What is the ruling on one who begins a voluntary act of worship and then interrupts it, such as voluntary fasting? And does he commit a sin?
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The questioner : His EminenceThe Shaykh : What is the ruling on changing the intention in a voluntary act of worship, such as one who, for example, fasted on a Monday, and then broke his fast in the middle of the day? What is the ruling on that? And does he commit a sin in his action?
The Shaykh : Yes?
The questioner : I say, O Shaykh, what is the ruling on changing the intention in a voluntary act of worship, such as one who, for example, fasted
The Shaykh : Say: What is the ruling on a person who breaks his voluntary fast?
The questioner : Yes, I do.
The Shaykh : What is changing the intention? This is breaking the fast.
The questioner : Or, I mean, changing the intention in voluntary acts of worship in general.
The Shaykh : We come to breaking the fast: if a person fasts voluntarily, there is no blame on him if he breaks his fast, but it is better that he not break his fast except for a purpose, either because he feels fatigue in himself, or because guests have come who are not pleased unless they eat with him, or something similar to that; otherwise, let him continue.
And likewise the rest of the voluntary acts, such as if one begins a voluntary prayer and guests arrive while he is in the middle of the prayer, let him interrupt it and there is no harm.[Al-Baqarah 2:196]
So the rule now is: that whoever begins a voluntary act is permitted to do what? To interrupt it, but it is better that he not interrupt it except for an excuse, except for Hajj and 'Umrah, for which it is obligatory for him to complete them.
The Shaykh : Yes?
The questioner : I say, O Shaykh, what is the ruling on changing the intention in a voluntary act of worship, such as one who, for example, fasted
The Shaykh : Say: What is the ruling on a person who breaks his voluntary fast?
The questioner : Yes, I do.
The Shaykh : What is changing the intention? This is breaking the fast.
The questioner : Or, I mean, changing the intention in voluntary acts of worship in general.
The Shaykh : We come to breaking the fast: if a person fasts voluntarily, there is no blame on him if he breaks his fast, but it is better that he not break his fast except for a purpose, either because he feels fatigue in himself, or because guests have come who are not pleased unless they eat with him, or something similar to that; otherwise, let him continue.
And likewise the rest of the voluntary acts, such as if one begins a voluntary prayer and guests arrive while he is in the middle of the prayer, let him interrupt it and there is no harm.
And complete the Hajj and 'umrah for Allah
وَأَتِمُّوا الْحَجَّ وَالْعُمْرَةَ لِلَّهِSo the rule now is: that whoever begins a voluntary act is permitted to do what? To interrupt it, but it is better that he not interrupt it except for an excuse, except for Hajj and 'Umrah, for which it is obligatory for him to complete them.