and is unable to fast, his ruling becomes like that of an elderly person who is unable to fast: he must offer expiation by feeding one needy person for each day.

Here, two points require clarification:

First: the reason fasting is waived in his case is his permanent inability, unlike the sick person concerning whom Allah says:

“Then let him fast an equal number of days later.” [al-Baqarah 2:184]

This person may be expected to recover, whereas the other is not expected to recover. Thus, the obligation of fasting is waived from him because of his incapacity.

Second: if it is asked, “What is the evidence that expiation is obligatory, when he has feared Allah to the best of his ability, as Allah Most High says:

“So fear Allah as best you can.” [al-Taghabun 64:16]

The answer is what has been authentically reported from Ibn Abbas—may Allah be pleased with them both—that he said regarding an elderly man and an elderly woman who are unable to fast: “They should feed one needy person for every day.” He supported this with the saying of Allah Most High:

“And upon those who are able to fast it is a ransom: feeding a needy person.” (1) [al-Baqarah 2:184]

This statement comes from a Companion. The scholars are known to differ over whether the statement of a Companion constitutes proof or not. However, this is a Companion’s statement in explanation of a Quranic verse. Some scholars have held that a Companion’s explanation of a verse has the ruling of a report traced back to the Prophet, although this view is weak. Yet there is no doubt that when a Companion makes a statement and supports it with a verse, his inference is more correct than that of anyone else.

What, then, is the basis for deriving this ruling from the verse?