Answered by: Alimah Mahdiyah Siddique
Question
Salam Sheikh, I have a few important questions about fasting.
- Will my fasts be counted for the past if I did not make an intention? Is waking up for Sehri be classed as an intention?
2. My first few years after becoming Baaligh, I would wake up for Sehri but my intention would be not to fast. Sometimes I would eat and other days I would not eat during the day. Are any of these fast considered or do I need to do Qadha?
3. Some days I would break my fast during the day. However, I do not know if I made an intention to fast those days. Do I need to give Kaffarah for those fasts?
4. I have read that when one does Ghusl and water goes down his throat then his fast has broken. Will the same principle also apply for water going down the ears when performing Ghusl in Ramadhan?
5. If I have intercourse before Sehri ends and I also clean my mouth thoroughly before Sehri ends, can I just skip gargling in Ghusl (which will be performed 20/30 minutes after cleaning the mouth). Will it be affected if I was to urinate in between?
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer
In response to your question;
- An intention is obligatory for fasts to be counted; waking up for Suhoor will be viewed as an intention due to it being considered to be an action made for fasting.
- Where your intention was clearly not to fast (despite waking up for Suhoor), Qadha would need to be made of those fasts.
- If the intention to fast was present, then Kaffarah will need to be made for those fasts that were broken by eating. However, if there was no intention made to fast then Qadha of those fasts will be required. You will need to determine your intention as to what it was at that time, to come to a conclusion regarding which of the aforementioned apply to you.
- Water entering the ears does not break the fast.
- Gargling is not a condition in the state of fasting; also urination will not affect the validity of the Ghusl.
Only Allah Knows Best
Written by Alimah Mahdiyah Siddique
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham