Fatwa ID: 09276
Answered by Maulana Shazad Bacchus
Question:
My mother had a stroke was sick for six month, bed ridden before she passed away.
1) Do you think she will be accountable for missing her Salah.
2) I have never heard of Fidya for missing Salah, have you heard or know?
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
With respect to your question, if a person becomes very sick and is unable to perform salah, the ruling depends on their condition. If your mother was mentally aware and conscious, then the obligation of salah remains, and she should have prayed according to her ability, such as sitting, lying down, or even by moving her head if she could not move her body. However, if she was unconscious or not mentally aware for a long period of time due to her illness or stroke, then the obligation of those prayers is lifted and she would not be held accountable for the prayers she missed during that time. Allah does not burden a person beyond what they are able to do. [1]
As for fidya for missed salah, It is connected to whether the person made a will before they died. If a person had missed prayers and they made a will asking that fidya be given, then it should be taken from up to one-third of their wealth. The fidya is to feed a poor person for each missed prayer, and the amount mentioned by the scholars is about half a Saa’ (approximately 1.625 kg to 1.63 kg of wheat flour or staple food (roughly 3.5 to 3.6 lbs) of wheat (or its value) for every prayer. However, if the person did not leave a will asking for this, then the family is not required to give fidya for the missed prayers. If a relative or another person still chooses to give charity on their behalf equal to this amount, it is allowed and it is hoped that Allah will accept it and benefit the deceased. [2]
Only Allah ﷻ knows best.
Written by Maulana Shazad Bacchus
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
References:
[1]
قال أبو جعفر: (ومن أغمي عليه خمس صلوات أو أقل منها، ثم أفاق: قضاها، ومن أغمي عليه أكثر من ذلك، ثم أفاق: لم يقض)
كتاب شرح مختصر الطحاوي للجصاص
[أبو بكر الرازي الجصاص]
Maktaba shaamila pg (544/1)
[2]
“لصوم كل يوم” طعام مسكين لقوله صلى الله عليه وسلم: “من مات وعليه صوم شهر فليطعم عنه مكان كل يوم مسكين” “و” كذا يخرج “لصلاة كل وقت” من فروض اليوم والليلة “حتى الوتر” لأنه فرض عملي عند الإمام وقد ورد النص في الصوم والصلاة كالصيام باستحسان المشايخ لكونها أهم واعتبار كل صلاة بصوم يوم هو الصحيح وقيل فدية جميع صلوات اليوم الواحد كفدية صوم يوم والصحيح أن لكل صلاة فدية هي “نصف صاع من بر” أو دقيقه أو سويقه أو صاع تمر أو زبيب أو شعير “أو قيمته” وهي “أفضل لتنوع حاجات الفقير “وإن لم يوص وتبرع عنه وليه” أو أجنبي “جاز” إن شاء الله تعالى لأن محمدا قال في تبرع الوارث بالإطعام في الصوم يجزئه إن شاء الله تعالى من غير جزم وفي إيصائه به جزم بالأجزاء وإذا تبرع أحد بالإعتاق عنه لا يصح لما فيه من إلزام الولاء
كتاب حاشية الطحطاوي على مراقي الفلاح شرح نور الإيضاح
[الطحطاوي]
Maktaba shaamila pg (438)