What is the ruling on forming the intention for the first night of the nights of Ramadan, because the month may enter and some people, especially the Bedouin, may not know of its entry?

The questioner : A questioner stands up: What is the ruling on forming the intention for the first night of the nights of Ramadan, because the month may enter and some people, especially the Bedouin, may not know of its entry? And does one who did not form the intention have to make up the fast if fasting is obligatory? And is it required for a person to stay up until the month is confirmed or denied?

The Shaykh : First, we must know what the meaning of "forming the intention" is. Does "forming the intention" mean sleeping with the intention? No, the meaning of the scholars' statement "form the intention" is that the dawn should not break until you have formed the intention. Even if you form the intention one minute before the dawn breaks, your fast is valid, so that your intention covers the entire day. However, if it is the night of the thirtieth of Sha'ban, and a person sleeps with the intention that if tomorrow is from Ramadan, I am fasting, and he does not wake up until after the dawn has broken with that original intention, and it becomes clear to him that it is from Ramadan, then his fast is valid. This is based on the saying of Allah the Exalted: This man did what he was able to do, and it is not required for a person to stay up on the night of the thirtieth of Sha'ban waiting for the announcement of the entry of the month.