Question:
If one finds out that a deceased parent did not pray a number of their salah and cannot afford to pay the fidya, can they offer the qadha salah on their behalf? This was found out years after the parent passed away and the assets were distributed to the heirs and they have spent most of the inheritance.  The deceased did not leave a bequest.

Answer:

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

The favours of our parents upon us are innumerable.  Consider the following hadith:
Sayyiduna Buraidah radiallahu anhu narrates,
“One person came to the Prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam and said, “Whilst travelling there was a place where the ground was so hot that if you placed a piece of meat on the ground it would be cooked. I carried my mother on my shoulders for two farsakh (six miles) over such ground. Have I fulfilled the rights of my mother?” Prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam replied, “The pangs of pain that your mother went through when she was giving birth to you, maybe you have repaid the debt for one of those pangs.”[1] (Tabrani hadith no.255)

When we were in need, our parents were always there to answer our call.  When we were hungry, their hands were always near to feed us.  When we were thirsty, they were ever ready to forego their drink to satiate our pangs of thirst.  When a parent passes away, they are now in need of their children’s supplications (du῾ā’) and benefactions.  Children should do all they can to fulfil any outstanding debts.  Who can bear knowing that their parent might be facing difficulty in the hereafter due to not performing salāh?

It is not permissible to perform salāh on behalf of a deceased.[2] Only by means of fidyah can one offset the outstanding salāh of the deceased.  The offspring should mutually agree for each to contribute an x amount of money to pay the fidyah.

Allah is Rahmān and Rahīm.  He is the Most Merciful.  Allah will most definitely appreciate the concern in the child’s heart to absolve the parent suffering in the hereafter.  Allah does not need money. He appreciates an individual’s Allah consciousness.  It is hoped that Allah will accept the monetary contributions as fidyah for the missed salāh and forgive the deceased.