8/26. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 721 — Forgetful Eating While Fasting
What Has Been Related About The Fasting Person Eating Or Drinking Forgetfully
Hadith About Accidentally Eating While Fasting
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 721
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 721
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو سَعِيدٍ الأَشَجُّ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو خَالِدٍ الأَحْمَرُ، عَنْ حَجَّاجِ بْنِ أَرْطَاةَ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنِ ابْنِ سِيرِينَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " مَنْ أَكَلَ أَوْ شَرِبَ نَاسِيًا فَلاَ يُفْطِرْ فَإِنَّمَا هُوَ رِزْقٌ رَزَقَهُ اللَّهُ " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah said: "Whoever Eats Or Drinks Forgetfully, Then He Has Not Broken (The Fast), For It Was Only A Provision That Allah Provided For Him."
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 721In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 40English translation : Vol. 2, Book 3, Hadith 721
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 721
This hadith answers a common Ramadan fasting question in a very gentle way: what happens if someone forgetfully eats or drinks while fasting? The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم says that such a person has not broken the fast. The reason given in the text is simple and comforting: it was provision that Allah provided for him. The main lesson is not to treat a real mistake like a planned act. A fasting person who ate or drank out of forgetfulness should not panic or think the whole day is lost. The wording keeps the focus on forgetfulness, not deliberate eating or drinking. So this hadith about accidentally eating while fasting teaches both mercy and care in judging one’s own fast.
What we learn from this hadith
- A genuine act of forgetfulness is not treated like intentional breaking of the fast.
- The fasting person should not assume the fast is ruined when the text gives relief.
- Provision comes from Allah, even in a moment the person did not plan.
- The ruling mentioned here is tied to eating or drinking forgetfully.
