When Should One Intend to Fast?

Uploaded Jun 30, 2024
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Question

If I forgot I have to fast the following day in Ramadan, but I do not have anything that prevents me from fasting, by Allah's will, do I have to make up that fast? And if a person intends to fast in Ramadan during the Adhan (of the morning prayer) and doesn't know if it is the Adhan that is before or after Fajr (dawn), what is the ruling of his intention? May Allah reward you with good.

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Sheikh Saleh Al-Fawzan
It is a must to have a resolve and a firm intention to fast from the night, because of the Prophet's ﷺ statement: "There is no fasting for the one who did not make his intention from the night." So, if he intends to fast before Fajr time, his fast is valid, but if the morning comes and he's hesitant, not knowing whether to fast or not, then the obligatory fast is not valid, because part of the day has passed and he did not intend to fast for that part. He must make up that fast. As for Nafl (optional) fasting, then it is permissible for a person to intend it during the day, provided that he did not do something that would break his fast before his intention, from after Fajr time until he makes his intention. Then this fast is valid with an intention during the day, if he did not do something that would break his fast, such as eating, drinking or sexual intercourse after Fajr time.