In such cases, there is a difference of opinion among scholars. Ishaq, Dawud, Ibn Hazm, 'Ata, 'Urwah, al-Hassan, al-Basri and Mujahid maintain that such a fast is sound and that the person need not make up the day later. They base their opinion on the fact that Allah says in the Qur'an "And there is no sin for you in the mistakes you make unintentionally, but what your hearts purpose [that will be a sin for you]." Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said "Allah will not hold anyone of this nation responsible for what is done my mistake.." Abdurrazaq related that Mamar reported from al-Amash that Zaid ibn Wahb said "The people broke their fast during the time of 'Umar ibn al Khattab. I saw a big pot being brought from Hafsah's house and the people drank. Then the sun appeared from behind the clouds and this distressed the people. They said "We have to make up this day." 'Umar asked "Why? By Allah we have not involved ourselves in any sin." Al Bukhari records that Asma' bint Abu Bakr said "We broke the fast of Ramadan when it was cloudy during the dtime of Rasulullah, and then the sun appeared again." Commenting on this, Ibn Taymiyyah said "This points to two things; 1] that it is not preferred for one to delay breaking the fast until one is absolutely certain that the sun has set...and 2] that it is not necessary to make up such a day. If the Prophet would have ordered them to make up that day, it would have become public knowledge. The fact that it has been related that they broke their fast [and that it has not been related that they were ordered to make up that day] points to the fact that they were not ordered to make up that day." The only action, according to most scholars, which requires that both the day be made up and the act of expiation be performed is having sexual intercourse during a day of Ramadan. � |