What is the meaning of: “Whoever breaks the fast in Ramadan intentionally, Allah will not accept [his fast]”?

Question:
What is the meaning of the hadith of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): And if he breaks the fast intentionally and then repents, will Allah accept his repentance?

Answer:
The hadith mentioned is weak, and repentance is accepted if it fulfills its conditions. If he repents with sincere repentance, it is accepted, and he must make up the fast for that day only. As for the hadith mentioned, it is weak as stated above, and it does not serve as a proof. He must repent, and he is only required to make up the day he broke the fast. Repentance is sufficient even from shirk (associating partners with Allah), so how much more so from sin? Repentance wipes out what came before it, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: This is if he repents with sincere repentance, resolving not to return to it, feeling regret for his past action, and abandoning his bad deed. If so, it becomes sincere repentance. Praise be to Allah, except if the sin involves a creation, in which case a fourth condition is necessary: giving him his right or seeking his forgiveness.