Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
My uncle died today, Sidi. He was a good man, and I loved him dearly. But—having grown up in difficult circumstances in a very rich westernized family—he only started praying late in his life. What to you suggest we do about discharging this debt of his?
Walaikum assalam wa rahmatullah,
May Allah grant him the highest of paradise, accept his good works, and overlook his errors. May Allah grant you and his family the strength to bear this in the best of ways.
Probably the most important thing you could do for your grandfather is to take the means to discharge his debt to Allah: You are aware about the need to pay an expiation (fidya) to compensate for fasts and prayers that were not performed, right?
See below.
If the expiatory payments for missed fasts and prayers come out to be far more than what you or other family members are able to reasonably afford—for Allah does not make responsible for more than what they can bear—then there is a proper way of fulfilling this due. It is best to let a reliable, god-fearing scholar handle this on your behalf.
And Allah alone gives success.
Wassalam.