The intention (niyyah) for fasting during Ramadan is crucial and must be made before the dawn of each fasting day. While it’s best to make the intention at night, it is still valid if made up until midday.
Fasting (roza) is a fundamental pillar of Ramadan, and making a sincere intention (niyyah) to fast is obligatory. Niyyah means making a mental resolution to fast with the purpose of pleasing Allah. There is no need to verbally declare the intention; it must be done in the heart.
According to a hadith from Sahih Bukhari, “All actions are judged by their intentions” (Sahih Bukhari, 1/2; Badai’ al-Sana’i 2/226). Therefore, the intention must be made for each day of fasting, as it is a separate act of worship. The recommended time to make the niyyah for fasting is at night, before the Fajr (dawn) prayer.
The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “Whoever does not make the intention to fast before Fajr, his fast will not be valid” (Sunan Abu Dawood 1/333; al-Bahr al-Ra’iq 2/259-260; Badai’ al-Sana’i 2/229).
However, if someone fails to make the intention at night, they can still do so up until just before midday, approximately an hour before the sun reaches its zenith (the time when it is at its highest point). This was confirmed in a narration by Salama ibn al-Akwa, who said that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) told someone who had eaten in the morning on Ashura (the 10th of Muharram), “If you have not eaten, continue fasting for the rest of the day, and if you have eaten, then stop eating and fast for the rest of the day” (Sahih Bukhari 2007).
Additionally, the correct time for making the niyyah starts after sunset from the previous day. This means that for the following day’s fast, the intention can be made anytime from sunset (Maghrib) until the Fajr prayer of the next day, and not before sunset.
The time frame for the niyyah, according to the scholars, is before the sun reaches its zenith (around midday), ensuring that the intention is made while the day is still in its early stages.
In conclusion, while the best practice is to make the intention at night, it is valid to do so up until midday, with the understanding that for every individual fast during Ramadan, a separate intention is required.
LND/BG
