Question:
My 30-year-old daughter, who has several children, has been suffering from mental illness for the past 14 years. Previously, her condition would come and go, but this time, she has been continuously affected for about three months. Due to this, she cannot properly perform wudu or salah unless someone guides her step by step.
With the arrival of Ramadan, she was able to fast for only one day, but even that was not observed properly. She did not fast for the rest of the month. Please advise what is required of me as her guardian and what is obligatory upon her in terms of fasting and prayer.
Answer:
If your daughter's condition is as you described, then neither fasting nor prayer is obligatory upon her for as long as she remains in this state of mental incapacity. She is not required to make up for missed prayers or fasts either.
As her guardian, your responsibility is only to take care of her affairs, and you are not accountable for her missed religious obligations. This ruling is based on the hadith of the Prophet (ﷺ):
"كلكم راع وكلكم مسؤول عن رعيته..."
(Sahih al-Bukhari & Sahih Muslim)
"Each of you is a shepherd, and each of you will be questioned about those under his care..."
However, if she recovers, she will be required to observe prayers from the time of recovery onward. Similarly, if she recovers during Ramadan, she must fast only for the days when she was mentally stable.
And Allah knows best.
— Permanent Committee for Islamic Rulings (اللجنۃ الدائمۃ)
