O Messenger of Allah, my mother has died in a state that she had to observe the fast of a month. Should I complete it on her behalf? Thereupon he said: Would you not pay the debt if your mother had died without paying it? He said: Yes. He said: The debt of Allah is more worthy of being repaid

‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that a man came to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and said: "O Messenger of Allah, my mother has died in a state that she had to observe the fast of a month. Should I complete it on her behalf?" Thereupon he said: "Would you not pay the debt if your mother had died without paying it?" He said: 'Yes.' He said: "The debt of Allah is more worthy of being repaid." Another narration states that a woman came to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and said: "O Messenger of Allah, my mother passed away and she took an oath to fast, should I fast on her behalf?" He said: "Tell me, if there was a debt due on your mother and you settled it, would it be enough?" She replied: 'Yes.' He said: "So, fast on behalf of your mother."

Attribution: Narrated by Bukhari & Muslim

Grade: Authentic hadith