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Eating and drinking forgetfully whilst fasting a vowed fast

Question

If I eat due to forgetfulness in a fast that was intended upon a vow, is it permissible for me to complete the fasting of the day as in the month of Ramadhaan?

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

The preponderant opinion of scholars is that if a fasting person eats or drinks out of forgetfulness, his fasting is valid because the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "If anyone forgets that he is fasting and eats or drinks, then he should complete his fast for He is Allaah Who fed him and gave him drink." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

This ruling comprises all forms of fasting whether obligatory or voluntary. Therefore, if this happens to someone who is offering a fast that was intended upon a vow, he should complete his fasting as a matter of obligation as in Ramadan. This is not only permissible but obligatory.

Allaah Knows best.

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