Ruling on a Person Who Died Owing Fasts Due to a Temporary Excuse
A temporary excuse refers to situations that allow a المسلم (Muslim) to break their fast in Ramadan, such as travel, a temporary illness, menstruation, postpartum bleeding, or undergoing surgery. In these cases, the person is expected to make up the missed fasts after Ramadan once the excuse has ended
If a person breaks their fast due to a temporary excuse and intends to make up the missed days, but then dies before the excuse ends, nothing is required from their heirs
They are not required to:
Fast on behalf of the deceased
Feed poor people (fidyah)
Reason
This is because Allah says: {وَإِنْ كُنْتُمْ مَرْضَى أَوْ عَلَى سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ}
The deceased did not live long enough to regain the ability to make up the missed fasts. Therefore, no obligation remains upon them or their heirs
Why Is Nothing Required in This Case?
The key reason is that the obligation to make up the fasts (qada’) only applies when a person:
Recovers from their excuse
Has enough time and ability to make up the missed days
Since this person never reached that stage, the obligation was never fully established. As a result, nothing is due.
If the Person Recovered but Did Not Make Up the Fasts
If the person had a temporary excuse, then:
The excuse ended
They became able to make up the fasts
But they delayed and died before doing so
What Should Be Done?
The more correct opinion is:
➡️ Their heirs should feed one poor person for each missed day of fasting