Forgetting to Eat and Being Unsure About Imsak/Maghrib: Is the Fast Valid?

Observing fasting, whether it be Ramadan fasting, Qadha fasting, or sunnah fasting (such as Monday and Thursday), doesn’t always go as planned due to unforeseen circumstances. We often hear stories of friends who forgot to eat while fasting, or perhaps we ourselves have woken up late and decided to eat sahur at dawn because we were unsure whether the sun had risen yet or not.

These conditions often cause panic. Is our fast invalid? Do we have to make up for it (qadha) on another day? Or is it still valid?

To answer these doubts with a strong foundation, we will examine the explanation from the highly authoritative Shafi’i fiqh book, Asna al-Matalib Syarah Rawd at-Talib (Volume 1, pp. 416-417). Let’s analyze it one by one so that our worship is peaceful and in accordance with the guidance.

1. The Ruling on Forgetting to Eat and Drink During Fasting

This is a classic and common scenario. Someone wakes up, feels thirsty, and drinks a glass of water. Only after finishing does he realize that he is fasting.

Valid, Even if Consumed in Large Quantities

The good news is that the book Asna al-Matalib confirms that forgetting to eat while fasting does not invalidate the fast. Uniquely, this rule applies even if a large amount of food or drink is consumed.

In the book it is written:

قوله: (ولا يفطر الناسي) للصوم… (بالأكل ولو كثر)

Meaning: “And it is not invalidated for those who forget their fast… because of eating, even if it is a lot.”

Why is that? Because this is considered an act that is not based on an intention to violate Allah’s prohibition, so it is considered sustenance from Allah.

So, whether you forget to eat during Monday-Thursday fasting, forget to eat during other sunnah fasting, or forget to eat during qadha fasting, is it invalid? The answer is: No, it is not invalid. Stop eating immediately when you remember, spit out what is left in your mouth, and continue fasting until Maghrib.

2. The Ruling for Those Who Are Unaware (Jahil) and Forced

In addition to forgetfulness, there are two other conditions in which a person is forgiven if they do something that invalidates their fast, namely ignorance (jahil) and coercion (ikrah).

Criteria for “Ignorant” People Who Are Forgiven

Not everyone who claims to be “ignorant” can be exempt from the law of annulment. The book Asna al-Matalib provides strict limitations on who can be considered an ignorant person who is forgiven (ma’fu).

They are:

1. People who have recently converted to Islam (mualaf).
2. people raised in remote areas, far from scholars.

قوله: (و) لا (الجاهل) بتحريم ما فعله… (المعذور) بأن قرب عهده بالإسلام أو نشأ ببادية بعيدة عن العلماء

If you live in a city with many religious study groups or internet access for learning and gaining access to religious teachings, the excuse of “not knowing” is usually not accepted. However, if the above conditions are met, the fast of an ignorant person who eats because they do not know the law is valid.

Coercion (Ikrah)

What if someone is forced to eat or drink? For example, someone is detained and water is forcibly poured down their throat.

فرع: (وإن أوجر) بأن صب الماء في حلقه (مكرها… لم يفطر

The ruling is that it is not invalid. This is because the element of choice (ikhtiyar) is absent. A person who is forced does not have control over their actions at that time.

3. Time of Doubt: Sahur and Breaking the Fast that are Doubtful

This is the most crucial part and often becomes a trap. Doubts (syak) regarding the time of dawn (Subuh) and sunset (Maghrib) have different rules.

Eating Suhoor at the Call to Dawn Prayer or at Dawn

Imagine you wake up, and it’s still dark outside. You wonder, “Is it dawn yet?” Then you decide to eat your pre-dawn meal.

The original ruling is that it is permissible. Why? Because the original ruling of the night still applies (al-ashlu baqa’ul lail).

قوله: (لا آخر الليل) لأن الأصل بقاء الليل

So, eating suhoor when you are unsure whether dawn has broken or not is not haram. However, be aware of the consequences below.

Unsure whether it is already sunset or not

On the other hand, if it is late afternoon, the sky is dark, and you are unsure whether it is already Maghrib. In this situation, it is forbidden to eat.

(ويحرم أكل الشاك هجوما آخر النهار… حتى يجتهد)

Why the difference? Because the legal presumption is “it is still daytime” (al-ashlu baqa’un nahar). You cannot break your fast based only on guesswork or doubt. You must first be certain or make an effort to ascertain that the sun has truly set.

Fatal Consequences: If You Guess Wrong

This is what we need to be aware of. Although it is permissible to eat suhoor when in doubt, if it later turns out that our guess was wrong, our fast is invalidated.

• Sahur Case: You eat because you think it is still nighttime. It turns out that when you ate, dawn had already broken (for example: after looking at an accurate clock or hearing the call to prayer). Therefore, the fast for that day is invalid and you must make up for it.
• Breaking the Fast Case: You eat because you think it is already Maghrib. It turns out that the sun has not yet set or has only set a few minutes later. Therefore, the fast for that day is invalid and you must make up for it.

قوله: (فإن غلط فيهما) أي في الطرفين… (قضى)

Meaning: “If he is wrong in both (the beginning and end of the day)… then he must make up for it.”

This also applies if the situation is unclear (isykal). For example, you break your fast hastily without verification (hujuman), then by evening you do not know whether you ate before or after maghrib when you broke your fast earlier. Therefore, according to this book, you are obligated to make up the fast because the original ruling is “it is still daytime” (al-ashlu baqa’un nahar), unlike the uncertainty during suhoor and until noon when there is no clarity as to whether the suhoor was before or after dawn.

قوله: (وإن أشكل على الهاجم) الحال بأن لم يتبين له أنه أكل نهارا أو ليلا (قضى في الأولة) أي فيما إذا أكل آخر النهار (فقط) أي دون الثانية للأصل فيهما

4. Special Case: Dawn Breaks While Food is in the Mouth

What about the phenomenon of eating sahur when the dawn call to prayer sounds? Or when we are chewing, suddenly dawn breaks?

The book Asna al-Matalib provides a practical solution. If dawn breaks and there is still food in the mouth, what must be done is to spit it out/remove it.

فرع: (لو طلع الفجر وفي فيه) طعام (فلفظه صح صومه)

Meaning: “Note: If dawn breaks while there is food in his mouth, and he spits it out, then his fast is valid.”

If you throw it away immediately, your fast is valid. However, if you swallow it even though you know that dawn has broken, then your fast is clearly invalid.

If food must be spat out, what about small pieces of food stuck between the teeth or swallowing saliva afterwards? Learn the detailed rules in the article Rules on Swallowing Saliva During Fasting.

Legal Summary Table: Forgetfulness and Doubt

For your convenience, here is a summary of the law based on the conditions:

Condition	Fasting Status	Obligation
Forgetting to Eat/Drink	Valid (Not Invalid)	Continue fasting, no need to make up for it.
Eating Due to Coercion	Valid (not invalid)	Continue fasting.
Eating due to ignorance (new convert)	Valid (not invalid)	Must immediately learn the law.
Doubt about dawn (suhoor), it turns out it is still night	Valid	–
Doubt about Fajr (Suhoor), it turns out it’s already dawn	Not valid	The pre-dawn meal is not forbidden but must be made up later.
Doubt at Maghrib (breaking the fast), it turns out it is still daytime	Invalid	It is forbidden to do so and obligatory to make up for it.
Food in the mouth at dawn, then discarded	Valid	The mouth must be clean of any remaining food.
Food in the mouth at dawn, then swallowed	Invalid	Obligatory Qadha.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions (Forgetting to Eat During Fasting)

Here are brief answers to frequently asked questions:

That is the complete explanation of the law of forgetfulness and uncertainty regarding time while fasting according to Asna al-Matalib. In essence, Islam provides leniency for those who truly forget or do not know. However, Islam also teaches precision and caution in matters of worship time.

Don’t let doubt render our worship futile. Make sure to check the accurate imsakiyah schedule and stop eating sahur before doubt arises. Please note that forgetfulness and doubt are among the mitigating factors in Islamic law. However, there are many other things that absolutely invalidate fasting. See the list in Things That Invalidate Fasting.

God knows best.

Want to know more about physical things that invalidate fasting, such as injections or medication? Read our article: Do Injections, IVs, and Eye Drops Invalidate Fasting?