Question:
Assalaamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakaatuhu,
Dear sheikh, in the month of Ramadaan, if a married couple had sexual relations (between esha and suhoor), however, they overslept for suhoor but made it just in time to ghusl and make fajr salaah. Is fasting for that day still valid? If I’m not mistaken, according to the Hanafi math’hab it is permissible to continue fasting in that situation. Is it the same for the Shawaafi’? Jazaakumullah.
Country: South Africa
Answer:
Wa alaykum salam wa rahmatuLlahi wa barakatuHu,
The validity of the fast for one in such a state is the opinion of the majority. The ruling is based on evidence from both the Quran and Sunnah.
In the Quran, Allah says, “Now have relations with them and seek that which Allah ordained for you, and eat and drink until the while thread (light) of dawn appears to you distinct from the black thread (darkness of night), then complete your fast until nightfall.” (Surah al-Baqarah 187)
Thus, one may enjoy one’s spouse until morning, and that will necessitate finding morning in a state of major ritual impurity.
In the Sunnah, Imams Muslim, Abu Dawud, and Ahmad all relate on the authority of ‘A’ishah (Rady Allahu anha) that the Prophet Muhammad said, “The prayer [i.e. fajr] reaches me while I am in a state of major ritual impurity, then I fast.”
Also, Imams Bukhari and Muslim relate on the authority of ‘A’ishah and Umm Salamah that the Prophet Muhammad would find morning in a state of major ritual impurity and then he would fast; that was in Ramadan.
(See: Sharh al-Muhadhdhab 6/308)
Therefore, if one is in a state of major ritual impurity from having had sexual relations, and finds morning in that state, then the fast is valid.
And Allah knows best.
Shafiifiqh.com Fatwa Dept.