Does My Fast Break if I Eat or Drink Mistakenly? - Mufti Abdul Wahab Waheed | Ramadan FAQ

Does My Fast Break if I Eat or Drink Mistakenly?

Does my fast break if I eat something or drink something by mistake? If we eat something while fasting or drink something forgetfully, mistakenly, it will not break our fast. The Prophet ﷺ has made it clear by saying:

(Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith 2045; also reported in Sahih Ibn Hibban)

That the things that we do forgetfully, mistakenly, we will not be bounded by them. Rather, it will be forgiven.

So if I'm living in the day while fasting and working and at school and talking to my children and I accidentally put something in my mouth, if I'm reminded, I'm supposed to instantly spit it out and make sure that I don't swallow it. But if I end up swallowing it or I end up drinking the water, then it will be forgiven. This is only in those cases that is done unintentionally, forgetfully, and mistakenly.

Obviously, if one does any of those things intentionally, it will instantly break their fast and also require an expiation of 60 days of fasting after the month of Ramadan continuously. So of course, we are not referring to those things that are done intentionally, but rather many of us throughout the day perhaps will forget and eat something.

Don't worry about it. Do not stress it. Don't sweat it. Continue your fast and hopefully, your fast will still count as the Prophet ﷺ has given us this concession.