I know someone who is very religious now but, due to health reasons, is unable to make up their missed fasts. They are 70 years old but may have missed fasts for at least 40 years of their life. What can they do now?
I know someone who is very religious now but, due to health reasons, is unable to make up their missed fasts. They are 70 years old but may have missed fasts for at least 40 years of their life. What can they do now?
Zaid Alsalami, Shaykh Dr Zaid Alsalami is an Iraqi born scholar, raised in Australia. He obtained a BA from Al-Mustafa University, Qom, and an MA from the Islamic College in London. He also obtained a PhD from... Answered 5 years ago
Bismihi ta'ala
If the 40 years of fasting that they missed was with a valid excuse, then all they need to do is pay a 'fidya' for each day. A fidyah is 3/4 of a kilo of food, given to poor.
If they did not have an excuse, then they must:
1. Repent to Allah ta'ala.
2. Pay kaffarah for each day. Kaffarah is feeding of 60 poor people (most common option).
3. Write in their will that they have this amount of qadha' fasting to be done once they die, either by their next of kin, or they pay someone who will fast as qadha` on their behalf.
Furthermore, from this holy month of Ramadhan, because they cannot fast, they can pay the fidyah.
And Allah knows best.