Fasting is preceded by the intention (niyyah) to refrain from eating and drinking. It does not need to be verbalised, it is in the heart. Ramadan – Can you make the intention for the whole month? As per the Maliki school of thought, it is possible to make your intention to fast for the whole month of Ramadan at the beginning of the Ramadan. In the Hanafi school the intention should be made daily in the heart between Maghrib (i.e. the night before) and Duha (an hour before Dhur). Fard fast outside of Ramadan – make intention before fajr It you are planning to make up a missed fard (obligatory) fast, the intention should be made before Fajr. Hafsah (may Allah be pleased with her), the mother of the believers narrated that Allah’s Messenger (peace be on him) said:  Whoever does not commit himself to fasting before dawn (Fajr), there is no fast for him.” (Abu Dawood) “There is no fast for the one who did not make the intention to fast from the night.” (Daraqutni) If you went to sleep without the intention of fasting, and you wake up after Fajr and want to fast, the fast is not correct because you have already passed a portion of the day without the intention to fast. You cannot apply the intention to do a fard fast in retrospect. Voluntary fast – you can make the intention after Fajr For nafl fasts, the intention can be made during the day, (even after Fajr as long as it is before Dhur), as long as you have not eaten or had intimate relations after Fajr. This is as per the hadith of Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) who said: “Allah’s Messenger entered upon me one day and said, ‘Do you have something [for me … Continue reading When do you have to make the intention to fast?