Fatwa No : 88821
Ruling on Prayer and Fasting for a Person Who Has Lost Memory

Ruling on Prayer and Fasting for a Person Who Has Lost Memory

Assalamu Alaikum. My mother is 83 years old. She has been suffering from Alzheimer’s disease for the past 10 years. She has completely lost her memory. She also has kidney disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes. Due to weakness, illness, and memory loss, she has been unable to perform prayers or keep fasts for many years.
Is it necessary to pay the expiation (kaffarah) for her missed prayers and fasts? Please guide.

الجوابُ حامِدا ًو مُصلیِّا ً

In the mentioned case, if the questioner mother’s memory has been affected by the illness to such an extent that she has lost her senses and no longer has awareness or recognition of the times of prayer and fasting, then from the moment this condition began, neither making up the missed prayers and fasts nor paying any fidyah is obligatory. Therefore, there is no need to worry regarding this matter.

مأخَذُ الفَتوی

كما في الهدايه: ومن أغمي عليه خمس صلوات ،او دونها: قضى. وان كان أكثر من ذلك: لم يقض.. أن المدة اذا طالت كثرة الفوائت فيحرج في الاداء واذا قصرت قلت فلا حرج.(ج:1،ص:319،مكتبة البشرى).
وفي فتح القدير على هامش الهداية:وكلامنا فيما اذا صح المريض بعد ذلك، لا فيما اذا مات قبل القدرة على القضاء، فلا يجب عليه ولا الايصاء به_(ج:1،ص:317،باب صلاةالمريض،مكتبةالبشرى).
وفي رد المحتار: تحت قوله (وان تعذر الايماء وكثرت الفوائت سقط القضاء عنه وعليه الفتوى): فلو مات ولم يقدر على الصلاة لم يلزمه القضاء حتى لا يلزمه الايصاءبها كالمسافر ( ج: 2،ص:99،مط: ایچ ایم سعید کراچی ) .