Prayer TimesIf Allah wills, there are only about four weeks left until the arrival of the long-awaited month of Ramadan. For acts of worship to be accepted, it is very important that they are performed correctly. In this regard, the muftyat.kz website is publishing fatwas and Q&A about fasting from the book "Fatwas Related to Ramadan Fasting" prepared by the Sharia and Fatwa Department of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Kazakhstan.
Today, we present answers to frequently asked questions from the community about making intention (niyyah) for fasting.
Question: What is the ruling on making intention for fasting?
Answer: Deciding in your heart that you will fast on a certain day for the sake of Allah is called intention (niyyah). Making intention is a main condition for the validity of fasting [1]. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said in a hadith:إنَّما الأعمالُ بالنِّيَّاتِ
“Actions are judged by intentions” [2].
It is not required to say the intention out loud. Getting up for suhoor or simply intending in your heart to fast is considered sufficient. It is best to make the intention for Ramadan fasting any time from sunset until dawn.
If, for some reason, you are unable to make intention before dawn, for example if you oversleep, you may still make intention until mid-morning, that is, up to one hour before the Dhuhr prayer. If you make intention after that, the fast for that day will not be valid [3].
When making intention for fasting, it should be for the sake of earning the reward of fasting and seeking only Allah’s pleasure, not for dieting or losing weight.
Question: How should the intention be made?
Answer: There are several types of fasting:Obligatory fast – the fast of Ramadan.
A fast that is observed at a set time as a vow.
A fast that is observed as a vow without specifying the time.
Making up missed fasts from Ramadan.
Making up a broken voluntary fast that has become obligatory to make up.
Expiatory (kaffarah) fast.
Voluntary fast.
Question: Is it necessary to make intention for each day of Ramadan?
Answer: Since each day of Ramadan is a separate act of worship, it is necessary to make a separate intention for each day [5]. Making intention only once at the beginning of Ramadan is not sufficient. If a person does not make intention for fasting or breaking the fast on any of the days of Ramadan, they must make up those days [6].Question: Is it valid to make intention for the next day’s fast before sunset?
Answer: If you make intention to fast the next day before sunset, your fast will not be valid. Even if you lose consciousness before sunset and remain so until after the time for Dhuhr the next day, or if you sleep through this period, you will not be considered as having fasted that day. However, if you make intention after sunset, your fast will be valid [7].Question: If someone says “I have broken my fast” but does not eat or drink anything, is the fast broken?
Answer: If a fasting person only intends to break their fast but does not actually eat or drink anything, the fast is not broken. The fast is only broken if something enters the body through the mouth or nose.It is stated in the book "Al-Fatawa al-Hindiyya": "If a fasting person intends to break the fast but does not actually do anything to break it, their fast remains complete" [8].
[1] "Al-Fatawa at-Tatarkhaniyya", 2/97.
[2] Bukhari, No. 54. Muslim, No. 1907.
[3] "Al-Mufassal fi al-Fiqh al-Hanafi", 1/272.
[4] "Al-Lubab fi Sharh al-Kitab", 1/162-163.
[5] "Al-Fatawa al-Hindiyya": 1/215. "Al-Fatawa at-Tatarkhaniyya", 2/97.
[6] "Al-Fatawa at-Tatarkhaniyya", 2/98.
[7] "Al-Fatawa at-Tatarkhaniyya", 2/97-98.
[8] "Al-Fatawa al-Hindiyya", 1/215.
This content was drafted with AI assistance and reviewed by an editor.