Reference: Fataawa Ramadhaan – Volume 1, Page 252, Fatwa No.200
Fataawa al-Lajnah ad-Daa.imah lil-Buhooth al-`Ilmiyyah wal-Iftaa. – Fatwa No.6620
Question: An elderly woman of 85 years of age, is sick and bedridden and cannot stand – not even to use the bathroom. The question: Is salaah and fasting obligatory upon her? Please advise us and may Allaah reward you with good.
Response: If her situation is as mentioned, then salaah is obligatory upon her so long as she is sane and capable of performing the actions of salaah to the best of her ability, even if by gesturing. This is based upon His (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala) statement:
…and:
It has also been confirmed that the Prophet ﷺ said:
…and His ﷺ saying to ‘Imraan ibn Hussayn (radhi-yAllaahu ‘anhu):
…and an-Nasaa.ee added the following with an authentic chain of narration:
If, however, she was to regain her [good] health to fast, then she is required to fast. If fasting is a hardship for her, then she is required to feed a poor and needy person for every day she is unable to fast, and in doing so, she is not required to make up any of the missed fasts. It is sufficient for her to feed a poor and needy person half a saa’ of wheat or rice or from that which the people are accustomed to eating for each and every day. But if she is not sane, then neither salaah nor fasting is obligatory upon her.
And with Allaah lies all the success, and may Allaah send prayers and salutations upon our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and his family and his companions.
