Reference: Fataawa Ramadhaan – Volume 1, Page 244, Fatwa No.192
Fataawa al-Lajnah ad-Daa.imah lil-Buhooth al-`Ilmiyyah wal-Iftaa. – Fatwa No.13049
Question: I have a wife who is approximately 85 years of age; She is a Muslimah and in shaa.-Allaah she is from among the good people. During the latter years of her life, she has been afflicted with diabetes and has reached such a state of weakness that she has to be hospitalised and becomes unconscious, and sometimes when she is at home. She does not have a good command of speech and at times she does not know how to speak. She cannot walk unless someone is assisting her, or if her children were to carry her. The problem is that she has not performed her salaah for at least 2 years since she is not aware of the salaah times and nor does she know what to say in the salaah; As for her mistakes when she speaks, then they are greater than her sound speech. As for [the obligation of] her fasting, then we have instead fed the poor and needy on her behalf. We anticipate a response to these problems from your excellency; Is salaah obligatory upon her whilst her state of mind is not sound? Also, are we required to feed the poor and needy on her behalf since she is unable to fast? And what are we required to do with respect to her religious obligations? This is my letter, and I hope from Allaah the Most High and Great that He grants you good health.
Response: If the matter is as mentioned, then she is not [religiously classified as] one who is responsible for her actions; Therefore, she is not required to fast [the obligatory fast of Ramadhaan] nor perform the [obligatory 5 daily] prayers.
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.
