The ruling on forming the intention the night before for voluntary fasting

Question:
Does voluntary fasting require forming the intention the night before? Or is it permissible for a person to intend to fast at any time during the day, provided he has not consumed anything after the Fajr adhan?

Answer:
There is no harm in this. It is not a condition to form the intention the night before for a voluntary fast. If a person reaches the morning without having eaten anything or consumed anything that breaks the fast, he may perform the voluntary fast, as in the authentic hadith: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) entered upon Aisha one day and said, "Do you have anything?" She said, "No." He said, .
Therefore, fasting from the middle of the day is permissible if he has not consumed anything that breaks the fast. As for the obligatory fast, it is necessary to form the intention the night before; because of his saying (peace and blessings be upon him): . If it is the obligatory fast of Ramadan, or an expiation, or a vow, he must form the intention the night before, meaning: he intends before the dawn breaks. Yes.