Does Drinking Out of Forgetfulness Break My Fast?

Answered by Ustadh Sufyan Qufi

Question

After Wudu I accidentally drank some water (of the leftover water) because it is Sunna. But I was fasting. Is my fast still valid?

Answer

In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, Most Merciful,

I pray this finds you in the best of states.

Yes, your fast is still valid because you drank this water while forgetting that you were fasting. Thus, your fast remains valid. If you were aware that you were fasting you would have never drunk this water. [Shurunbulali, Nur al-Idah]

The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) has said: “When the fasting believer eats out of forgetfulness, or when he drinks out of forgetfulness, then this is a supply that Allah has granted to him. Thus no make-up is due upon him.” [Bukhari]

And Allah knows best.
Wassalam
[Ustadh] Sufyan Qufi
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadh Sufyan Qufi is an advanced seeker of knowledge, originally from Algeria, who grew up in France. He began searching far and wide for answers to the fundamental questions of life and was disappointed at the answers he found. Then he connected with various traditional teachers and gradually connected with SeekersGuidance. He embarked on his journey of learning through the various teachers at SeekersGuidance, including his mentor Shaykh Faraz Rabbani. He studied numerous texts in Islamic Law, Theology, Hadith, and other areas with Shaykh Faraz Rabbani and other teachers, including Shaykh Abdurrahman al-Sha‘ar, Shaykh Ali Hani, and others. He is an active instructor at SeekersGuidance and answers questions through the SeekersGuidance Answers Service.