Ruling on Eating or Drinking Forgetfully While Fasting & the Responsibility of the Observer
Source: Fatāwā Arkān al-Islām
What is the ruling if a fasting person eats forgetfully? And what is obligatory upon the one who witnesses it?
All praise is due to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. To proceed:
Whoever eats or drinks forgetfully while in the state of fasting, his fast remains valid. However, as soon as he remembers, it becomes obligatory for him to stop immediately. Even if a morsel of food or a sip of water is still in his mouth, he must immediately spit it out.
The narration of Abu Hurayrah رضي الله عنه from the Prophet ﷺ is a clear proof:
«مَنْ نَسِیَ وَهُوَ صَائِمٌ فَأَکَلَ وَشَرِبَ فَلْيُتِمَّ صَوْمَهُ فَإِنَّمَا أَطْعَمَهُ اللّٰهُ وَسَقَاهُ»
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 1933, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1155 – wording from Muslim)
"Whoever forgets while he is fasting and eats or drinks, then he should complete his fast, for it is Allah who fed him and gave him drink."
This is because there is no accountability on a person who unintentionally commits a prohibited act due to forgetfulness. Allah Most High has said:
﴿رَبَّنا لا تُؤاخِذنا إِن نَسينا أَو أَخطَأنا﴾
(Al-Baqarah: 286)
"Our Lord! Do not take us to task if we forget or make a mistake."
And in response, Allah said:
“I have done so.”
[As established in authentic narrations]
Whoever witnesses such an act must remind the fasting person immediately. This falls under the obligation of forbidding evil. The Prophet ﷺ said:
«مَنْ رَّاٰی مِنْکُمْ مُّنْکَرًا فَلْيُغَيِّرْهُ بِيَدِه فَإِنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَبِلِسَانِه فَإِنْ لَّمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَبِقَلْبِه»
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 49)
"Whoever among you sees an evil, let him change it with his hand. If he is not able, then with his tongue. And if he is not able, then with his heart."
Eating or drinking during the state of fasting is undoubtedly a prohibited act, though the fasting person is not held accountable if done out of forgetfulness.
However, the observer is obligated to remind and stop the fasting person as part of forbidding what is wrong.
🖋 This is what I hold, and Allah knows best what is correct.
Source: Fatāwā Arkān al-Islām
Question
What is the ruling if a fasting person eats forgetfully? And what is obligatory upon the one who witnesses it?
Answer
All praise is due to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. To proceed:
Whoever eats or drinks forgetfully while in the state of fasting, his fast remains valid. However, as soon as he remembers, it becomes obligatory for him to stop immediately. Even if a morsel of food or a sip of water is still in his mouth, he must immediately spit it out.
The narration of Abu Hurayrah رضي الله عنه from the Prophet ﷺ is a clear proof:
«مَنْ نَسِیَ وَهُوَ صَائِمٌ فَأَکَلَ وَشَرِبَ فَلْيُتِمَّ صَوْمَهُ فَإِنَّمَا أَطْعَمَهُ اللّٰهُ وَسَقَاهُ»
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 1933, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1155 – wording from Muslim)
"Whoever forgets while he is fasting and eats or drinks, then he should complete his fast, for it is Allah who fed him and gave him drink."
This is because there is no accountability on a person who unintentionally commits a prohibited act due to forgetfulness. Allah Most High has said:
﴿رَبَّنا لا تُؤاخِذنا إِن نَسينا أَو أَخطَأنا﴾
(Al-Baqarah: 286)
"Our Lord! Do not take us to task if we forget or make a mistake."
And in response, Allah said:
“I have done so.”
[As established in authentic narrations]
Ruling for the One Who Sees a Fasting Person Eating Forgetfully
Whoever witnesses such an act must remind the fasting person immediately. This falls under the obligation of forbidding evil. The Prophet ﷺ said:
«مَنْ رَّاٰی مِنْکُمْ مُّنْکَرًا فَلْيُغَيِّرْهُ بِيَدِه فَإِنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَبِلِسَانِه فَإِنْ لَّمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَبِقَلْبِه»
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 49)
"Whoever among you sees an evil, let him change it with his hand. If he is not able, then with his tongue. And if he is not able, then with his heart."
Conclusion
Eating or drinking during the state of fasting is undoubtedly a prohibited act, though the fasting person is not held accountable if done out of forgetfulness.
However, the observer is obligated to remind and stop the fasting person as part of forbidding what is wrong.
🖋 This is what I hold, and Allah knows best what is correct.
