Is it obligatory to complete the fast of a voluntary fast, and if a person intends to break his fast and then changes his intention because there is no food, what is the ruling?
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The questioner : In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
His EminenceThe Shaykh : If a person fasts a day.
The Shaykh : Raise your voice so the people can hear.
The questioner : If he intends to fast a day and in the middle of the day he intends to break his fast, he says: "So I want to break my fast," and he goes to get food, but he is not successful, meaning in finding food or the presence of food, and he says: "So I am fasting," with a change of intention, O Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Is the fast obligatory or voluntary?
The questioner : Voluntary.
The Shaykh : It is not obligatory to complete a voluntary fast; if a person wishes, he may break his fast. However, he should not break his fast except for a reason, because when a person begins an act of obedience to Allah (Mighty and Majestic), he should not deviate from it unless there is a legitimate religious reason that requires him to break his fast, such as: if two guests are presented to him and they do not see their hospitality except by eating with him, or similar reasons. In this case, breaking the fast is better. Or if a person invites him to a wedding feast and he sees that the host will not be pleased until this fasting person eats, then eating is better. But without a reason, no; he should not break his fast, and if he does break it, there is no blame on him.
As for if he intends to break the fast, as in the question, he intends to break the fast but goes to eat, then he is considered to have broken his fast, whether he finds the food and eats it or does not find it. But if he does not find it and intends to resume the fast, and we are speaking about the fast being voluntary, then he has that right, but he is not rewarded for this day except from the second intention. So if he intends in the middle of the day, he has only the reward of half a day. This is if he intended to break the fast but went to eat. But if he says: "I will go to the restaurant; if I find something, I will break my fast, otherwise I am on my fast," then his fast is not broken until he finds something to eat and breaks his fast. Yes.
His EminenceThe Shaykh : If a person fasts a day.
The Shaykh : Raise your voice so the people can hear.
The questioner : If he intends to fast a day and in the middle of the day he intends to break his fast, he says: "So I want to break my fast," and he goes to get food, but he is not successful, meaning in finding food or the presence of food, and he says: "So I am fasting," with a change of intention, O Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Is the fast obligatory or voluntary?
The questioner : Voluntary.
The Shaykh : It is not obligatory to complete a voluntary fast; if a person wishes, he may break his fast. However, he should not break his fast except for a reason, because when a person begins an act of obedience to Allah (Mighty and Majestic), he should not deviate from it unless there is a legitimate religious reason that requires him to break his fast, such as: if two guests are presented to him and they do not see their hospitality except by eating with him, or similar reasons. In this case, breaking the fast is better. Or if a person invites him to a wedding feast and he sees that the host will not be pleased until this fasting person eats, then eating is better. But without a reason, no; he should not break his fast, and if he does break it, there is no blame on him.
As for if he intends to break the fast, as in the question, he intends to break the fast but goes to eat, then he is considered to have broken his fast, whether he finds the food and eats it or does not find it. But if he does not find it and intends to resume the fast, and we are speaking about the fast being voluntary, then he has that right, but he is not rewarded for this day except from the second intention. So if he intends in the middle of the day, he has only the reward of half a day. This is if he intended to break the fast but went to eat. But if he says: "I will go to the restaurant; if I find something, I will break my fast, otherwise I am on my fast," then his fast is not broken until he finds something to eat and breaks his fast. Yes.