Is A Person Who Falls Into A Vegetative State Free From The Responsibility Of Prayer And Fasting?

Is a person who falls into a vegetative state free from the responsibility of prayer and fasting?

A person who is not conscious for more than one day is exempted from the responsibility of prayer. With this respect, a person who falls into a vegetative state and cannot recover from it will not be responsible for prayers anymore. Those who lose their consciousness for less than one day have to establish qada prayer when they recover (Samarqandi, Tuhfa, II, 192).

A person is exempted from the responsibility of fasting in the event that his loss of consciousness lasts for one month. He will need to perform qada for the missed fasts if it lasts for less than one month (Samarqandi, Tuhfa, II, 350).

However, there is no responsibility of performing qada for the missed fasts of a person who dies before completing one month in the vegetative state. Therefore, it is not necessary for them to give fidyah (monetary compensation) either.

Source: Presidency Of Religious Affairs The Turkey, High Board of Religious Affairs FATWA