What is the ruling regarding one who loses consciousness (ighma') concerning making up missed obligatory acts like prayer and fasting?
Chapter on Prayer Times
Al-Mughni
Book of Prayer
Primary text
The ruling for one who loses consciousness is the same as the ruling for one who sleeps; they are not excused from making up any obligatory acts that must be made up by a sleeper, such as prayer and fasting. The primary view supports that full restoration of missed prayers is obligatory upon regaining consciousness. This is supported by the action of 'Ammar, who, after regaining consciousness following several days of fainting, asked for water to perform ablution and then prayed for the missed time. Furthermore, the actions and statements of the Companions (Sahaba) regarding this matter, such as the report from Samurah ibn Jundub, indicate consensus (ijma'), as no known dissent existed among them. Moreover, unconsciousness does not invalidate the obligation of making up fasts, nor does it affect the legal capacity (wilayah) over the unconscious person, making it analogous to sleep.
Supporting text
Malik and Al-Shafi'i hold that making up missed prayer is only required if the person regains consciousness during any portion of the prayer's designated time. Abu Hanifa stated that if the person was unconscious for the duration of five prayers, they must make them up, but if the duration exceeds that, the obligation of making up all missed prayers is dropped, comparing it to insanity due to the repetition. The evidence cited for this view, based on a narration from 'A'ishah, is considered void because the hadith narrator, Al-Hakim ibn Sa'd, was deemed unreliable, and the analogy to insanity is refuted because insanity involves prolonged duration and complete removal of accountability, which differs from the temporary nature of unconsciousness.