The Ruling on Eating and Drinking by Mistake in Voluntary Fasting
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Question:
I heard from one of the scholars that regarding voluntary fasting, if the fasting person forgets and eats or drinks, he must break his fast and not complete it, which is the opposite of fasting in Ramadan. Please inform us about this, may Allah reward you with good.
Answer:
This is an error. The correct ruling is that if he eats while forgetting, or drinks while forgetting, his fast is valid and he does not break it; rather, his fast is valid. Likewise, according to the correct view, if he has intercourse with his wife while forgetting, his fast is valid. This is based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in the authentic hadith, when he was asked about that, he said:Sahih Muslim 1155 It was narrated by the two Shaykhs in the two Sahihs.
And Allah the Exalted said: [al-Baqarah: 286], mentioning that His believing servants call upon Him and say: [al-Baqarah: 286]. So Allah said: Thus it is established from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) that Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, said: Yes, meaning: He forgives them if they do something out of forgetfulness or by mistake.
And among this is if one eats while forgetting in fasting in Ramadan or otherwise in voluntary fasting, or in making up fasts, or in vowed fasts, if he eats while forgetting or drinks while forgetting or has intercourse while forgetting, he owes nothing. This is based on his saying (peace and blessings be upon him):Sahih Muslim 1155 It is agreed upon that it is authentic.
And in a narration mentioned by al-Hakim and others, whose chain is authentic:Bulugh al-Maram 5:21 This covers breaking the fast by eating and drinking, or by intercourse, or by anything else, if it is due to forgetfulness, for Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, forgives it out of His grace and kindness, Glorified and Exalted is He; because a person is prone to forgetfulness in everything. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good. So is this not specific to voluntary fasts?
The Shaykh: No, it is general for obligatory and voluntary fasts, and for Ramadan and others.
The presenter: Yes. May Allah reward you with good.
I heard from one of the scholars that regarding voluntary fasting, if the fasting person forgets and eats or drinks, he must break his fast and not complete it, which is the opposite of fasting in Ramadan. Please inform us about this, may Allah reward you with good.
Answer:
This is an error. The correct ruling is that if he eats while forgetting, or drinks while forgetting, his fast is valid and he does not break it; rather, his fast is valid. Likewise, according to the correct view, if he has intercourse with his wife while forgetting, his fast is valid. This is based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in the authentic hadith, when he was asked about that, he said:
If anyone forgets that he is fasting and eats or drinks he should complete his fast, for it is only Allah Who has fed him and given him drink.
من نسي وهو صائم فأكل أو شرب فليتم صومه فإنما أطعمه الله وسقاهAnd Allah the Exalted said:
Our Lord, do not impose blame upon us if we have forgotten or erred.
رَبَّنَا لا تُؤَاخِذْنَا إِنْ نَسِينَا أَوْ أَخْطَأْنَاOur Lord, do not impose blame upon us if we have forgotten or erred.
رَبَّنَا لا تُؤَاخِذْنَا إِنْ نَسِينَا أَوْ أَخْطَأْنَاHe has done so
قد فعلتAnd among this is if one eats while forgetting in fasting in Ramadan or otherwise in voluntary fasting, or in making up fasts, or in vowed fasts, if he eats while forgetting or drinks while forgetting or has intercourse while forgetting, he owes nothing. This is based on his saying (peace and blessings be upon him):
If anyone forgets that he is fasting and eats or drinks he should complete his fast, for it is only Allah Who has fed him and given him drink.
من نسي وهو صائم فأكل أو شرب فليتم صومه، فإنما أطعمه الله وسقاهAnd in a narration mentioned by al-Hakim and others, whose chain is authentic:
Whoever breaks his fast during Ramadan due to forgetfulness is not to make up for the day later or perform an expiation.
من أفطر في رمضان ناسيًا فلا قضاء عليه ولا كفارةThe presenter: May Allah reward you with good. So is this not specific to voluntary fasts?
The Shaykh: No, it is general for obligatory and voluntary fasts, and for Ramadan and others.
The presenter: Yes. May Allah reward you with good.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.