Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Can a husband fast after Ramadan on behalf of his wife, which she misses due to her menses? If not then what are  

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Answer:

Can husband fast for wife

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Beloved brother, the rites of worship in Islam can be divided into three categories:

1. Worship which involves self alone (praying, fasting, etc.)
2. Worship which involves wealth alone (zakah, sadaqah, etc.)
3. Worships which combine both: self and wealth (Hajj, Umrah, Jihad, etc.)

There is allowance in Shariah regarding another person fulfilling the worships missed of their loved ones which involve ‘wealth’ alone, or ‘wealth and self’…..but for all acts of worship which involve ‘self’ alone, one must do so themselves and no other person can fulfill that worship for them.

Thus if one has missed one’s prayer/s, or fast/s for any reason whatsoever….that individual must atone for their missed worship themselves.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 185:

185 Ramadan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur'an as a guide to mankind also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (between right and wrong). So everyone of you who is present (or witnesses) the month should spend it in fasting but if anyone is ill or on a journey the prescribed period (should be made up) by days later. Allah intends every facility for you He does not want to put you to difficulties. (He wants you) to complete the prescribed period and to glorify Him in that He has guided you; and perchance ye shall be grateful.

If the wife has missed her obligatory fasts for any reason, the husband cannot fast on her behalf….but the wife herself will have to make up her missed fasts on other days of the year.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 184:

184 (Fasting) for a fixed number of days; but if any of you is ill or on a journey the prescribed number (should be made up) from days later. For those who can do it (with hardship) is a ransom the feeding of one that is indigent. But he that will give more of his own free will it is better for him and it is better for you that ye fast if ye only knew.

If the wife (Allah forbid) is indulged in a permanent or terminal form of illness and has absolutely no hope of recovering from that illness whereby she is unable to even make up the missed fasts at a later date….then the atonement for such terminally ill believers is the feeding of (at least) one poor indigent person for each fast missed. This form of atonement of feeding (at least) one poor person for each fast missed is only for those who are terminally ill and have no hope of recovery, and not for the temporarily ill….for believers who are physically able to fulfill their fasts, they are not eligible to atone their missed fasts by feeding the poor, but they have to make up their missed fasts by fasting on other days of their convenience.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan