Chapter on Making up Fasts on Behalf of the Deceased

Man Lā Yaḥḍuruh al-Faqīh|Volume 2|Book 2|Chapter 29

Chapter on Making up Fasts on Behalf of the Deceased

3 hadiths · 2 commentaries

رَوَى أَبَانُ بْنُ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ أَبِي مَرْيَمَ اَلْأَنْصَارِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ قَالَ: «إِذَا صَامَ اَلرَّجُلُ شَيْئاً مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَزَلْ مَرِيضاً حَتَّى مَاتَ فَلَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ قَضَاءٌ وَ إِنْ صَحَّ ثُمَّ مَرِضَ ثُمَّ مَاتَ وَ كَانَ لَهُ مَالٌ تُصُدِّقَ عَنْهُ مَكَانَ كُلِّ يَوْمٍ بِمُدٍّ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ مَالٌ صَامَ عَنْهُ وَلِيُّهُ ».

Aban ibn Uthman narrated from Abu Maryam Al-Ansari, who narrated from Abu Abdullah , who said: "If a man fasted part of the Month of Ramadan but then remained ill until he died, there is no obligation to make up the missed fasts. However, if he recovered and then fell ill again before passing away, and he had wealth, charity should be given on his behalf for each day missed in the amount of a mudd. If he did not have wealth, his guardian should fast on his behalf."

Shaykh Baqir al-Behbudi
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh, p. 104

Commentary #1

وإذا مات رجل وعليه صوم شهر رمضان فعلى وليه أن يقضي عنه، وكذلك من فاته في السفر والمرض إلا أن يكون مات في مرضه من قبل أن يصح بمقدار ما يقضي به صومه فلا قضاء عليه إذا كان كذلك وإن كان للميت وليان فعلى أكبرهما من الرجال أن يقضي عنه. فإن لم يكن له ولي من الرجال قضى عنه وليه من النساء.

If a person dies and has missed fasting during the Month of Ramadan, it is incumbent upon their guardian to make up the missed fasts on their behalf. This applies to fasts missed due to travel or illness unless the deceased remained ill until death, without a recovery period sufficient to make up the fasts. In such cases, no compensation is required. If the deceased has multiple male guardians, the responsibility primarily falls on the eldest among them. If no male guardian is present, the obligation falls on the female guardian.

Hadith #2

وَ قَدْ رُوِيَ عَنِ اَلصَّادِقِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ أَنَّهُ قَالَ: «إِذَا مَاتَ اَلرَّجُلُ وَ عَلَيْهِ صَوْمُ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ فَلْيَقْضِ عَنْهُ مَنْ شَاءَ مِنْ أَهْلِهِ.

It has been narrated from Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq that he said: "If a man dies and has unfulfilled fasting from the Month of Ramadan, anyone from his family who wishes may make up the fasts on his behalf."

Shaykh Baqir al-Behbudi
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh, p. 104

Hadith #3

وَ كَتَبَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ اَلْحَسَنِ اَلصَّفَّارُ رَضِيَ اَللَّهُ عَنْهُ إِلَى أَبِي مُحَمَّدٍ اَلْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: فِي رَجُلٍ مَاتَ وَ عَلَيْهِ قَضَاءٌ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ عَشَرَةُ أَيَّامٍ وَ لَهُ وَلِيَّانِ هَلْ يَجُوزُ لَهُمَا أَنْ يَقْضِيَا عَنْهُ جَمِيعاً خَمْسَةَ أَيَّامٍ أَحَدُ اَلْوَلِيَّيْنِ وَ خَمْسَةَ أَيَّامٍ اَلْآخَرُ فَوَقَّعَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ «يَقْضِي عَنْهُ أَكْبَرُ وَلِيَّيْهِ عَشَرَةَ أَيَّامٍ وِلاَءً إِنْ شَاءَ اَللَّهُ ».

Muhammad ibn al-Hasan al-Saffar, may Allah be pleased with him, wrote to Imam Abu Muhammad al-Hasan ibn Ali : Regarding a man who passed away and had ten days of fasting left from the Month of Ramadan, and he had two heirs. Is it permissible for both heirs to divide the days, with each fasting five days on his behalf? The Imam replied in writing: "The eldest of the two heirs should fast all ten days consecutively, if Allah wills."

Shaykh Baqir al-Behbudi
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh

Commentary #2

قال مصنف هذا الكتاب - رحمه الله -: وهذا التوقيع عندي مع توقيعاته إلى محمد بن الحسن الصفار بخطه عليه السلام.

The compiler of this book (may Allah have mercy on him) stated: "This signature is preserved with me among the signatures addressed to Muhammad ibn al-Hasan al-Saffar, written in the handwriting of the Imam ."