Author: Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Ameenpuri
There is consensus that an elderly person, who does not have the strength to fast, should not fast but instead feed one needy person for each missed day of fasting. See:
[Al-Ijma by Ibn al-Mundhir: 129]
❀ Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said:"An elderly man and an elderly woman who do not have the strength to fast should feed a needy person for each day they do not fast."
[Sahih Bukhari: 4505]
✿ Additionally, the Prophet (peace be upon him) recited the verse:"And upon those who are able [to fast, but with hardship] - a ransom [as substitute] of feeding a poor person each day."( Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:184)and said: "An elderly person who does not have the strength to fast should not fast, but instead give half a sa' (approximately two kilograms) of wheat daily to a needy person."
[Sunan ad-Daraqutni: 2/207, Hadith: 2361, with a sound chain]
❀ In another narration, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:"He should give one mudd (approximately half a kilogram)."
[Sunan ad-Daraqutni: 6/204, Hadith: 2349, and he said: The chain is authentic, and it is as he said]
❀ There is a narration regarding Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) that when he became incapable of fasting for a year, he (peace be upon him) prepared a large dish of Tharid (a dish made with bread and meat), fed it to thirty needy people until they were full.
[Sunan ad-Daraqutni: 2/206, Hadith: 2365, with an authentic chain]
There is consensus that an elderly person, who does not have the strength to fast, should not fast but instead feed one needy person for each missed day of fasting. See:
[Al-Ijma by Ibn al-Mundhir: 129]
❀ Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said:"An elderly man and an elderly woman who do not have the strength to fast should feed a needy person for each day they do not fast."
[Sahih Bukhari: 4505]
✿ Additionally, the Prophet (peace be upon him) recited the verse:"And upon those who are able [to fast, but with hardship] - a ransom [as substitute] of feeding a poor person each day."( Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:184)and said: "An elderly person who does not have the strength to fast should not fast, but instead give half a sa' (approximately two kilograms) of wheat daily to a needy person."
[Sunan ad-Daraqutni: 2/207, Hadith: 2361, with a sound chain]
❀ In another narration, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:"He should give one mudd (approximately half a kilogram)."
[Sunan ad-Daraqutni: 6/204, Hadith: 2349, and he said: The chain is authentic, and it is as he said]
❀ There is a narration regarding Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) that when he became incapable of fasting for a year, he (peace be upon him) prepared a large dish of Tharid (a dish made with bread and meat), fed it to thirty needy people until they were full.
[Sunan ad-Daraqutni: 2/206, Hadith: 2365, with an authentic chain]