Source: Urdu Sharh ‘Umdah al-Aḥkām, translated by Ḥāfiẓ Fayzullah Nāṣir
The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said:
"Whoever dies while having (unfulfilled) fasts, his guardian should fast on his behalf."
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 1952 – Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1146]
Imām Abū Dāwūd also recorded it and added:
"This applies to fasts of vowed (nadhr), and this is also the view of Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal."
A man came to the Prophet ﷺ and said:
"O Messenger of Allāh, my mother died while she still owed a month of fasting. Should I fast on her behalf?"
The Prophet ﷺ replied:
"If your mother had a debt, would you not repay it on her behalf?"
He said: "Yes."
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Then the debt of Allāh is more deserving of being fulfilled."
In another narration, a woman asked:
"O Messenger of Allāh, my mother died while having to fast a vow. Should I fast for her?"
The Prophet ﷺ replied:
"If your mother had a debt and you paid it, would it be accepted?"
She said: "Yes."
He said:
"Then fast on behalf of your mother."
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 1953 – Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 2750–2752]
Ḥadīth No. 7: Narrated by ʿĀ’ishah (رضي الله عنها)
The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said:"Whoever dies while having (unfulfilled) fasts, his guardian should fast on his behalf."
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 1952 – Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1146]
Imām Abū Dāwūd also recorded it and added:
"This applies to fasts of vowed (nadhr), and this is also the view of Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal."
Ḥadīth No. 8: Narrated by ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAbbās (رضي الله عنهما)
A man came to the Prophet ﷺ and said:"O Messenger of Allāh, my mother died while she still owed a month of fasting. Should I fast on her behalf?"
The Prophet ﷺ replied:
"If your mother had a debt, would you not repay it on her behalf?"
He said: "Yes."
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Then the debt of Allāh is more deserving of being fulfilled."
In another narration, a woman asked:
"O Messenger of Allāh, my mother died while having to fast a vow. Should I fast for her?"
The Prophet ﷺ replied:
"If your mother had a debt and you paid it, would it be accepted?"
She said: "Yes."
He said:
"Then fast on behalf of your mother."
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 1953 – Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 2750–2752]
Explanation of the Aḥādīth:
- The guardian (Arabic: walī) refers to the close relatives of the deceased, such as the father, son, brother, or uncle.
- The wording "ṣāma ʿanhu walīyuhu" (his guardian should fast on his behalf) is an imperative form, indicating a directive to fulfill the fasts as a duty.
- This is likened to repaying a debt, and in that context, the right of Allāh (i.e., fulfilling a fast) is even more deserving of fulfillment.
Ruling:
- If a person dies with unfulfilled fasts, especially vowed (nadhr) fasts, their guardian may fast on their behalf.
- This ruling is based on authentic narrations and is supported by the example and analogy (qiyās) of repaying debts.
Important Clarification:
- Scholars like Imām Aḥmad have specified that this primarily applies to vowed fasts, not missed obligatory fasts due to sickness or other reasons — unless it was possible for the deceased to make them up during their life.
