Ramadan

Was My Fast Valid If I Ate After The Beginning of Fajr?


Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel

Question

Please answer if I had the intention to fast before Fajr, but I ate, not realizing Fajr started, and found out after eating that Fajr started. Is the fast valid?  Jazak Allah

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate

I pray you are in good faith and health. Thank you for your question.

Your fast is not valid as you ate after the beginning of Fajr.

What is Fasting?

Linguistically, the word fasting in the Arabic language means unconditional ‘restraint’ (imsak) from any action or speech at any time.

According to the Sacred Law, fasting is the act of:

a. refraining from engaging in sexual activity, and
b. refraining from entering anything into the body cavity,
c. whether deliberately or accidentally,
d. from true dawn to the time the sun sets
e. accompanied with the intention of fasting
f.  from individuals who are permitted to fast.

[‘Ala al-Din ‘Abidin, Al-Hadiyya al-‘Ala’iyya]

I would like you to go through the valuable answers and links below. You will receive guidance and direction in sha Allah.

Related Answers

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I pray this helps with your question.

Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Mawlana Ilyas Patel is a traditionally-trained scholar who has studied in the UK, India, Pakistan, Syria, Jordan, and Turkey. He started his early education in the UK. He went on to complete the hifz of the Quran in India, then enrolled in an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied the secular and ‘Aalimiyya sciences. He then traveled to Karachi, Pakistan. He has been an Imam in Rep of Ireland for several years. He has taught hifz of the Quran, Tajwid, Fiqh, and many other Islamic sciences to children and adults onsite and online extensively in the UK and Ireland. He taught at a local Islamic seminary for 12 years in the UK, where he was a librarian and a teacher of Islamic sciences. He currently resides in the UK with his wife. His interest is a love of books and gardening.