Eating and Drinking Forgetfully (For the Fasting Person)

Excerpts from the ‘Jurisprudence of Worship’
By Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih ibn Uthaymeen رحمه الله تعالى

Question: Oh Noble Shaykh, what is the ruling of eating and drinking forgetfully and what should one do if he remembers while he is eating (that he is fasting)?

Answer:
Previously, we have mentioned that the one who forgets does not break his fast even if he eats and drinks a lot. As long as he is in a state of forgetfulness, his fast is correct.

By the statement of the Prophet ﷺ:
“If somebody eats or drinks forgetfully then he should complete his fast, for what he has eaten or drunk, has been given to him by Allah.”¹

However, it is incumbent upon him as soon as he remembers to abstain from eating and drinking even if the food or drink was in his mouth, in which case he must remove it (ie. spit it out). This is because the excuse of forgetfulness that The Legislator (Allāh) has given is no longer valid (in this case).

¹Related by Bukhari – The Book of Fasting – Number [1933] and related by Muslim – The Book of Fasting – Number [1155].

Jurisprudence of Worship- Fatwa Regarding Sáum (Fasting). By Shaykh Muhammad bin Saalih ibn Uthaymeen (pg. 276)

Translated by: Abu Uwāis, Muhammad Abdullahi Elmi