Is Pre-Dawn Intention Required for Ramadan Fasting? Al-Azhar Fatwa Member Explains
Dr. Atiya Lashine, member of Al-Azhar Fatwa Committee, clarifies the timing of intention (niyyah) for fasting, explaining differences among Islamic schools of thought and the preferred view for valid fasting.
A question was posed to Dr. Atiya Lashine on his official Facebook page about whether one must intend (niyyah) fasting for any day of Ramadan before dawn. He answered that intention is essential for the validity of all acts of worship, including prayer, fasting, zakat, and Hajj, citing the Prophet Muhammad’s saying: “Actions are judged by intentions.”
He explained that the majority of scholars from the Maliki, Shafi’i, and Hanbali schools maintain that fasting is invalid unless the intention is made before Fajr, referencing Hafsa’s narration: “Whoever does not intend fasting from the night, his fast is not valid,” highlighting the distinction between religious fasting and merely abstaining from food.
The Hanafi school allows intending to fast during the day, citing the case of Ashura fasting for those who had not intended beforehand. However, Dr. Lashine noted this is weak evidence as it was a voluntary fast, not obligatory, referencing Muawiyah ibn Abi Sufyan’s narration: “This is the day of Ashura, and Allah did not make its fasting obligatory.”
He emphasized that the preferred view for obligatory fasting is pre-dawn intention, while voluntary fasting (nawafil) can have intention during the day for Shafi’i and Hanbali schools, whereas Malikis require pre-dawn intention for both obligatory and voluntary fasts, citing Aisha’s narration about the Prophet’s voluntary fast during the day.
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