The Case of One Who Wakes up in the Morning with an Intention to Fast, but Who Does Not Do So or Vice Versa when Fasting Is a Compensatory Fast for the Missed Fast in the Month of Ramadan or Other Days

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who with the intention to fast wakes up in the morning, then for a certain reason decides not to fast. He (the Imam) said, ‘Until midday it is his choice to fast or not to fast.’ I then asked, ‘Is he required to make Qada’ (compensatory fast) for such fast if he discontinues it?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, it is a valid deed that he intended to do and he should complete it.’ I then asked, ‘Can a man who, when the day is up, decide to fast, do so?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, it is permissible for him to do so.’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) about a man who fasts an optional fast but he faces a certain issue of his needs.“ He (the Imam) replied, ‘He has the choice until al-‘Asr (later afternoon). If he waits until al-‘Asr and then it occurs to him to fast, if he did not have the intention for fasting, he can fast that day, if he wishes.’”

‘A fasting person has the choice until Zawal (declining of the sun toward the west at noontime)’. He said: ‘It is about the obligatory (fast). In the case of the optional (fast), one has the choice to stop fasting any time up to sunset.’”

“This is about the case of one who only after it is day light, decides to fast that day as Qada’ (compensatory fast) for the fast of the month of Ramadan. He did not have such intention in the night. Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), has said that he can fast that day and count it, if nothing invalidating has taken place before.”

“I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about a man who when fasting as Qada’ (compensatory fast) for the fast of the month of Ramadan goes to his wife for sexual relation. He (the Imam) said, ‘If it takes place before Zawal (declining of the sun toward the west at noontime), he is not obligated for anything. It is only one day for one day. If it happens after Zawal (declining of the sun toward the west at noontime), he is required to pay charity to ten destitute people, and if he is not able to do so, he is required to fast one day for one day and fast three days as expiation for what he has done.’”

“I once asked abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a woman who fasts as Qada’ (compensatory fast) for the fast of the month of Ramadan and her husband forces her to invalidate her fast. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not proper for him to do so after Zawal (declining of the sun toward the west at noontime)/”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who decides to fast, then he meets his brother who believes as he does; if he can discontinue his fast. He (the Imam) said, ‘If it is optional it will be counted as one day of fasting in his favor, but if it is obligatory Qada’ (compensatory fast), he must do its Qada’ (compensatory fast).”’