Ruling on Making Up Fasts on Behalf of a Sick Person Who Died During Ramadan
Source: Fatāwā Arkān al-Islām
A sick person did not fast in Ramadan and passed away four days after Ramadan began. Should the missed fasts be made up on their behalf?
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ʿamma baʿd!
If a person became afflicted with an illness that began suddenly and continued throughout the beginning of Ramadan until their death, then in such a case:
➡ There is no obligation to make up the missed fasts on their behalf.
This ruling is based on the statement of Allah the Exalted:
﴿وَمَن كانَ مَريضًا أَو عَلى سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِن أَيّامٍ أُخَرَ﴾
“And whoever is ill or on a journey – then (he shall fast) the same number of days (later) from other days.”
(Sūrat al-Baqarah, Āyah: 185)
According to this verse, if someone is ill and unable to fast during Ramadan, they are required to make up those missed fasts later on.
However, in the case where a person does not live long enough after Ramadan to have the opportunity to make up those fasts — and passes away while still in the state of illness — then:
✔ The obligation of making up the fasts is lifted.
✔ It is as if a person passed away in Shaʿbān; clearly, they would not be liable for the fasts of the upcoming Ramadan.
If the illness is chronic and there is no hope of recovery, then the ruling of the Sharīʿah is:
✔ The person should feed one poor person for each missed fast as compensation.
هٰذَا مَا عِندِي وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
Source: Fatāwā Arkān al-Islām
❖ Question
A sick person did not fast in Ramadan and passed away four days after Ramadan began. Should the missed fasts be made up on their behalf?
❖ Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ʿamma baʿd!
If a person became afflicted with an illness that began suddenly and continued throughout the beginning of Ramadan until their death, then in such a case:
➡ There is no obligation to make up the missed fasts on their behalf.
This ruling is based on the statement of Allah the Exalted:
﴿وَمَن كانَ مَريضًا أَو عَلى سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِن أَيّامٍ أُخَرَ﴾
“And whoever is ill or on a journey – then (he shall fast) the same number of days (later) from other days.”
(Sūrat al-Baqarah, Āyah: 185)
According to this verse, if someone is ill and unable to fast during Ramadan, they are required to make up those missed fasts later on.
However, in the case where a person does not live long enough after Ramadan to have the opportunity to make up those fasts — and passes away while still in the state of illness — then:
✔ The obligation of making up the fasts is lifted.
✔ It is as if a person passed away in Shaʿbān; clearly, they would not be liable for the fasts of the upcoming Ramadan.
❖ In the Case of a Chronic Illness
If the illness is chronic and there is no hope of recovery, then the ruling of the Sharīʿah is:
✔ The person should feed one poor person for each missed fast as compensation.
هٰذَا مَا عِندِي وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
