Vowed to make up for the missed fast of her deceased aunt

05/08/2009| IslamWeb

Question:

salam, my question is: i made a vow to fast 66 days for my dead aunt because she did not fast ramadon because she was sick. i want to know was my sawm right. i did not eat and i prayed alot but i watch tv (cartoons) and other shows including islamic

 

Fatwa:

 

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.  

 

If your aunt was very sick and she was unable to observe the fast because of having a sound reason until she died, then it is not an obligation to make up these days on her behalf. However, if she was able to make up those days but she failed to do so until she died, then it was an obligation on her to make up those days and according to the most preponderant opinion of the scholars it is desirable for her guardians to fast these days on her behalf.

 

In any case, since you fasted those days, then your fasting is correct and its reward will reach your aunt, Allah willing. Therefore, if she was obliged to make up those days, she now has become acquitted from sin because you have fasted on her behalf. However, if she was not obliged to make up those days, then the reward of this fasting will reach her, Allah willing, and it will be on the record of her good deeds because according to the preponderant opinion of the scholars the reward of good deeds that are gifted for the dead reaches them and they benefit from it.

 

As regards your watching T.V., you will be sinful for watching what is forbidden in Sharee’ah, like listening to music and looking at the uncovered ‘Awrah of people and so forth. However, this does not have any effect on the validity of fasting. Therefore, you should repent to Allah for watching what does not please him, and you should know that he is seeing you and watching you.

 

Allah Knows best.

Fatwa answered by:The Fatwa Center at Islamweb