The ruling on one who intends to break his fast and then intends to fast

Question:
May Allah reward you. Honorable Shaykh, a man woke up fasting, and in the morning it crossed his mind that he would break his fast, but he realized this matter and resolved to fast. Knowing that he was making up a fast, what is the ruling on him? Does the passing thought count as an intention to break the fast, or is he fasting? This concerns obligatory fasting, whether it is the fast of Ramadan, making up a fast from Ramadan, or an expiation fast.

Answer:
Or a voluntary fast. Obligatory fasting requires that the intention be made from the night. If the day dawns upon him and he has not intended to fast, his fast is not valid. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Fasting is from the night," meaning one must resolve to fast. As for voluntary fasting, if he wakes up without having eaten or drunk, and then intends to fast after the dawn breaks, or in the late morning, if he intends to fast during the day, it is permissible. This is because voluntary fasting is more lenient, and because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) entered his house and asked his family if they had anything for him to eat. They said, "No, we have nothing." He said, "Then I am fasting." This indicates that the intention for a voluntary fast can be made during the day. Some scholars say that it must be before the sun reaches its zenith, and that a person’s intention is not accepted after the zenith. However, the correct view is that it is accepted; the intention for a voluntary fast is accepted until sunset.