Question:
I once left Ramadhan fasting by intentionally eating during the day. How should I repent for my past sin of leaving my fast?
Answer:
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
Fasting in the month of Ramadhan is one of the five pillars of Islam which are obligated upon each Muslim. This is clear as narrated in the hadith of Ibn Umar R.Anhuma, where the Prophet PBUH said:
بُنِيَ الإِسْلاَمُ عَلَى خَمْسٍ شَهَادَةِ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَإِقَامِ الصَّلاَةِ وَإِيتَاءِ الزَّكَاةِ وَالْحَجِّ وَصِيَامِ رَمَضَانَ
“Islam is built on five (pillars): Testimony that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, establishing Salah, giving Zakah, Hajj, and fasting Ramadan.”
Sahih al-Bukhari (8) and Sahih Muslim (16)
So, it is clear that Ramadhan fasting is one of the main obligations in Islam which should not be left without having any permissible excuse.
Imam Ibn Hajar al-Haithami stated on immense sin it is to leave the fast intentionally especially in the month of Ramadhan. He clearly stated this saying:
الْكَبِيرَةُ الْأَرْبَعُونَ وَالْحَادِيَةُ وَالْأَرْبَعُونَ بَعْدَ الْمِائَةِ: تَرْكُ صَوْمِ يَوْمٍ مِنْ أَيَّامِ رَمَضَانَ، وَالْإِفْطَارُ فِيهِ بِجِمَاعٍ أَوْ غَيْرِهِ بِغَيْرِ عُذْرٍ مِنْ نَحْوِ مَرَضٍ أَوْ سَفَرٍ
The great sin number 140 and 141, leaving fasting on one of the days in Ramadhan, and breaking fast in it by having intercourse or other methods without having any permissible excuse like sickness or travel. See al-Zawajir (1/323).
However, Islam still give the chance for its ummah who transgresses by leaving the fasting intentionally but then grew a conscience and decided to repent to Allah SWT. So, fuqaha’ (jurists) discussed on this in the chapter of qada’ (replacing) fasting for those who left them intentionally.
The offence of intentionally breaking fast is so immense that madhhab Imam Malik and madhhab Imam Abu Hanifah obligate kaffarah and qada’ to those who intentionally eat and drink in the month of Ramadhan.
While madhhab Imam al-Shafi’e and madhhab Imam Ahmad are of the opinion that those who leave fasting by intentionally eating or drinking are not imposed with kaffarah because kaffarah is specific to only those who had intercourse during the day in Ramadhan. However, they both agreed that the fast is still wajib to be replaced. See Mausuah al-Fiqhiyah (28/60).
This is also stated by contemporary fuqaha’ (jurists) on what should be done by those who intentionally leave the fast, or commit the offense which may cause his fasting to be invalidated other than having intercourse during the fasting period. Among them is what is stated by Sheikh Muhammad al-Zuhayli:
من أفطر في رمضان بغير جماع، بأن أكل أو شرب، أو استعط ، أو باشر فيما دون الفرج فأنزل، أو استمني فأنزل، وكان يمكنه الصوم، وجب عليه قضاؤه قبل حلول شهر رمضان من العام الذي يليه
Whoever break the fast in Ramadhan other than by having intercourse which is by eating or drinking, or inserting something (fluid or medicine) in the nose or touching other than the private part, but then ejaculated, or masturbating, then ejaculated. (When doing the above matters), he is able to fast, then it is wajib for him to qada’ before reaching the next Ramadhan in the following year. See al-Mu’tamad (2/200).
While Sheikh Ibn Baz when answering the question presented to him about a person who intentionally broke his fast for the previous Ramadhan of some past years, stressed out that breaking fast by eating or drinking or doing anything which invalidates the fast other than jima’ (sexual intercourse) is a prohibited action. He stated that those who leave Ramadhan fasting intentionally should repent to Allah and regret his action. Then, he should replace the days he left and it is an obligation for him because breaking fast without having any permissible excuse is a great prohibition. [1]
Conclusion
Looking at the above evidence and argument, we state that people who intentionally break their fast in the month of Ramadhan are great sinners because they leave one of the five pillars of Islam.
However, Allah SWT is merciful towards His servants by giving them a chance to redeem themselves from their past sins. So, we state that those who left the Ramadhan fasting through any means that would invalidate his fast other than jima’ (having intercourse) during the day should immediately replace it before the start of Ramadhan in the following year.
For those who fail to replace their fasts before the coming of Ramadhan the next year, he should pay fidyah according to the stated rate.
May we all receive hidayah and taufiq to practice all of His commands.
[1]
https://binbaz.org.sa/fatwas/16982/%D8%AD%D9%83%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%B7%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%A8%D8%BA%D9%8A%D8%B1-%D8%B9%D8%B0%D8%B1-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D9%86%D9%87%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%B1%D9%85%D8%B6%D8%A7%D9%86