Question
Reference number: 184018 | Fasting | June 23, 2019
It happened once that I unintentionally break my fast by drinking water a minute earlier than al-Maghrib prayer call. Shall I make this day up?
Answer
Praise Be to Allah and Peace Be Upon His Messenger.
If a Muslim eats or drinks while fasting unintentionally, their fasting stays valid whether they fast in the month of Ramadan or any other day as an optional worship. There are three rulings regarding this issue:
If one thinks that the time of breaking the fast is due while it is not, and so they break the fast, they should make up this day. However, if one breaks their fast as they are forgetful, they eat or drink by mistake) their fast is still valid. The difference in this issue is that the first one makes a mistake in timing while the second one knows the times of sunset, but s/he eats or drinks by mistake. That is why the first one should make up the day and the other one should not.
Ibn Qudama said, if you eat thinking that it has not been the dawn time, but it has been; or if you break your fast thinking that the sun has set while it has not, you must make up that day. This opinion has been adopted by many Muslim scholars. (al-Mughanni: 3/147)
Abu Huraira reported the messenger of Allah who said: “If anyone forgets when he is fasting and eats or drinks, he should complete his fast, for it is only Allah who has fed him and given him drink.” Related by Bukhari and Muslim
We can conclude from the latest hadith the ruling is applicable when fasting the month of Ramadan or any other day as an optional worship as well. So, if you were forgetful when you drank, there would be no consequences.