Ruling on Intentionally Breaking a Voluntary Fast
Source: Fatāwā Amunpuri by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amunpuri
❖ Question:
What is the ruling if someone intentionally breaks a voluntary (nafl) fast?
❖ Answer:
If one intentionally breaks a voluntary fast, there is no sin upon him. Making it up (qaḍā') is not obligatory, though it is recommended (mustaḥabb).
According to the majority of scholars, once a person begins a voluntary act of worship, it remains voluntary until the end and does not become obligatory, except in the case of voluntary Hajj and ʿUmrah, which must be completed once started.
There is another opinion which states that before one starts a voluntary act, it remains optional, but once started, its completion becomes obligatory, and if not completed, then making it up becomes necessary.
❀ Sayyidah ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها narrated:
دَخَلَ عَلَيَّ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ فَقَالَ: هَلْ عِندَكُمْ شَيْءٌ؟ فَقُلْنَا: لَا، قَالَ: إِذًا أَصُومُ، ثُمَّ دَخَلَ عَلَيْنَا يَوْمًا آخَرَ فَقُلْنَا: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، أُهْدِيَ لَنَا حَيْسٌ، فَقَالَ: أَرِينِيهِ، فَقَدْ أَصْبَحْتُ صَائِمًا، ثُمَّ أَكَلَهُ
The Prophet ﷺ came to me one day and asked, “Do you have any food?”
We replied, “No.”
He said, “Then I am fasting.”
Another day, he came again and we said, “O Messenger of Allah, some sweet dish (ḥays) has been gifted to us.”
He said, “Let me see it. I had begun the day fasting.”
Then he ate it.
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1154✔ Imām al-Nawawī رحمه الله (d. 676 AH) commented:
This narration is used by Imām al-Shāfiʿī and others as evidence that it is permissible to break a voluntary fast. Once broken, it becomes invalid. Since it is voluntary, continuing it is also subject to one's choice, just like initiating it. This is also the opinion of a group of Companions, Imām Aḥmad, Imām Isḥāq, etc. However, Imām al-Shāfiʿī and others still consider it recommended to complete the fast once begun.
Sharḥ al-Nawawī: 8/35❀ Sayyidah Juwayriyyah bint al-Ḥārith رضي الله عنها narrated:
دَخَلَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ عَلَيَّ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ وَأَنَا صَائِمَةٌ، فَقَالَ: أَصُمْتِ أَمْسِ؟ قُلْتُ: لَا، قَالَ: أَتُرِيدِينَ أَنْ تَصُومِي غَدًا؟ قُلْتُ: لَا، قَالَ: فَأَفْطِرِي
The Prophet ﷺ entered upon me on a Friday while I was fasting and asked:
“Did you fast yesterday?”
I said: “No.”
He said: “Do you intend to fast tomorrow?”
I said: “No.”
He said: “Then break your fast.”
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 1986❀ In another narration, it states:
“He ordered her to break her fast.”
✔ Imām Ibn Ḥajar al-ʿAsqalānī رحمه الله (d. 852 AH) wrote:
This hadith proves that it is not obligatory to complete a voluntary act of worship once begun. In the case of fasting, this is a clear text. Other acts of worship are analogically deduced from this ruling. If someone says: ‘Why not apply this to Hajj as well?’ The answer is: Hajj is an exception, because even if it becomes invalid, it must be completed and repeated, unlike other voluntary acts. Hence, Hajj (whether obligatory or voluntary) is not to be analogized with other acts.
Fatḥ al-Bārī: 1/107✔ Imām al-Bayhaqī رحمه الله titled a chapter:
"Chapter: On Voluntary Fasting and Breaking It Before Completion"
al-Sunan al-Kubrā: 4/455❀ Sayyidunā Abū Dardāʾ رضي الله عنه narrated:
The Prophet ﷺ established brotherhood between Salmān and Abū Dardāʾ. One day, Salmān visited Abū Dardāʾ and saw that his wife Umm al-Dardāʾ was in a disheveled state. He asked her: “What is the matter?”
She said: “Your brother Abū Dardāʾ has no interest in worldly life.”
Then Abū Dardāʾ arrived and presented food to Salmān.
Salmān said: “Eat.”
Abū Dardāʾ replied: “I am fasting.”
Salmān said: “I will not eat until you eat.”
So Abū Dardāʾ broke his fast and ate.
When this was mentioned to the Prophet ﷺ, he said: “Salmān was right.”
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 1968✔ Imām al-Bukhārī titled the chapter:
"Chapter: One who made his brother take an oath to break a voluntary fast, and saw no obligation of making it up if it was more appropriate for him."
✔ Ibn Ḥajar رحمه الله noted:
The title shows that it is permissible to break a voluntary fast. This is the position of the majority. Furthermore, one who breaks it is not obligated to make it up, though it is recommended.
Fatḥ al-Bārī: 4/212
Summary:
① Breaking a voluntary fast intentionally is allowed.
② There is no sin, and making it up is not obligatory, but recommended.
③ The majority of scholars hold this view, based on authentic ḥadīths.
④ Exceptions apply to voluntary Hajj and ʿUmrah, which must be completed once started.
