Does Eating or Drinking Forgetfully Break Voluntary Fasting? A Clear Answer for Everyone

Many Muslims fast voluntary (non-obligatory) days such as Mondays and Thursdays, the White Days, or the day of Arafah. But what happens if you accidentally eat or drink during these fasts, thinking you're not fasting? Does your fast become invalid, or can you continue? This article provides a detailed and simple explanation for everyone—backed by scholarly opinion, including that of the Maliki school.

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ clearly addressed this situation:

“If someone forgets he is fasting and eats or drinks, he should complete his fast, for it is Allah who has fed him and given him drink.”
[Sahih al-Bukhari and Muslim]

This hadith applies broadly—whether the fast is obligatory (like Ramadan) or voluntary. The Prophet ﷺ did not make any distinction, which is a strong indication that forgetfulness does not invalidate a fast.

Some people believe that this ruling applies only to Ramadan. However, this is a misunderstanding. Most scholars, including those from the Maliki, Hanafi, Shafi'i, and Hanbali schools, agree that the hadith above applies to both types of fasting.

In other words:

If you forget you're fasting—whether in Ramadan or in a Sunnah fast—you do not break your fast.

The Maliki madhhab, one of the four major Islamic schools of thought, holds the same view as the majority. According to Maliki scholars:

• If a fasting person eats or drinks forgetfully, their fast remains valid, whether the fast is fard (obligatory) or nafl (voluntary).
• This ruling is based directly on the hadith mentioned above and the Qur’anic principle:

“Our Lord, do not hold us accountable if we forget or make a mistake.”
(Qur'an, Surah Al-Baqarah 2:286)

This ayah reinforces Allah’s mercy upon those who forget, especially in matters of worship.

The key point is immediately stopping once you remember you're fasting. If you continue eating or drinking after realizing, the fast becomes invalid and would need to be made up—especially in Ramadan or if the fast was a vow.

But as long as all the eating happened during forgetfulness, your fast is safe and valid, with no sin and no need to make it up

A man was fasting on a voluntary day and accidentally drank water. He later asked a local imam who mistakenly told him that his fast was broken, and he should stop fasting. He trusted the imam and began eating. Later, he learned that the correct opinion is that forgetfulness does not break the fast.

In such cases, scholars say the person is excused due to relying on mistaken advice. If the fast is voluntary, there's no sin, and no obligation to make it up.

In Islam, Allah is Most Merciful, and He knows the weakness of human beings. Forgetting while fasting—whether in Ramadan or in a voluntary fast—does not break the fast. This is the majority opinion, supported by the clear words of the Prophet ﷺ and recognized by all major madhhabs including the Maliki school.

So if you forget and eat while fasting, don’t worry—just stop as soon as you remember, and continue your fast with confidence and gratitude.