If a person eats while forgetting during voluntary fasting or making up a missed fast, is his fast invalidated?
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The questioner : This is a listener, Aml from Jordan, who says in this question: Noble Shaykh, this questioner asks: Is voluntary fasting invalidated if a person drinks or eats while forgetting? And is making up a missed fast invalidated? I hope you will provide us with guidance on this?
The Shaykh : The answer to this question is that if a fasting person eats or drinks while forgetting, there is no sin on him and he does not have to make it up; rather, his fast is complete. The evidence for this is the generality of the saying of Allah the Exalted:[Al-Baqarah 2:286] Then Allah the Exalted said: And the specificity of the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): Sahih Muslim 1155 His saying (peace and blessings be upon him and his family): is evidence that his fast is not diminished by that.
And attributing this action to Allah in His saying:Sahih al-Bukhari 1933 is evidence that there is no blame on him for this and that the action is not attributed to him.
Accordingly, if a person eats or drinks while forgetting while fasting—whether it is voluntary fasting, fasting in Ramadan, making up a missed Ramadan fast, or an expiation fast—his fast is complete and valid. However, it is obligatory for him, as soon as he remembers, to stop, even if the mouthful is in his mouth or a sip of water is in his mouth; he must spit it out, and it is not permissible for him to swallow it after he remembers.
Then there is another question here that is based on this: Is it obligatory for one who sees a person eating or drinking while fasting to alert him, or should he say, "This is sustenance that Allah has directed to him, so I will not speak to him about it"? The answer is that it is obligatory for him to alert him, because this falls under the category of cooperating in righteousness and piety. The one who is eating and drinking while forgetting is excused, but you, O believer, he is your brother, and he has done what would invalidate the fast were it not for the excuse; so remind him. And one may cite as evidence for this the generality of the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family): So it is obligatory for one who sees a fasting person eating or drinking to alert him and say, "O my brother, remember that you are fasting." Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you, O honorable Shaykh.
The Shaykh : The answer to this question is that if a fasting person eats or drinks while forgetting, there is no sin on him and he does not have to make it up; rather, his fast is complete. The evidence for this is the generality of the saying of Allah the Exalted:
Our Lord, do not impose blame upon us if we have forgotten or erred.
ربنا لا تؤاخذنا إن نسينا أو أخطأناHe 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 فليتم صومه فإنما أطعمه الله وسقاهLet him complete his fast
فليُتم صومهAnd attributing this action to Allah in His saying:
for what he has eaten or drunk, has been given to him by Allah.
فإنما أطعمه الله وسقاهAccordingly, if a person eats or drinks while forgetting while fasting—whether it is voluntary fasting, fasting in Ramadan, making up a missed Ramadan fast, or an expiation fast—his fast is complete and valid. However, it is obligatory for him, as soon as he remembers, to stop, even if the mouthful is in his mouth or a sip of water is in his mouth; he must spit it out, and it is not permissible for him to swallow it after he remembers.
Then there is another question here that is based on this: Is it obligatory for one who sees a person eating or drinking while fasting to alert him, or should he say, "This is sustenance that Allah has directed to him, so I will not speak to him about it"? The answer is that it is obligatory for him to alert him, because this falls under the category of cooperating in righteousness and piety. The one who is eating and drinking while forgetting is excused, but you, O believer, he is your brother, and he has done what would invalidate the fast were it not for the excuse; so remind him. And one may cite as evidence for this the generality of the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family):
So when I forget, remind me
إذا نسيت فذكّرونيThe questioner : May Allah reward you, O honorable Shaykh.