, fidya (feeding a poor person for each missed day) is to be given.
• Error: Treating mawqūf statements as marfūʿ aḥādīth is incorrect.

ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب