Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

I WOKE UP LATE AT SEHRI.THE FAST CLOSED AT 4.28am,BUT I WOKE UP AT 5am.I DID NOT EAT BUT DID DO NIAT.DO I STILL HAVE A FAST? OR CAN I HAVE ANY THING TO EAT NOW?. 

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Intention for fast

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

If the fast in question refers to an obligatory fast of Ramadan, and you happened to over-sleep and missed the time for ‘suhoor’ (pre-dawn meal)…..indeed you must fear Allah and observe the obligatory fast.

But if you made intention to observe a voluntary fast for the pleasure of Allah, and you happened to over-sleep and missed the time for ‘suhoor’, you are at absolute liberty to observe the fast if you so wish, or break the fast if you so wish.

Umm Hani reported that the Prophet (saws) entered her room during the day of the conquest of Makkah. He (saws) was offered something to drink and he drank from it. Then he (saws) offered it to Umm Hani and she said: "I am fasting." The Prophet (saws) said: "The one who is fasting voluntarily is in charge of himself. If you wish you may fast and if you wish you may break your fast."

Related by Ahmad, Daraqutni, Baihaqi, and Al-Hakim.

If the absolute last time to start one’s fast in the place one lives is determined as 04:28am and one over-sleeps and wakes up only at 05:00am, then absolutely regardless if one wishes to observe an obligatory or a voluntary fast, one would not be permitted to eat or drink until sunset, if indeed they wish to fulfill their fast.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan