Praise
be to Allah
Firstly:
If the
accountable person is uncertain about his intention for making up a fast,
and whether he formed the intention before the break of dawn or not, then
the basic principle is that he did not form an intention, because this is
what is certain. He is not sure whether the intention was there before dawn,
so what is certain is that there was no intention, and what is certain
cannot be changed by what is doubtful.
But if the
questioner is affected by waswaas (whispers from the Shaytaan), then she
should continue her fast on the basis that the intention is to make up for a
fast, because doubts do not count if they are many; it is essential to put a
stop to waswaas and doubts and not allow oneself to become carried away with
them, and to avoid making things difficult for oneself, which is contrary to
the easy-going teachings of Islam.
The same applies
if the doubt is something that crossed your mind suddenly, when you think it
most likely that the intention was sound, or there is corroborative evidence
to indicate that you were fasting to make up for a missed day, such as if
you do not usually fast on such a day or in such a situation except when you
are making up a missed fast.
Hence the
scholars said:
Doubt after
doing an action does not count for anything, and the same applies if doubts
occur frequently.
Secondly:
If someone
starts to observe an obligatory fast, such as making up a day from Ramadan,
it is not permissible for him to break the fast without a valid reason, such
as sickness or travel.
If he does break
the fast – with or without a valid reason – he must make up this day, and
make up another day in its stead.
He does not have
to offer any expiation for breaking the fast, whether it was with a valid
reason or otherwise, because expiation is only required for breaking the
fast by having intercourse during the day in Ramadan. See the answer to
question no. 49750.
If the Muslim
changes his intention from making up a missed fast to observing a general
naafil (supererogatory) fast, he does not have to offer expiation for that,
but he must seek Allah’s forgiveness and repent.
Conclusion:
If you had the
intention from the night before to fast in order to make up a missed fast,
then it is not permissible for you to break the fast.
But if that has
already happened, then you must seek Allah’s forgiveness and repent, but
there is no specific expiation that is required in that case.
If you are not
sure whether you had formed the intention from the night before to make up
for a missed fast, then the basic principle is that there was no intention
to that effect from the night before. We act on the basis of what is
certain, which is that the idea came to your mind after dawn. So the fast is
valid as a naafil fast. This applies if there is considerable reason for
doubt.
But if you have
the problem of waswaas, then this is a doubt that is not regarded as
considerable, and it is an obligatory fast that is not affected by doubts or
uncertainty, so it is not permissible to break the fast.
Because you
broke the fast, then you must make up a day in its stead, and not do this
again, but you do not have to offer expiation.
And Allah knows
best.