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One time I was fasting to make up a missed fast, but halfway through the day I became uncertain as to whether I had formed the intention before dawn or after dawn, so I changed my intention to intending that this day’s fast would be a voluntary fast for Allah, may He be exalted. Is what I did correct, or is that not permissible? If it is not permissible, do I have to offer expiation or do anything in particular? I hope that you will answer, because I am very confused about this matter.
Praise be to Allah.
Firstly:
If the accountable person is uncertain about his intention for making up a fast, and whether he formed the intention before the break of dawn or not, then the basic principle is that he did not form an intention, because this is what is certain. He is not sure whether the intention was there before dawn, so what is certain is that there was no intention, and what is certain cannot be changed by what is doubtful.
But if the questioner is affected by waswaas (whispers from the Shaytaan), then she should continue her fast on the basis that the intention is to make up for a fast, because doubts do not count if they are many; it is essential to put a stop to waswaas and doubts and not allow oneself to become carried away with them, and to avoid making things difficult for oneself, which is contrary to the easy-going teachings of Islam.
The same applies if the doubt is something that crossed your mind suddenly, when you think it most likely that the intention was sound, or there is corroborative evidence to indicate that you were fasting to make up for a missed day, such as if you do not usually fast on such a day or in such a situation except when you are making up a missed fast.
Hence the scholars said:
Doubt after doing an action does not count for anything, and the same applies if doubts occur frequently.
Secondly:
If someone starts to observe an obligatory fast, such as making up a day from Ramadan, it is not permissible for him to break the fast without a valid reason, such as sickness or travel.
If he does break the fast – with or without a valid reason – he must make up this day, and make up another day in its stead.
He does not have to offer any expiation for breaking the fast, whether it was with a valid reason or otherwise, because expiation is only required for breaking the fast by having intercourse during the day in Ramadan. See the answer to question no. 49750.
If the Muslim changes his intention from making up a missed fast to observing a general naafil (supererogatory) fast, he does not have to offer expiation for that, but he must seek Allah’s forgiveness and repent.
Conclusion:
If you had the intention from the night before to fast in order to make up a missed fast, then it is not permissible for you to break the fast.
But if that has already happened, then you must seek Allah’s forgiveness and repent, but there is no specific expiation that is required in that case.
If you are not sure whether you had formed the intention from the night before to make up for a missed fast, then the basic principle is that there was no intention to that effect from the night before. We act on the basis of what is certain, which is that the idea came to your mind after dawn. So the fast is valid as a naafil fast. This applies if there is considerable reason for doubt.
But if you have the problem of waswaas, then this is a doubt that is not regarded as considerable, and it is an obligatory fast that is not affected by doubts or uncertainty, so it is not permissible to break the fast.
Because you broke the fast, then you must make up a day in its stead, and not do this again, but you do not have to offer expiation.
And Allah knows best.