Is the fasting of a person who does not intend for missed Ramadan fasting with his heart or tongue until imsak time but intends later until noon valid?
- When is the intention (niyyah) time for fasting?
- If a woman who missed fasting in Ramadan due to menstruation wants to perform them as qada later and if she does not make intention at night because of not knowing the intention time for missed fasting and if she makes intention toward noon thinking "I have not had breakfast; so, I will fast today", will her fasting be valid since she does not know the time when to make intention for missed fasting?
- If she sometimes made intention at night and sometimes decided to fast in the morning when she got up and if she did not remember how many days she made intention in the morning when she performed fasting for the days she missed in Ramadan due to menstruation, would her fasting be valid?
- Would her fasts be accepted since she did not know the time for intention? Does she have to perform fasting again for all those days she missed since she does not remember how days she made intention in the morning and how many at night? Is it valid in other madhhabs?
Submitted by on Mon, 28/03/2022 - 15:47
Dear Brother / Sister,
It is sufficient to intend to fast with the heart, that is, to have the intention and awareness of fasting the next day; expressing the intention with the tongue is regarded mandub.
The time to make intention (niyyah) for Ramadan fasting, fasting vowed to be performed on certain days, and all nafilah (supererogatory) fasting is the period from the sunset to the peak time of the sun (zawal) the next day.
The fact that the intention of such fasts can be made after fajr sadiq (dawn) is conditional upon not eating or drinking anything after fajr and not doing anything contrary to fasting. Otherwise, the intention made during the day will not be valid. (Qasani, Badaius-Sanai, II, 581)
It is sufficient to have an absolute intention, for example, saying "to perform fasting tomorrow..." for Ramadan fasting, fasts vowed to be kept on certain days, and all nafilah fasts.
However, it is more virtuous to make the intention at night and to indicate the fast to be performed, for example saying, "to perform the Ramadan fasting tomorrow...".
The time to make intention for missed fasting, kaffarah (atonement) fasting and absolute vow fasting is the period from sunset until fajr sadiq (dawn). The intention made after the beginning of fajr sadiq will not be valid. When intending such fasting, it is necessary to specify by saying "for such and such a missed day fasting..." "for such and such kaffarah fasting...", "for such and such vow fasting...".
According to Shafii madhhab, the intention for fasting other than nafilah fasting has to be done at night. If the intention to fast is not made until the time of imsak, one is considered to have not intended to fast on that day. On the other hand, nafilah fasting can be intended until the peak time of the sun (zawal). (Shirazi, al-Muhadhdhab, II, 598- 600)
Hanbalis are of the same opinion as Shafiis. Malikis, on the other hand, hold the view that intention has be made at night even for nafilah fasting.
In conclusion, it is the common view of all madhhabs that intention for missed fasting has to made at night; and not knowing it is not an excuse in an Islamic country. Therefore, she has to perform again for the fasting days that she did not intend in time.
Questions on Islam
- What is the time to make intention for fasting according to Shafii madhhab? Is it fard to make intention?
- What is the way, decree and time for the intention (niyyah) of fasting? Is it permissible to make intention after imsak? Does the time of niyyah change according to fard or nafilah fasting?
- Will you give information about the afternoon (asr) prayer?
- How did people determine the time of imsak in the past? I heard from old people that they determined the time of imsak when it became bright enough to distinguish black thread from white thread. However, it is very dark at the time of imsak.
- Is it makruh to fast one day before Ramadan?
- Will you explain the statement "eat and drink, until the white thread appears to you distinct from the black thread..." mentioned in verse 187 of the chapter of al-Baqara? How will people living at the poles perform fasting?
- What should we do to tell people about supererogatory (nafilah) deeds of worship?
- What are the things that invalidate fasting according to Shafii madhhab? Does eating deliberately while fasting necessitate kaffarah?
- Will you give information about fasting in order to welcome Ramadan or to bid farewell to Ramadan, and the number of days in the month of Ramadan?
- How to make niyyah (intention) for performing missed fasting?
