Performing Missed Fasts for the Deceased

📖Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 1902, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1132
Ibn Abbas reported: A woman came to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and she said, My mother has died and she owed a month of fasting, The Prophet ﷺ said, Do you think if she had a debt you would repay it on her behalf?” She said yes. The Prophet ﷺ said, The debts of Allah are more worthy to be repaid.

• This hadith clarifies that fasting on behalf of a deceased person is permissible in Islam, specifically for unfulfilled obligatory fasts, such as those missed during Ramadan or vowed fasts. However, this act is distinct from the notion of someone bearing the sins or deeds of another. Islamic theology emphasizes individual accountability, as stated in the Quran: “No bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another” (Quran 6:164, 17:15, 35:18). This means no one is responsible for another’s sins or personal deeds in terms of judgment. Fasting on behalf of the deceased does not transfer the living person’s own deeds or rewards to the deceased, nor does it absolve the deceased of their accountability. Instead, it is an act of fulfilling an outstanding obligation (a “debt” to Allah) that the deceased was unable to complete, The living person fasting on behalf of the deceased does so solely to settle the deceased’s obligation, not to earn rewards for themselves or to add to their own deeds. The reward for this act is understood to benefit the deceased, as it completes their unfulfilled duty to Allah. This avoids any contradiction with the principle of individual accountability, as the living person is not performing their own worship to “transfer” merit but is acting as a proxy to fulfill a specific, unmet obligation of the deceased.

Quranic Context:

📖Quran 59:10
And those who came after them say, ‘Our Lord, forgive us and our brothers who preceded us in faith and put not in our hearts any resentment toward those who have believed. Our Lord, indeed You are Kind and Merciful.'” This verse highlights the permissibility of praying for the deceased, indicating that acts like supplication can benefit them, which aligns with the principle of fulfilling obligations like fasting on their behalf.

Lesson for Today:

• Muslims can help deceased relatives fulfill missed obligations, especially fasts, by performing them on their behalf.
• The act strengthens family bonds, ensures mercy for the deceased, and shows that acts of worship can benefit others when done with correct intention.
• It reinforces the principle that reward can be gifted but sin cannot be transferred, maintaining the balance of personal accountability.