Does hesitation in fasting invalidate the fast? For instance, if a person sees food and hesitates internally about whether to break the fast or continue fasting, or if they feel extremely hungry or thirsty and think about food or water? Does the same apply to fasting during the month of Ramadan and for making up missed fasts?
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1 Answer
Peace be upon you.
Ayatollah Khamenei (may Allah protect him):
- In obligatory fasting, such as the fast of Ramadan or a specific vow, one must maintain the intention from dawn until sunset. Therefore, if a person changes their intention during the day and decides not to continue fasting, their fast is invalidated, even if they later return to the intention of continuing to fast. However, they must refrain from anything that breaks the fast until sunset during Ramadan.
- In obligatory fasting, if a person hesitates about whether to continue fasting or intends to commit an act that breaks the fast but does not actually do it, it is recommended that they complete their fast and make it up later.
- In recommended fasting and non-specific obligatory fasting (which is not tied to a specific day), if a person intends to break the fast or is hesitant, and has not committed any act that breaks the fast, they can renew their intention to fast before noon in non-specific obligatory fasting and before sunset in recommended fasting.
- Yes, merely thinking about eating or drinking does not invalidate the fast.
Source: Message on Prayer and Fasting, Fasting, Obligations of Fasting, Sustaining Intention
Ayatollah Sistani (may Allah protect him):
It is necessary to maintain the intention until the end of the day. If one intends to break the fast or hesitates, it is invalidated, even if they return to the intention of fasting, as a precaution. The same applies if they intend to break the fast or hesitate about it, or intend to commit an act that breaks the fast while knowing it is breaking. If they hesitate due to doubt about the validity of their fast, it does not harm its validity. This applies to specific obligatory fasting; however, in non-specific obligatory fasting, nothing of that sort affects it if they return to their intention before noon.
Yes, merely thinking about eating or drinking does not invalidate the fast.
Source: Minhaj al-Salihin, Vol. 1, Intention of Fasting, M 980
Ayatollah Mousa Shubairi Zanjani (may Allah protect him):
If one intends to break the obligatory fast—whether the time is ample or limited—by not continuing their fast for the rest of the day, or hesitates about it, or intends to commit an act that breaks the fast while being aware that it is breaking, they are like someone who did not intend to fast until that time.
If they hesitate about invalidating the fast by consuming something that breaks it, their fast is invalidated, and they are like someone who did not intend to fast.
Source: Legal Issues, p. 276.
May you be successful in all good.