How to Make Intention to Fast

John Starling
Feb 16
1 min read

Q: When and how do I make a proper intention to fast in Ramadan?

A: Any part of the night is valid for forming the intention: the beginning, middle, or end.

Simply resolving in one’s heart that “I will fast tomorrow for Ramadan” is sufficient.

Even actions like eating or drinking at night with the awareness that one is preparing to fast counts as intention.

The intention does not need to be verbalized. Its place is the heart.

Source: Sharh al-Muntaha & Kashshaf al-Qina

Recent Posts

See All

The “Imsak” Buffer

There is no obligation to stop eating 15-20 minutes before Fajr. One may eat and drink until the actual entrance of true dawn.

Using a Bidet while Fasting

The ruling returns to a broader principle: if a person deliberately causes something to enter his internal cavity (al-jawf), or any hollow space within the body, the fast is invalidated.

Enemas Break the Fast

If a person performs iḥtiqān (administers an enema) into the rectum, his fast is invalidated because the substance reaches the internal body cavity (al-jawf).

Comments