Given their old age and their physical weakness, the Prophet of Al- lah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, would give lighter rulings to elders to make applying them easier. There are many situations demon- strating this, such as:
• Allowing pilgrimage by proxy for elders if they were too weak to perform it themselves:
Abdullaah ibn ‘Abbaas narrated:
‘ “A women of the tribe of Khath’am came to the Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, asking for a religious verdict. She said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, there is an obligation from Allah upon His slaves in regard to pilgrimage. However, my father is an aged man; he is incapable of riding safely (on the journey to pilgrim- age). May I perform pilgrimage on his behalf?’ He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Yes” It was during the Farewell Pilgrimage.”1
• Exempting elders from fasting when expiating due to their weak- ness and allowing them to feed the poor:
In the story of Khuwaylah bint Tha’labah (a woman Companion) when her husband pronounced the words:
‘You are like my mother (meaning, you are as unlawful to have intercourse with as my mother is)’. The Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “He should set free a slave”. She said: ‘He cannot afford it.’ He, sallallaahu ‘alay- hi wa sallam, said: “He should fast for two consecutive months.” She said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, he is an old man; he cannot keep fasts.’ Thereupon he, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “He should feed sixty poor people.” She said: ‘He has nothing which he may give in alms.’ At that he, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “I shall help him with a date-basket.” She said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, I will help him with a date-basket also.’ He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “You have done well. Go and feed sixty poor people on his behalf, and return to your cousin [her husband], and be kind to him.” So she did.2
This story shows that when he, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, found out that the old man cannot fast he allowed him to go to the next form of expiation, which is feeding the poor.
• Instructing those leading the congregation to shorten the prayer out of consideration for elders:
Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said:
“When one of you leads the congregation- al prayer, he should not prolong it because the congregation in- cludes those who are feeble, ill or old.” While offering prayers alone, you may pray as long as you like.”3