Is My Fast Valid If I Slept Intending to Fast but Forgot to Verbally Say the Intention before Fajr?

Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat

Question

I’ve been making up some missed Ramadan fasts for a few days (outside of the month of Ramadan), but sometimes I forget to verbally say the intention before fajr as I’ve unexpectedly fallen asleep and forgot to set my alarm and end up awake after fajr and sunrise.

But before I fall asleep, I know in my mind and heart that I want to and am going to fast the following day to make up my missed fasts and sometimes plan what to eat for suhoor but didn’t plan to fall asleep.

Answer

Your fasts were valid. The intention is the resolve in the heart to do something, and you had that. All the made-up fasts were valid. [Shurunbulali, Maraqi al Falah]

If you’re able to, after you’ve finished the makeup of the fasts, see if you can fast voluntary fasts at the same frequency or even just Mondays and Thursdays. Keeping good actions going is a blessing and something Allah loves. ‘Aisha (May Allah be well pleased with her) narrated from the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “The most beloved religious practice [to Allah] is that which a person continues to perform regularly.” [Bukhari]

May Allah grant you the best of both worlds.

[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim Reasat
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat began his studies in Arabic Grammar and Morphology in 2005. After graduating with a degree in English and History he moved to Damascus in 2007 where, for 18 months, he studied with many erudite scholars. In late 2008 he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continued his studies for the next six years in Sacred Law (fiqh), legal theory (Usul al-fiqh), theology, hadith methodology, hadith commentary, and Logic. He was also given licenses of mastery in the science of Quranic recital and he was able to study an extensive curriculum of Quranic sciences, tafsir, Arabic grammar, and Arabic eloquence.