بِسْمِ ٱللّٰهِ ٱلرَّحْمٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
The following Dua/Niyyat is recited at the time of Sehri
اللهم أصوم غدا لك فا غفرلي ما قدمت وما اخرت
O Allah! I keep fast for you tomorrow, forgive my past and future sins
Would one who doesn’t verbally recite this be able to keep fast?
- A. Niyyat (intention) is the resolve of the heart and its verbal articulation is not established from the Sunnah. The Mutakhireen Fuqaha (latter Jurists) however have classified a verbal utterance of Niyyat to be Mustahab (preferable) for the sake of Istihzaar (presence of mind).
Therefore, if one doesn’t recite this Dua but abstains from food, drink and physical intimacy with the intention of fasting from when Subh Saadiq begins till the time the sun sets, he or she is fasting without any reduction of reward.
Concerning the verbal utterance of Niyyat for fasting, Allamah Shaami (Allah be pleased with him) states,
أي سنة المشائخ لا النبى صلى الله عليه و سلم لعدم ورود النطق بها عنه
Meaning this is the practice of Mashaaikh, it is not the Sunnah of Rasoolullah (peace be upon him) because wording of a verbal utterance for Niyyat has not been transmitted from him
(Raddul Muhtaar, Vol. 2, pg. 380. Published by H.M. Saeed Company, Karachi)
Many people wake up to have Sehri but do not recite this Arabic Dua. Partaking of Sehri is indeed stronger in proof of intention to fast as this action is Sunnah whilst a verbal utterance of intention is only Mustahab.
Allah and His Rasool know best.
Darul Iftaa
Islamic Lifestyle Solutions
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