Ibn Majah

Benefits and Issues:

➊ Completing a voluntary fast (nafl) is meritorious, and leaving it incomplete without a valid reason is also impermissible; however, in such a case, the person will not receive any reward.

➋ In the case of voluntary charity (nafl sadaqah), if one intends to give a certain amount but gives less at the time of giving, there is no sin upon him; only the reward will be reduced accordingly.

➌ To clarify a legal issue (mas’alah), one should explain it by giving an example of a similar issue.

Its explanation has already been mentioned previously that Qasim has reported Aisha bint Talha as the teacher of Talha instead of Mujahid. In a forthcoming hadith (2330), both are mentioned, as if both narrations are correct. Please refer to the clarification mentioned under Chapter: 67.

Hadith Commentary: Benefits and Issues: Two points are learned from the hadith of Aisha radi Allahu anha: firstly, that the intention (niyyah) for a voluntary fast (nafl) can be made during the day; secondly, that a voluntary fast can also be broken, and breaking a voluntary fast is neither a crime nor a sin.

This is the position of Imam Shafi’i rahimahullah, Imam Ahmad rahimahullah, and the hadith scholars (muhaddithin). Although it is recommended (mustahabb) to make up the fast in its place so that reward can be attained.

According to Imam Malik rahimahullah and Imam Abu Hanifah rahimahullah, it is not permissible to break a voluntary fast; whoever does so is sinful, and making it up (qada) becomes obligatory upon him, because this is considered to render one’s deed null and void, which is not correct.

Because the one observing a voluntary fast is, according to the Shari’ah, at liberty: if he wishes, he may complete the fast, or if for some reason he wishes to break it, he may do so. He is not obligated to complete it; if he were obligated, then breaking it would indeed render the act null and void.

1:
A type of food that is prepared from dates, roasted barley flour (sattu), and clarified butter (ghee).

Benefits and Issues:
There is a concession in voluntary (nafl) fasting that its intention (niyyah) can be made after Fajr, according to some, up until before midday (zawal).
Similarly, if someone has already made the intention for a voluntary fast, he may break it due to a valid excuse.
It is not necessary to make up (qada) for such a fast.

Benefit:
It is established from this hadith that breaking a voluntary fast (nafl) for the purpose of accepting an invitation is permissible. However, breaking an obligatory fast (fard) is prohibited.

Benefit:
It is established from this hadith that making the intention (niyyah) for a voluntary (nafl) fast during the day is also permissible, with the condition that from the time of dawn (adhan) until that point in the day, nothing has been eaten or drunk. Countless hadith scholars (muhaddithin) have derived this ruling from this hadith.