Eating and drinking forgetfully whilst fasting a vowed fast

03/05/2016| IslamWeb

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 Ramadan?

Fatwa:

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad 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 said: "If anyone forgets that he is fasting and eats or drinks, then he should complete his fast for He is Allah 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.

Allah Knows best.