Source: Fatawa Arkan-e-Islam
A person went to sleep before the beginning of Ramadan was confirmed and did not make the intention (niyyah) to fast during the night. After Fajr (dawn) had occurred, he came to know that today is the first day of Ramadan. What should he do in this situation? Is it necessary for him to make up (qada) this day of fasting?
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh. Ammā baʿd:
① This individual, who slept before knowing that the month of Ramadan had commenced and did not make the intention to fast during the night, then woke up and discovered after the break of dawn that it is the first day of Ramadan — in this case, it becomes obligatory for him to refrain from eating and drinking from that moment onwards.
② According to the majority of scholars, it is obligatory for him to make up (qada) for this day of fasting later on.
③ To the best of my knowledge, no one has disagreed on this issue except Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (رحمه الله). He stated:
“Intention (niyyah) follows knowledge, and he did not even know that Ramadan had begun. Therefore, he is excused, and he did not abandon the night-time intention knowingly, because he was ignorant and had a valid excuse. Hence, when he comes to know (that it is Ramadan) and he stops eating and drinking, then his fast is valid, and he is not obliged to make it up.”
④ However, according to the majority of scholars, it is necessary for him to stop eating and drinking immediately and also make up (qada) that day later. Their reasoning is that he spent part of the day without having made the intention to fast, which invalidates the fast.
⑤ In my personal opinion, it is better and safer for this person to make up that day of fasting.
ھٰذَا مَا عِنْدِي وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
❀ Question:
A person went to sleep before the beginning of Ramadan was confirmed and did not make the intention (niyyah) to fast during the night. After Fajr (dawn) had occurred, he came to know that today is the first day of Ramadan. What should he do in this situation? Is it necessary for him to make up (qada) this day of fasting?
❀ Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh. Ammā baʿd:
① This individual, who slept before knowing that the month of Ramadan had commenced and did not make the intention to fast during the night, then woke up and discovered after the break of dawn that it is the first day of Ramadan — in this case, it becomes obligatory for him to refrain from eating and drinking from that moment onwards.
② According to the majority of scholars, it is obligatory for him to make up (qada) for this day of fasting later on.
③ To the best of my knowledge, no one has disagreed on this issue except Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (رحمه الله). He stated:
“Intention (niyyah) follows knowledge, and he did not even know that Ramadan had begun. Therefore, he is excused, and he did not abandon the night-time intention knowingly, because he was ignorant and had a valid excuse. Hence, when he comes to know (that it is Ramadan) and he stops eating and drinking, then his fast is valid, and he is not obliged to make it up.”
④ However, according to the majority of scholars, it is necessary for him to stop eating and drinking immediately and also make up (qada) that day later. Their reasoning is that he spent part of the day without having made the intention to fast, which invalidates the fast.
⑤ In my personal opinion, it is better and safer for this person to make up that day of fasting.
ھٰذَا مَا عِنْدِي وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
