Is a conditional intention valid in fasting?
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The Shaykh : He asks: Is a conditional intention valid? For example, if one says on the night of the thirtieth of Sha'ban, "I will fast tomorrow; if it is from Ramadan, then so be it, and if it is from any other month, it is a voluntary fast." Or if one says, "I will fast tomorrow; if it is from Ramadan, then so be it, and if it is from Sha'ban, I will break my fast."
Yes, some scholars validate this, such as Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, while others say no; one must wait until it is confirmed. As for fasting the Day of Doubt, the person is certain in his fasting; it is not conditional, but he is certain. For this reason, the stronger position is that if he sleeps before the news arrives and says, "I am fasting if the news comes," and he does not wake up until after Fajr, his fast is valid.
Yes, some scholars validate this, such as Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, while others say no; one must wait until it is confirmed. As for fasting the Day of Doubt, the person is certain in his fasting; it is not conditional, but he is certain. For this reason, the stronger position is that if he sleeps before the news arrives and says, "I am fasting if the news comes," and he does not wake up until after Fajr, his fast is valid.