Paying Expiation for Missing Fast to Build Hospital for Children

25-5-2002 | IslamWeb

Question:

My mother is too old to fast Ramadan. I asked my wife to pay a sum of money as expiation. She paid it for building a hospital for children. Is this acceptable?

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Answer:

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.

According to the most dominant opinion among the scholars of Islam, a person who cannot fast due to perpetual chronic illness or infirmity, he/she has to offer one meal to a poor as an expiation for every day.

If he/she cannot afford that, then there is no blame on him/her, as Allah Says (what means): {Allah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity.} [Quran 2:286]

In addition, he/she is not required to ask someone else to donate to him for such a case.

Here, it is essential to know that paying money of expiation for charitable projects does not suffice, because Allah, The Great and Almighty, has specified the channel of expenditure in the Quran, as He Says (what means): {And upon those who are able [to fast, but with hardship] - a ransom [as substitute] of feeding a poor person [each day].} [Quran 2:184]

Thus, it becomes clear that building hospitals and houses cannot be under the category of feeding the poor.

Allah knows best.