Question
Reference number: 745701 | Fasting | June 12, 2019
My aunt who suffers from Alzheimer is single and paralyzed. She is fed by gastrostomy feeding tube. She lives in our house so as to look after her and help her taking her medicine. Should she pay ransom? If yes, how much?
Answer
Praise Be to Allah and Peace Be Upon His Messenger.
Referring to your question, if a Muslim loses his/ her mind, they are not asked to do any rituals. They are not asked to pray or fast in contrast to those who are physically patients, but their minds are still persistent. The latter should pay ransom while the patient whom you are describing should not. This is based on the prophetic hadith. Ali Ibn Abi Talib reported the messenger of Allah who said: “There are three whose actions are not recorded: a sleeper till he wakes, a boy till he reaches puberty, and an idiot till he restores to reason. Related by At-Tirmidhi