What is the ruling concerning an elderly woman who never prays, and who suffers from a slight mental and psychological disability, and what should be done with her regarding this matter?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
If the patient did not pray before her illness, then her abandoning prayer is an act of disbelief (kufr). However, if she was praying and stopped praying after her illness, her situation falls into one of two categories:
1. If she is insane or mentally incapacitated due to her illness, then prayer is not obligatory for her.
2. If her mental deficiency does not place her among the insane, and she comprehends speech and is able to perform prayer, then prayer is not waived for her, and she must be gently and wisely enjoined to perform it.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/58563
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 58563
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy