Q: My mother, 58, is diabetic and a high bp patient. Contrary to the doctors advice, she observes the Ramadan fasts, alhamdulilah. However, in her young days, she casually skipped many fasts and accordig to her estimation she has skipped around 200 fasts. Given her present condition (Allah bless her with health and life) she might not be able to makeup for those fasts herself in her life.
I know that a son can observe/makeup fast for their parents after their death. Can I observe those missed fasts for her in her life too? If yes then can I now make niyat for my past nafal fasts to make up for her numbers? If initially its a no then would paying only fidya be enough for making up? Please guide on this matter.
A: It is not permissible for any person to keep the qada fasts of another person, regardless of whether he is a relative or not. If one fasts on behalf of someone for their missed fasts, it will not be valid and the missed fasts will still have to be kept.
If your mother can manage to keep the qada of the missed fasts, she should do so , even if she keeps it slowly and gradually after intervals.
If she is unable to keep the missed fasts, then she should give the amount of fidya for each missed fast. However, if after discharging the fidya, she recovers and is able to fast, the fidya that was given will not suffice and the missed fasts will have to be kept.
And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
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