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Fasting
without making an intention when starting to fast
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this fatwa to: www.fatwa-online.com, thankyou!*
Question: Sometimes I fast without making an
intention when starting the fast. So is making the intention
every day a condition for fasting or is it sufficient to make
one intention at the start of the month?
Response:
Fasting and other acts of worship are from those acts which
must be preceded by intention. The Prophet (sal-Allaahu
`alayhe wa sallam) said:
((Verily actions are but by intentions,
and for everyone is what he intended)).
And
in another narration:
((There is no act except with intention)).
So
to fast in Ramadhaan,
it is obligatory to make the intention during the night sometime
before the arrival of Fajr
of the day being intended to fast. A Muslim's rising up from
sleep in the last part of the night and eating the sahoor
is an indication of the presence of the intention. It is not
required that a person utter the intention by the tongue by
saying: "I intend to fast". This is an innovation
(bid`ah)
and is not permissible. The intention in Ramadhaan
is to be done every day (for the next days fast) because each
day is a separate act of worship requiring its intention.
So the intention for the fast is to be made in the heart for
everyday during the night. If someone makes the intention
during the night, then sleeps and does not wake up until after
the time of Fajr
has entered, then his fast is valid due to the presence of
the intention from the night.
Shaykh
Ibn Fowzaan
Fataawa Ramadhaan - Volume 1, Page 162, Fatwa No. 95;
al-Muntaqaa min Fataawa Shaykh Saalih Ibn Fowzaan - Volume
1, Page 33
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