If a person fasts for a day other than in Ramadan and eats while forgetting, is his fasting invalidated?
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The questioner : The questioner says: If a person fasts on a day other than Ramadan and eats while forgetting, is his fasting invalidated?
The Shaykh : If a fasting person eats while forgetting, his fasting is valid, whether in Ramadan or otherwise, based on the saying of Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He:[Al-Baqarah 2:286] So Allah the Exalted said: And based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): Sahih Muslim 1155.
I would like to convey this good news to my Muslim brothers: Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, has forgiven every forbidden act that a person commits while forgetting, while ignorant, or while coerced. His saying, the Exalted:[Al-Baqarah 2:286], encompasses every instance of error and forgetfulness. And His saying, the Exalted: [An-Nahl 16:106], this is regarding disbelief if a person is coerced into it while his heart is tranquil with faith; then Allah does not hold him accountable for it. So what is less than disbelief is even more so.
Multiple hadiths have been reported regarding the dropping of sin from one who is ignorant or forgetful. If a person speaks in prayer thinking that speech is lawful, there is nothing on him and his prayer is valid. If a person eats while fasting thinking that the sun has set, but it has not set, there is nothing on him. If he eats thinking that the dawn has not appeared, but it turns out that it has appeared, there is nothing on him. Every forbidden act that a person commits while forgetting, while ignorant, or while coerced, there is nothing on him. This is from the facilitation of Allah, Mighty and Majestic, and His mercy toward His servants.
As for the commanded acts, if it is possible to make up an obligatory act, even if a person left it while forgetting, he must make it up. The evidence for this is that a man prayed in the mosque of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) and did not settle in his prayer, so the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered him to repeat the prayer and said:, until he taught him, peace and blessings be upon him, that he must settle in his prayer. This indicates that leaving the commanded acts, whenever it is possible to make them up, obligates the person to make them up, even if he left the obligatory act while ignorant or forgetting. This is unlike the prohibited and forbidden acts, for if a person commits them while forgetting, while ignorant, or while coerced, there is absolutely nothing on him, neither in prayer, nor in fasting, nor in Hajj. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you, O honorable Shaykh.
The Shaykh : If a fasting person eats while forgetting, his fasting is valid, whether in Ramadan or otherwise, based on the saying of Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He:
Our Lord, do not impose blame upon us if we have forgotten or erred.
رَبَّنا لا تُؤاخِذنا إِن نَسينا أَو أَخطَأناHe has done so
قد فعلتIf 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 فليُتم صومه فإنما أطعمه الله وسقاهI would like to convey this good news to my Muslim brothers: Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, has forgiven every forbidden act that a person commits while forgetting, while ignorant, or while coerced. His saying, the Exalted:
Our Lord, do not impose blame upon us if we have forgotten or erred.
رَبَّنا لا تُؤاخِذنا إِن نَسينا أَو أَخطَأناWhoever disbelieves in Allah after his belief... except for one who is forced [to renounce his religion] while his heart is secure in faith. But those who [willingly] open their breasts to disbelief, upon them is wrath from Allah, and for them is a great punishment;
مَن كَفَرَ بِاللَّهِ مِن بَعدِ إيمانِهِ إِلّا مَن أُكرِهَ وَقَلبُهُ مُطمَئِنٌّ بِالإيمانِ وَلكِن مَن شَرَحَ بِالكُفرِ صَدرًا فَعَلَيهِم غَضَبٌ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَلَهُم عَذابٌ عَظيمٌMultiple hadiths have been reported regarding the dropping of sin from one who is ignorant or forgetful. If a person speaks in prayer thinking that speech is lawful, there is nothing on him and his prayer is valid. If a person eats while fasting thinking that the sun has set, but it has not set, there is nothing on him. If he eats thinking that the dawn has not appeared, but it turns out that it has appeared, there is nothing on him. Every forbidden act that a person commits while forgetting, while ignorant, or while coerced, there is nothing on him. This is from the facilitation of Allah, Mighty and Majestic, and His mercy toward His servants.
As for the commanded acts, if it is possible to make up an obligatory act, even if a person left it while forgetting, he must make it up. The evidence for this is that a man prayed in the mosque of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) and did not settle in his prayer, so the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered him to repeat the prayer and said:
you have not prayed
إنك لم تصلThe questioner : May Allah reward you, O honorable Shaykh.