Can we fast on behalf of a deceased or a sick person?

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Questioner: Assalaam Alaikum, Ustadh. Since we know that fasting during Ramadan is obligatory, and I am curious if we can fast on behalf of a deceased or a sick person?

Wa alaikumus salaam warahmatullah. This is a good question. It may happen that your father passed away, and you later discovered he still owed several days of Ramadan fasting. Perhaps your elderly mother now watches Ramadan passing by while illness prevents her from fasting. Or maybe a loved one died before they could make up the days they missed due to sickness or travel. These are real situations that many Muslim families face.

As you said, it is upon each of us to fast individually because there are some good deeds to do in Ramadan too. But Islam, as a religion of mercy and complete guidance, does not leave us confused in matters like this. Allah says in the Qur’an:

Can Someone Fast on Behalf of a Deceased Person?

It is permissibleto fast on behalf of a deceased due to some conditions we are going to mention, and one is not required to fast on behalf of a deceased person based on his or her condition before he or she died. We are going to treat each separately below in shaa Allah.

Situations Where It Is Permissible to Fast on Behalf of a Deceased

Islamic scholars mention several scenarios where it becomes permissible for a family member or guardian to fast on behalf of a deceased person.

1. The Deceased Missed Ramadan Due to Temporary Excuses

If a person missed fasts because of a temporary excuse, such as:

illness that they expected to recover from
travelling
menstruation or post-natal bleeding for women

And they intended to make them up but died before doing so, relatives may fast those days on their behalf. This situation is quite common. For example, a woman misses several days of fasting due to menstruation in Ramadan. She plans to make them up later in the year but passes away before she can complete them. These are excuses that Allah Himself has mentioned in the Quran:

“And whoever is ill or on a journey, then an equal number of other days.” (Surah al-Baqarah, 2:185)

Imagine a woman who was in her menses during Ramadan. She could not fast because the Prophet ﷺ forbade it, as fasting during menstruation is not permissible. She intended to make up those days after Ramadan, but before she could, she fell ill. The illness continued, and then she passed away. In such a case, scholars explain that it is permissible for her guardian or close relative to fast those missed days for her.

Note: It is recommended for women and ill people to always write down the number of fasting days they issed and this will make it easy for their heirs or relatives to know the exact number to fast on their behalf.

2. The Deceased Delayed Making Up the Fasts Without a Valid Excuse

Another situation discussed by scholars is when a person had the ability to make up the missed fasts but delayed them unnecessarily. An example is a woman who missed Ramadan days due to menstruation. She had the entire year before the next Ramadan to make them up, but she kept delaying them out of laziness or neglect and eventually, death came before she fulfilled the obligation.

Another example is a man who travels for work during Ramadan. He breaks his fast while travelling, as Allah permits. He returns home after Eid, intending to make up the days. But then life happens like work pressures, family obligations, a thousand distractions. He keeps saying, “I’ll do it tomorrow, I’ll do it next week, I’ll do it before next Ramadan.” Then, before the next Ramadan arrives, he dies. What is the ruling?

In this situation, scholars still hold that fasting on behalf of the deceased is permissible. And Islam allows family members to assist in completing that obligation. The Prophet ﷺ said:

“Whoever dies while he still has some fasts to make up, then his heir should fast on his behalf.” (Sahih al-Bukhari and Muslim)

3. A Person Died Before Completing Their Missed Fasts or Vowed Fasts (Nadhr)

Sometimes a Muslim begins making up their missed Ramadan fasts but dies before finishing them. For instance, A man owed ten days of fasting. He managed to complete only four before death came. Or those who made a vow to fast like a man who said, “If Allah cures my son from this illness, I will fast three days for Allah’s sake.” Allah cures his son, and he forgets his vow. Then death comes, and those three days of fasting remain unfulfilled.

In such a case, scholars say a guardian will fast the days on his behalf. This ruling shows us something beautiful about Islam: the door of helping our loved ones does not close even after death. This is under the teachings of our Prophet ﷺ…

A woman came to the Prophet ﷺ and said, “O Messenger of Allah, my mother has died, and she had vowed to fast but did not fulfill it.” The Prophet ﷺ said:

“Do you think that if your mother had a debt, you would pay it?” She said, “Yes.” He said: “Then pay the debt of Allah, for it is more deserving of being paid.” (Sahih Muslim)

Is Fasting on Behalf of a Sick Person Permissible?

It is not permissible to fast on behalf of a sick person while they are still alive. Fasting is a personal act of worship that must be performed by the individual themselves if they are capable. However, Islam is a religion of mercy. When someone is unable to fast due to a permanent condition, Allah provides an alternative solution. This applies especially to two situations:

A person who is chronically ill with no hope of recovery
Someone who is too weak to fast due to old age

In these cases, scholars say no one should fast on behalf of a sick person. Instead, Islam prescribes another act of worship known as Fidya, which involves feeding the poor. Allah never burdens a soul with what it cannot bear. As Allah says in the Qur’an:

“Allah does not burden a soul beyond its capacity.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:286)

So while it may be permissible to fast on behalf of a deceased under certain circumstances, the same ruling does not apply when trying to fast on behalf of a sick person who is alive.

Why The Chronically ill and the Elderly Ones Are Exempted From Fasting

Allah addressed the situation of people who are unable to fast due to severe hardship. In Surah Al-Baqarah, Allah says:

“And upon those who are able to fast but with hardship – a ransom of feeding a poor person.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:184)

This verse was explained by many companions of the Prophet ﷺ. Among them was Abdullah ibn Abbas (رضي الله عنه), who said that this verse applies to:

the very elderly
those with chronic illnesses that cannot be cured

Such people are not required to fast because fasting would cause unbearable hardship or harm. The Qur’an itself emphasises that Allah intends ease for His servants. Allah says:

“Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:185)

Because of this divine mercy, scholars unanimously agree that a chronically ill person or elderly individual is exempt from fasting. And this is why scholars say you cannot fast on behalf of a sick person in these circumstances. The obligation of fasting is replaced with another form of worship. That alternative is called Fidya.

Feeding the Poor Instead (Fidya)

When someone cannot fast due to old age or a chronic illness, Islam replaces the obligation of fasting with feeding the poor. This is known as Fidya. Allah says in the Qur’an:

[Fasting for] a limited number of days. So whoever among you is ill or on a journey [during them]—then an equal number of other days. And upon those who are able [to fast, but with hardship], a ransom [as substituteshould be provided] of feeding a poor person [each day] (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:184)

This means that for every day of Ramadan missed, the person should feed one poor person:

Feeding one poor person for each missed day
Providing a meal equivalent to what you normally eat
Giving the staple food of the land (such as rice, wheat, dates, or similar food)

In many Muslim communities, people provide:

cooked meals to poor families
food packages
or staple food items equal to one person’s meal.

If an elderly person misses 30 days of Ramadan, they would feed 30 poor people, or feed one poor person for 30 days. This act becomes their compensation for the fasts they cannot perform.

Fasting in Ramadan is one of the greatest acts of worship a Muslim performs. It is a deeply personal act of devotion between the servant and Allah. Because of this, the default rule is that each person is responsible for their own fasting. However, life is not always straightforward. Illness comes. Old age arrives. Death may come before someone has the chance to fulfill what they intended. This is where the beauty of Islamic law becomes clear.

From the authentic teachings of the Prophet ﷺ, it is permissible to fast on behalf of a deceased person if they died while owing obligatory fasts that they had the ability to make up but did not complete. At the same time, Islam does not permit us to fast on behalf of a sick person who is alive but unable to fast. Instead, Allah provides feeding the poor (Fidya) for each missed day when the illness is permanent or when old age makes it impossible.

This balanced system shows the mercy of Allah toward His servants. The Qur’an repeatedly reminds us of this mercy. Allah says: