Intention – Niyat

Imam Khamenei

Ruling 01. Like all other acts of worship, fasting must be initiated with an intention, which is to refrain from eating and drinking and other things that invalidate the fast in order to obey the order of Allah. Of course, the mere decision and determination are enough, and there is no need to utter one’s intention verbally.

Ruling 02. It is not necessary to determine the type of fast in the month of Ramadhan; rather, the intention of fasting alone is sufficient. Yet, in other months, determining the type of fast, however briefly expressed, is necessary. For example, a person who is only obligated to perform the fast of redress (qaḍā’) must either specifically intend to perform the fast of redress (qaḍā’) or make the intention in a general way (i.e., “my duty”), and perform the fasts for which one is responsible. If one is responsible for several types of fast, like making up an omitted (qaḍā’) fast or fulfilling a vow (nathr), one must determine which one they are going to perform.

Intention of Ramadan Fast

Ruling 03. Since fasting starts at dawn (fajr), its intention should not be delayed beyond that time. It is better that one makes the intention to fast before the arrival of dawn (fajr).

Ruling 04. A person can make an intention for the next day’s fast on every night of Ramadan, but it is better for one to make the intention to fast for the whole month on the first night of the month and renew their intention every night.

Ruling 05 At night, if one makes the intention to fast the next day, then goes to sleep, and then wakes up just after the dawn (fajr) ritual call to prayer (athān), or if one is busy with work and does not realize the arrival of dawn (fajr) but realizes it later, their fast is valid.

Ruling 06. During the month of Ramadhan, it is not possible to make the intention for any fast other than one of Ramadhan, except in the case of a traveler who cannot perform a Ramadhan fast but has made a vow (nathr) to perform a recommended (mustaḥab) fast during his journey. In such case, one’s votive (nathr) fast during the month of Ramadhan is valid.

However, this votive vow (nathr) fast in the month of Ramadhan is not considered as a Ramadhan fast; hence, one must make up for the missed (qaḍā’) fast later.

Ayatollah Sistani

Ruling 1. It is not necessary for one to make an intention in his heart to fast, or to say, for example, ‘I will fast tomorrow’; rather, it is sufficient for one to decide that in humility to the Lord of the worlds, from the start of the time of ṣubḥ prayers until the time of maghrib prayers, he will not do anything that invalidates a fast. To be certain [i.e. have yaqīn] that one has fasted throughout this time, he must begin abstaining from a short period before the time of ṣubḥ prayers, and he must also refrain from doing anything that invalidates the fast for a short period after maghrib.

Ruling 2. On every night of the month of Ramadan, one can make the intention to fast the next day.

Ruling 3. The latest time available for a conscious person to make the intention to keep a fast of the month of Ramadan is at the time of ṣubḥ prayers. This means that, based on obligatory precaution (al‑iḥtiyāṭ al‑wājib), at the time of ṣubḥ his abstinence [from the eight things that invalidate a fast] must coincide with his intention to fast, albeit subconsciously.

Ruling 4. If someone goes to sleep before the time of ṣubḥ prayers in the month of Ramadan – or on any day which he assigned for keeping an obligatory (wājib) fast – without making the intention to fast, and he wakes up before midday (ẓuhr) and makes the intention to fast, his fast will be valid. However, if he wakes up after ẓuhr, he must, as a precautionary measure, abstain [from the eight things that invalidate a fast] for the rest of the day with a general intention of attaining proximity to Allah (qaṣd al‑qurbah al‑muṭlaqah) [i.e. with the intention of attaining proximity to Allah without specifying any particulars about the fast], and he must also keep a qaḍāʾ fast for it [i.e. he must make up a fast for it after the month of Ramadan].

Ruling 5. If, for example, someone keeps a fast with the intention of the first day of the month of Ramadan and afterwards he realises that it was the second or third of the month, his fast is valid.

Ruling 6. If someone makes the intention before the time of ṣubḥ prayers to fast the next day, goes to sleep, and wakes up after maghrib, his fast is valid.

Ruling 7. There is no problem if someone intentionally does not make the intention to fast until near ẓuhr for an obligatory fast that has not been assigned for a particular day, such as a fast for kaffārah. If a person decides not to fast or is indecisive as to whether he should fast or not, in the event that he has not done anything that invalidates a fast, he can make the intention before ẓuhr to fast and his fast will be valid.

Ruling 8. If in the middle of a day in the month of Ramadan a sick person gets well before ẓuhr and until that time he did not do anything that invalidates a fast, then based on obligatory precaution, he must make the intention to fast and [he must] keep the fast of that day. In the event that he gets better after ẓuhr, it is not obligatory for him to fast on that day but he must keep a qaḍāʾ fast for it.

Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi

Ruling 1: Intention does not have a specific time, rather, any time intention is made before the Azaan of morning prayer is sufficient. This (making of intention) is that for eating the Suhoor (light morning meal before beginning the fast) one rises (from bed) and if he is asked what’s your purpose (in rising)? He says: I have the intention of fasting.

Ruling 2: The time of intention for a recommended fast continues the entire day even if a brief time remains until Maghrib. As long as actions which invalidate the fast are not performed, he is able to make the intention of a recommended fast and his fast is correct.

Ruling 3: The person who is obligated to perform a missed fast (Qadhaa’) of the month of Ramadhan or another obligatory fast which he is liable for, making a recommended fast is not permitted. If he had forgotten and made a recommended fast, if in the case he comes to remember before Zuhr (noon), he is able to make his intention for an obligatory fast. However, if it is after Zuhr, his fast is invalid.