Short answer
Not to make up their missed obligations, in the Hanafi school. No one can pray or fast another's fard for them; instead fidya is paid for each missed fast and prayer, from their estate if they left a will, or by the heirs out of kindness. You can pray nafl or fast voluntarily and gift the reward to them.
Physical acts of worship (salah, sawm) cannot be performed on another's behalf to discharge their obligation. For missed fasts and prayers, fidya is given: if the deceased willed it, from up to one third of the estate; otherwise heirs may give it voluntarily. The reward of any voluntary prayer, fast or recitation can be gifted to the dead (isal al-thawab).
Other madhhabs
- Shafi'i
- A relative may fast the dead person's missed fasts on his behalf (the view Nawawi preferred), or feed a poor person for each day.
- Hanbali
- Missed vowed fasts may be fasted by a relative; missed Ramadan fasts are paid by feeding a poor person for each day.
- Maliki
- Like the Hanafi school, no one fasts or prays for another; feeding is given if the person willed it.
Explanation
When a parent dies with years of missed prayers or fasts, children often want to make them up themselves. That love is beautiful, and there is a way to act on it. But in the Hanafi school, salah and sawm are acts of the body, and one person cannot do another's obligation for them.
The evidence. Ibn Umar was asked whether anyone could fast or pray for another and said: "No one fasts for another, and no one prays for another." Ibn Abbas and Aisha gave similar fatwas. The Shafi'i and Hanbali schools rely on the hadith "Whoever dies owing fasts, his relative fasts for him." Hanafi scholars note that its own narrators gave fatwas to feed the poor instead, and understood it to mean doing what stands in place of the fast.
What you can do:
- Fidya for each missed fast, and in the Hanafi school for each missed prayer, including witr: about the amount of a sadaqat al-fitr each. If the person asked for it in their will, it comes from up to one third of the estate. If not, heirs may pay from their own money and hope Allah accepts it. Use the fidya calculator.
- Voluntary worship with the reward gifted: pray nafl, fast nafl, read Quran, give charity, and ask Allah to give the reward to them. See isal al-thawab.
- Hajj is different, because it can be done on another's behalf; see Hajj badal.
Calculating years of missed prayers is complex, so ask a mufti about the amount and how to pay it.
Ask a mufti about your own case. This answer explains the general ruling. When the details of your situation matter, as they do here, ask a qualified mufti and give them the full facts. Where to ask a scholar.
The evidence
Quran, Surah An-Najm 53:39
وَأَن لَّيْسَ لِلْإِنسَٰنِ إِلَّا مَا سَعَىٰ ﴿٣٩﴾
And that there is not for man except that [good] for which he strives
The obligation of worship is personal; others can only gift reward.
Muwatta Malik 673
Graded in the Muwatta... لا يصوم أحد عن أحد ولا يصلي أحد عن أحد ...
"No one fasts for another, and no one prays for another."
Ibn Umar's fatwa, which the Hanafi and Maliki schools follow.
Sahih al-Bukhari 1952
Sahih... من مات وعليه صيام صام عنه وليه ...
"Whoever dies owing fasts, his relative fasts on his behalf."
The hadith the Shafi'i and Hanbali schools rely on.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Sawm, chapter on what makes qada necessary. Fidya for the dead person's missed fasts; no fasting on his behalf.
- Radd al-Muhtar (Ibn Abidin), Kitab al-Salah, Bab Qada' al-Fawa'it, section on isqat. Fidya for missed prayers from the third if willed.
- al-Majmu' (Nawawi), Kitab al-Siyam, fasting for the dead. The Shafi'i view that the relative may fast.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.