4th & 5th Day: The Intention of Ramadan

(In the Name of Allah, The Most Beneficent, The Most Merciful )

(May the Peace, Mercy and Blessings of Almighty Allah, The  Most High be upon you)

Today, 5th Day of Ramadan, first blessed Friday of the Glorious Ramadan, Allah's willing, we are going to quotes some Al Hadiths about the intention to be made for the beginning of each day of Ramadan, for the proper commencement of this beautiful act of Ibadah, as per below:

The Intention of Fasting

The Ramadaan fast and other acts of worship are not valid 

unless accompanied by the proper intention,

because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: 

"Actions are but by intentions, 

and everyone shall have but that which he intended.."

(Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1; Muslim, 1907)

The intention is subject to the condition 

that it be made at night, before the dawn comes, 

because the Prophet (Sall'Allahu alaihi wasallam) said:

"Whoever does not intend to fast 

before dawn, 

there is no fast for him."

(Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 730). 

According to a version narrated by al-Nasaa'i (2334): 

"Whoever does not intend to fast 

from the night before, 

there is no fast for him." 

(Classed as hasan by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi, 573).

What is meant is that whoever does not intend to fast 

and resolve to do so from the night before, his fast is not valid.

The intention (niyyah) is an action of the heart. 

The Muslim should resolve in his heart 

that he is going to fast tomorrow.

It is not prescribed for him to utter it out loud and say, 

"I intend to fast" or "I will fast tomorrow" 

or other phrases that have been innovated by some people.

The correct intention is when a person resolves in his heart

that he is going to fast tomorrow.

Hence Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah said in al-Ikhtiyaaraat (p. 191):

If it crosses a person's mind 

that he is going to fast tomorrow,

then he has made the intention.

The Standing Committee was asked:

How should a person intend to fast Ramadaan?

They replied:

The intention is done by resolving to fast. 

It is essential that the intention to fast Ramadan

be made every night.

(Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa'imah, 10/246)

And Allaah knows best.

Remain blessed!

Brother in Islam,

(Suleiman Ibn Adam)

sulbaf@gmail.com