Question 390: If someone who is not in the month of Ramadan eats something after dawn without being aware of the break of dawn, can he observe a voluntary fast?

178 13 Feb 2021
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✅Answer: Pay attention to the following narration:

1 عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ حَمَّادٍ عَنِ الْحَلَبِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ فِي حَدِيثٍ قَالَ: فَإِنْ تَسَحَّرَ فِي غَيْرِ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ- بَعْدَ طلوع الْفَجْرِ أَفْطَرَ ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّ أَبِي كَانَ لَيْلَةً يُصَلِّي وَ أَنَا آكُلُ فَانْصَرَفَ فَقَالَ أَمَّا جَعْفَرٌ فَأَكَلَ وَ شَرِبَ بَعْدَ الْفَجْرِ فَأَمَرَنِي فَأَفْطَرْتُ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمَ فِي غَيْرِ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ.

📚 Al-Tahdhib, vol. 4, p. 269

📚 Al-Istibsar, vol. 2, p. 116

📚 Al-Kafi, vol. 4, p. 96

Translation: Imam Sadiq (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said in a hadith: 'If a person who is not in the month of Ramadan eats a pre-dawn meal after the break of dawn, he must break his fast (meaning he cannot fast on that day).' Then he said: 'One night, my father was praying and I was eating. When my father finished his prayer, he said: 'Beware, for Ja'far is eating and drinking after the break of dawn!' So he commanded me, and I broke my fast on that day, which was not in the month of Ramadan.'

✅ As seen in the above narration, if someone who is not in the month of Ramadan eats or drinks something after the break of dawn without being aware of it, he cannot fast on that day, whether it is a voluntary fast or a make-up fast. Several other narrations also confirm this point in Shi'a hadith collections.

✅ In the case of eating and drinking with awareness of the break of dawn, there is no doubt that it is not possible for the person to observe a voluntary or make-up fast.

✅ It should be noted that this ruling is specific to times other than the month of Ramadan. If this happens during the month of Ramadan, there are separate rulings mentioned in numerous narrations.

Eating and drinking after the morning adhan