Discussion of the second case, which is being mindful rather than forgetful, along with the evidence
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The Shaykh : The second case is that one is mindful, and the opposite of mindfulness is forgetfulness. If a person consumes one of these things that break the fast while forgetful, his fast is valid. The evidence for this is like the evidence for ignorance; that is, there are two types of general evidence, such as His saying: [Al-Baqarah 2:286], and specific evidence, which is the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in what Abu Hurayrah narrated: Sahih Muslim 1155.
The questioner : Even if it was forbidden?
The Shaykh : Even if it was forbidden, as long as he was forgetful, his fast is valid. For example, if a man passed by one of the water tanks in the Haram while thirsty and fasting, and drank from it until he was satisfied, and then after drinking he remembered that he was fasting, what do you say about that? We say his fasting is valid, so let him complete his fast, for it is Allah who fed him and gave him drink. Reflect on this expression, "Allah fed him and gave him drink," and it will become clear to you that the action of the forgetful person is not attributed to him; it is not attributed to him, because the Messenger attributed it to Allah (Mighty and Majestic). Now, a man sat by this water tank and drank three cups. On the last time, with the water in his mouth, he remembered on the last mouthful of these three cups that he was fasting. He said, "If it were three cups, they would not break the fast, so this mouthful will not break my fast either," and he swallowed it. Does he break his fast or not?
The questioner : He breaks his fast.
The Shaykh : Why? Because he remembered now; he remembered and swallowed the water after he remembered, so his fast is defective due to his drinking the three cups.
The questioner : Not the mouthful.
The Shaykh : Due to his drinking the last thing, by swallowing this mouthful that remained in his mouth. Do you see the wisdom behind that? I heard when I was young that a man bought grapes and was fasting before the grape harvest had spread widely. He began eating from these grapes while walking with the grapes to his family, eating and eating. When he arrived at his family's home, he found that only one grape remained from the grapes. They asked him, "How did you eat it while you were fasting?" He said, "I was forgetful, but now I will pay for this; what came before is forgiven," so he ate this grape. He went to one of the shaykhs, and the shaykh said to him, "If you had not eaten this grape, your fasting would have been valid." Is the shaykh's ruling correct or not correct? It is correct, because this man was forgetful except for this grape, and he ate this grape intentionally, so he has broken his fast.
Our Lord, do not impose blame upon us if we have forgotten or erred.
ربنا لا تؤاخذنا إن نسينا أو أخطأناIf anyone forgets that he is fasting and eats or drinks he should complete his fast, for it is only Allah Who has fed him and given him drink.
من نسي وهو صائم فأكل أو شرب فليتم صومه فإنما أطعمه الله وسقاهThe questioner : Even if it was forbidden?
The Shaykh : Even if it was forbidden, as long as he was forgetful, his fast is valid. For example, if a man passed by one of the water tanks in the Haram while thirsty and fasting, and drank from it until he was satisfied, and then after drinking he remembered that he was fasting, what do you say about that? We say his fasting is valid, so let him complete his fast, for it is Allah who fed him and gave him drink. Reflect on this expression, "Allah fed him and gave him drink," and it will become clear to you that the action of the forgetful person is not attributed to him; it is not attributed to him, because the Messenger attributed it to Allah (Mighty and Majestic). Now, a man sat by this water tank and drank three cups. On the last time, with the water in his mouth, he remembered on the last mouthful of these three cups that he was fasting. He said, "If it were three cups, they would not break the fast, so this mouthful will not break my fast either," and he swallowed it. Does he break his fast or not?
The questioner : He breaks his fast.
The Shaykh : Why? Because he remembered now; he remembered and swallowed the water after he remembered, so his fast is defective due to his drinking the three cups.
The questioner : Not the mouthful.
The Shaykh : Due to his drinking the last thing, by swallowing this mouthful that remained in his mouth. Do you see the wisdom behind that? I heard when I was young that a man bought grapes and was fasting before the grape harvest had spread widely. He began eating from these grapes while walking with the grapes to his family, eating and eating. When he arrived at his family's home, he found that only one grape remained from the grapes. They asked him, "How did you eat it while you were fasting?" He said, "I was forgetful, but now I will pay for this; what came before is forgiven," so he ate this grape. He went to one of the shaykhs, and the shaykh said to him, "If you had not eaten this grape, your fasting would have been valid." Is the shaykh's ruling correct or not correct? It is correct, because this man was forgetful except for this grape, and he ate this grape intentionally, so he has broken his fast.