Is the fasting of one who hesitated to complete his fast due to doubt about the validity of the fast sound, or must those days be made up, especially since some fatwas stated that mere hesitation or resolve to break the fast invalidates it, while other fatwas affirmed the soundness of the fast as long as it was not actually broken, based on the premise that doubt was what led to this hesitation? How can these opinions be reconciled, and what is meant by the Hadith: "Deeds are only by intentions" and the Hadith: "Indeed, Allah has overlooked for my Ummah what their souls whisper to them as long as they do not speak of it or act upon it"?
Hesitation in the intention to break the fast does not invalidate it, because the default is the validity of the intention, and certainty is not removed by doubt. However, a firm resolve to break the fast does invalidate it, because it negates the intention. Evidence that a person is held accountable for the firm resolve to commit a sin is found in hadiths such as: "If two Muslims confront each other with their swords, both the killer and the killed are in the Hellfire," and "He is judged by his intention, so they are equal in sin." Thus, firm resolve differs from mere inclination or hesitation.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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