This excerpt is taken from the book Ahkam wa Masail Ramadan by Fadhilat al-Shaykh Mubashir Ahmad Rabbani رحمه الله.
How to Intend for Fasting?
The honorable wife of the Prophet ﷺ, Sayyidah Hafsah رضي الله عنها, narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
من لم يجمع الصيام قبل الفجر فلا صيام له
Reference: Abu Dawood, Kitab al-Sawm: Bab al-Niyyah fi al-Siyam (2454), Tirmidhi, Kitab al-Sawm: Bab Ma Ja'a La Sawm Liman Lam Yu'azzim Min al-Lail (740), Nasai, Kitab al-Siyam (2334), Ibn Majah, Kitab al-Siyam (1700), Darimi (1705)
Whoever does not intend to fast before Fajr, his fast is not valid.
Since all actions depend on intention, and no action is acceptable without intention, for example, if one does not intend to fast but imposes the restrictions of fasting upon oneself, it will not be considered a fast but rather a mere abstention. It should also be noted that verbal expression is not necessary for intention; it is an act of the heart. Some scholars have formulated the following words for the intention of fasting: وبصوم غد نويت من شهر رمضان (I intend to fast tomorrow in the month of Ramadan). These words are not established by any hadith, and the intention is being made for the coming day.
Allamah Ibn Manzoor رحمه الله writes:
أصل الغد وهو اليوم الذى يأتى بعد يومك
Reference: Lisan al-Arab (10/26)
The essence of "ghad" is that it refers to the day that will come after your current day.
Therefore, these words do not seem to be correct in meaning either.
Calling Out the Intention for Fasting with the Tongue:
Before the arrival of Ramadan each year, commercial calendars for iftar and suhoor times begin to be published and distributed, which usually include the words of intention for fasting وبصوم غد نويت من شهر رمضان. This means that I have made the intention for the fast of tomorrow in Ramadan. As far as intention is concerned, all actions depend on intention, and no action is acceptable without it. For example, if one does not make the intention for fasting like one does for prayer, and imposes the restrictions of fasting upon oneself and fulfills all its requirements throughout the day without any negligence, it will still not be considered a fast but rather a mere abstention, which will be of no benefit. In a hadith, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"Whoever does not make the intention to fast before Fajr, his fast is not valid."
Reference: (Abu Dawood, Kitab al-Sawm: Bab al-Niyyah fi al-Sawm 2454)
Intention is necessary for all acts of worship, whether it is prayer, zakat, or fasting.
As stated in a sahih hadith:
إنما الأعمال بالنيات
Reference: Bukhari, Kitab Bad' al-Wahi, Muslim Kitab al-Imarah Bab Qawl al-Nabi ﷺ Innama al-A'malu bin-Niyyat (1907)
All actions depend on intention.
According to Imam Abu Hanifah رحمه الله, there are two categories of actions:
Those actions that are not the primary purpose but serve as a means to reach the primary purpose, such as wudu and ghusl; their intention is valid even if not explicitly made.
The ruling on the latter issue is limited to Imam Abu Hanifah رحمه الله's own opinion and reasoning. There is no example of this in legal evidence, nor is there any proof supporting this issue. Because the words إنما الأعمال بالنيات indicate absolute actions, no act of worship, whether indirect or a distinct act of worship, is excluded.
The intention in fasting is also necessary according to the Hanafi school, but the prevalent intention is fabricated and self-invented. Thus, what is established from the blessed hadith is that intention is not made with the tongue but resides in the heart. The intention must be made from the heart. This is also supported by credible texts of fiqh, which state that the place of intention is the heart, not the tongue. However, if these words are uttered verbally, the intention ceases to be an intention and becomes mere speech, for which there is no justification. In all acts of worship, such as purification, prayer, fasting, Hajj, and zakat, it is unanimously agreed that the place of intention is the heart, not the tongue.
Hafiz Ibn Hajar رحمه الله states:
والشرع خصصه بالإرادة المتوجهة نحو الفعل لابتغاء مرضاة الله و امتثال حكمه
Reference: Fath al-Bari
The Shari'ah has reserved the term intention for the purpose of seeking Allah's pleasure in any action.
It is understood that in actions, the reliance is on the heartfelt intention; if something contrary is said with the tongue, the reliance is not merely on the words. If one makes an intention solely with the tongue but not from the heart, it is unanimously considered invalid because intention is the name of purpose and determination. Therefore, it is not necessary for the fasting person and the one praying to verbally make the intention before fasting and starting the prayer; rather, verbal intentions are innovations and fabrications, concerning which the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"Every innovation is misguidance, and every misguidance leads to Hellfire."
Reference: (Nasai Kitab Salat al-Eidain Bab Kayfa al-Khutbah: 10579)
Esteemed readers! Both prayer and fasting are among the most important acts of worship, but if they are not protected from innovations and the tricks of the innovators are not thwarted, then none of our acts of worship will be acceptable to Allah تعالى.
Thus, there is no significance in verbally making the intention before fasting; rather, it is only the firm resolve in the heart that will be accepted.
Acts That Nullify the Reward of Fasting:
These are the actions that nullify the reward of fasting. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
من لم يدع قول الزور والعمل به فليس لله حاجة فى أن يدع طعامه وشرابه
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Fasting: Chapter on Those Who Do Not Abandon False Speech and Acting Upon It While Fasting (1903)
"Whoever does not abandon false speech and acting upon it while fasting, Allah, the One without partner, has no need for him to abandon his food and drink."
Saidna Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
وإذا كان يوم صوم أحدكم فلا يرفث ولا يصخب فإن سابه أحد أو قاتله فليقل إني امرؤ صائم
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Fasting: Chapter on Whether One Should Say 'I Am Fasting' If Insulted (1904), Sahih Muslim, Book of Fasting, Chapter on the Virtue of Fasting (1151)
"When any one of you is fasting, he should not engage in obscene speech or raise his voice. If someone insults him or fights with him, he should say: 'I am fasting.'"
Saidna Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
كم من صائم ليس له من صيامه إلا الظمأ وكم من قائم ليس له من قيامه إلا السهر
Reference: Darimi (2733), Ahmad (3732), Hakim (1/131), Bayhaqi (4/270), Sharh al-Sunnah (6/447), Ibn Majah, Book of Fasting, Chapter on What Has Been Narrated About Backbiting (1690)
"How many fasting individuals there are who gain nothing from their fast except thirst, and how many who stand in prayer gain nothing from their standing except sleeplessness."
From the aforementioned authentic Hadiths, it is evident that it is extremely necessary for a fasting person to avoid insults, foul language, slander, backbiting, lying, spreading falsehoods, and other satanic matters while fasting; otherwise, there will be no benefit from the fast. A person who remains hungry and thirsty while committing the aforementioned acts will not have a fast but rather a mere hunger strike.
Similarly, if a night worshipper becomes a person of vile character and commits sinful acts, he will gain nothing from his night vigil. Our country’s newspaper and magazine editors should also reflect on this, as they do not refrain from spreading lies and inciting crimes even during Ramadan, and nearly all newspapers prominently publish images of immoral and sinful women. If such matters are not avoided during the state of fasting, there will be no benefit from the fast.
