What is the ruling if one did not pray the last two days in their life while they were hospitalized, and then died? Can someone else make up the prayers instead of the dead?

Answer

Praise Be to Allah and Peace Be Upon His Messenger.

Referring to your question, it is known that prayer is one of the five pillars of Islam. Allah imposed performing prayers on His servants as an obligatory duty. It is not waived unless there are considered excuses such as losing mind. Otherwise it must be observed under any circumstances even if one is sick or frightened.

Originally, a Muslim should perform the prayer with all its pillars and conditions. However, if, for a reasonable excuse, a Muslim cannot perform ablution (wudu’) they can perform tayammum (using dry dirt or dust instead of ablution with water following certain teachings). If a Muslim cannot stand while praying, they can pray sitting; if they cannot, then on their side; if they cannot, then laying down. Thus, if a Muslim did not pray for the last two days in their life taking into account that they were awake, their children should pray for Allah to forgive the dead and cleanse their sins. However, they cannot make up those prayers.

Shaikh Muhammad Ahmad Hussain, the General Mufti (Muslim Legal Scholar), in the Palestinian Legal Verdict Council, was once asked if one can make up the prayers instead of a dead Muslim. He answered that the prayer cannot be performed in the name of others or instead of others. It was obligated to be performed by Muslims themselves. It cannot even be made up after death. (Hashiyat Raddul-Mukhtar 2: 79, At-Tamheed: 9:27, I’anatut-Talibeen 1: 33, Muntahal-Iradat 1:127)

Moreover, if a prayer which was missed is a vow, there are different opinions.

The Maliki, Hanafi, and Shafi’i Scholars see that fulfilling the vow if it was performing a prayer instead of a dead Muslim is not allowed. However, Hanbali Scholars see that it is preferred to make up the prayer instead of a dead Muslim if it is a vow, and this is compared to Hajj or charity.

The most predominant opinion in this case is the opinion of the majority of scholars which is not performing the prayer instead of a dead.