Eating after dawn in Ramadan

01/08/2010| IslamWeb

 Question:

I have failed to wake before dawn in Ramadan and ate after dawn when it was still dark or a little dark. I ate because my parent(s) wanted me to and also being afraid that if I didn't eat anything my stomach will get so painful and hungry. If I didn't eat, I would be eating nothing for lots of hours and I'm 14 years old and my stomach would have hurt from lack of food. I also ate food which I didn't need to as my stomach got pretty full. Do I have to make up my fast after Ramadan even though I fasted the rest of the day but ate after dawn?

Fatwa:

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger, may Allah exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.

Breaking the fast during the day in Ramadan without a legal excuse is a great major sin. Allah warned us very strongly against it. The Prophet said: "Whoever breaks the fast during one day in Ramadan without any legal excuse, he will not make up for that day even if he fasts eternally." [At-Tirmithi, Ibn maajah and others.]

The legal excuses that make it lawful for the person to break the fast are traveling or being sick, and the like.

As for feeling pain because of empty stomach or staying for many hours without eating, these are not legal excuses as they are normal during fasting.

So, now you should repent to Allah and make up for the day you failed to fast as prescribed. 

Allah Knows best.