I ate or drank forgetfully while fasting; is my fast invalid?
Short answer
Whoever eats or drinks forgetfully, his fast is valid and he completes his fast.
Evidence and explanation
The Shaykh cited the hadith: “Whoever forgets while fasting and eats or drinks, let him complete his fast.”
Scholar referenced
This editorial summary is based on the original source linked below and is not presented as a verbatim quotation from the scholar.
The views of several scholars on this issue
The two materials determine the validity of the fast of one who ate or drank forgetfully, whether in Ramadan or another fast, with the need to read the original question and answer in full.
The two sources determined the validity of the fast of one who ate or drank forgetfully, in the obligatory and voluntary fast; this is agreement in these two chosen answers, and is not a claim that the site surveyed all the disagreements of the schools.
An effective restriction: the discussion is about forgetfulness, not deliberateness; and the validity of the fast reported here is conditioned on the form of forgetfulness being established.
Shaykh 'Abd al-'Aziz ibn Baz, may Allah have mercy on him
He mentioned that one who eats or drinks forgetfully, his fast is valid, in the obligatory and voluntary fast.
A textual fatwa on the Shaykh's site- The view the scholar preferred or determined
- The fast is valid in the obligatory and voluntary — the fatwa of Shaykh Ibn Baz
- How the evidence is derived in his source
- The linked answer is brief and mentions the ruling and the generality in Ramadan and elsewhere; the Shaykh did not recount a detailed evidence in it.
Shaykh Muhammad ibn Salih al-'Uthaymin, may Allah have mercy on him
He mentioned that the fast of one who eats forgetfully is valid, in Ramadan and elsewhere, and cited what came in the texts.
A textual fatwa in the Shaykh's official archive- The view the scholar preferred or determined
- The fast is valid in Ramadan and elsewhere — the fatwa of Shaykh Ibn al-'Uthaymin
- How the evidence is derived in his source
- He cited the hadith “Whoever forgets while fasting and eats and drinks, let him complete his fast”, and mentioned the supplication “Our Lord, do not impose blame upon us if we have forgotten or erred” from Surat al-Baqarah.
A methodological note: presenting a scholar's preference does not mean the site preferred it, and it is not right to describe it as the absolute preponderant view merely because of many agreeing. The editorial summaries and the explanation of how the evidence is derived have not yet been approved by independent Shari'ah review; read the original source in full. The details of the incident may affect the ruling.
Source
Ruling on one who eats or drinks while fasting out of forgetfulness
Title of the original page (Arabic): حكم من أكل أو شرب وهو صائم ناسياً
Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Aziz ibn Baz, may Allah have mercy on him