Sheikh Ahmed Mamdouh, Director of the Sharia Research Department, saidFatwa Secretary Dar Al-Iftaa states that it is not required to express the intention before dawn in voluntary and voluntary fasts.
Mamdouh explained that it is permissible for a Muslim who wakes up after dawn or even in the afternoon to intend to fast under two basic conditions, the first of which is that the intention be before the time of noon, that is, before the afternoon call to prayer, and the other is that he must not have committed any act that is incompatible with fasting, such as eating or drinking, since dawn has broken.
He cited as evidence for this what was narrated on the authority of the Mother of the Believers, Aisha, may God be pleased with her, when the Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, asked her about the availability of food, and she informed him of the absence of it, so he said, “I am fasting.”
On a related level, the Director of Sharia Research alerted to the necessity of making the intention before dawn to exclusively fast an obligatory fast, whether that is during the month of Ramadan, expiations, vows, or making up for missed days of Ramadan.
Dar Al-Iftaa confirmed that this ruling applies to fasting the six days of Shawwal, the white days, and all voluntary fasts, as the intention can be made until the time of noon begins, unless the fasting person commits anything that invalidates the fast before that time, other than the obligatory fast, which must be preceded by the intention at night.
Regarding the ruling on someone who eats or drinks forgetfully during the white days or voluntary fasting, Sheikh Awaida Othman, Director of the Oral Fatwa Department at Dar Al-Iftaa, confirmed that there is no difference in this between obligatory and voluntary fasting.
Othman explained during the house’s live broadcast that forgetting does not invalidate fasting in any way, and the fasting person must complete his day, and his fasting is completely valid.
He pointed out that the legal rule stipulates that whoever eats or drinks out of forgetfulness, God has fed him and given him drink, and there is no sin or judgment on him.
Dar Al-Iftaa reiterated its emphasis on the doctrine of the majority of jurists in facilitating the intention of voluntary fasting in order to make it easier for Muslims who wish to obtain reward and reward.
The house indicated that these provisions come to clarify the fundamental differences between voluntary and obligatory fasting in a way that guarantees the validity of worship and its acceptance with God Almighty.
She called on worshipers to be careful to take advantage of the days of virtue and to draw closer to God with voluntary prayers, while adhering to the legal controls that preserve for the fasting person his full reward and reward without any decrease.
