Before fasting outside of Ramadan, you make an intention (niyyah) to fast for the sake of Allah. The good news is that this intention does not require specific Arabic words. It can be as simple as a sincere decision in your heart that you will abstain from eating, drinking, and other invalidating acts from dawn until sunset. That said, there are spoken phrases many Muslims use to formalize this intention, and the wording can vary depending on which type of voluntary fast you’re observing.
How Niyyah Works for Voluntary Fasts
The core principle is that niyyah is an act of the heart, not the tongue. You do not need to recite anything out loud for your fast to be valid. It is enough to firmly decide that you will fast the next day in obedience to Allah. Some scholars note that you don’t even need to form the words in your mind. Simply resolving not to do anything that breaks a fast, from the dawn prayer until sunset, counts as a valid intention.
One major difference between Ramadan and voluntary fasts is the timing of your intention. For Ramadan, the intention must be made the night before (before the pre-dawn prayer). For a recommended (sunnah) fast, you have much more flexibility. If you wake up in the morning and haven’t eaten or drunk anything, you can decide to fast at that point, even well into the day. Some scholars hold that a voluntary fast intention is valid right up until shortly before sunset, as long as you haven’t consumed anything since dawn.
Common Phrases to Say Before Fasting
While not strictly required, many Muslims prefer to verbalize their intention. Here are the most widely used phrases:
General voluntary fast:
“Nawaitu sauma sunnatan lillahi ta’ala” (I intend to observe a sunnah fast for Allah the Most High).
For the Day of Arafah:
“Allahumma asumu laka fagh fir-li ma qad-damtu wa-ma akh-khartu” (O Allah, I shall fast for Your sake, so forgive my future and past sins).
For the White Days (13th, 14th, 15th of each lunar month):
“Nawaitu sauma ayyamil bidh sunnatan lillahi ta’ala” (I intend to observe the sunnah fast of the White Days for Allah the Most High).
You can also simply say the intention in your own language. Saying “I intend to fast tomorrow for the sake of Allah” in English, Urdu, Malay, or any language you understand is perfectly acceptable. The sincerity of the intention matters far more than the specific wording.
Timing Rules by Type of Fast
The flexibility of your intention depends on whether the fast is voluntary, a makeup (qada) fast, or a vowed fast tied to a specific date.
- Voluntary (sunnah) fasts: You can form your intention at any point during the day, as long as you haven’t eaten or drunk anything since dawn. This applies to Monday and Thursday fasts, the White Days, the Day of Arafah, Ashura, and other recommended fasts.
- Makeup fasts for missed Ramadan days: Since these are obligatory but not tied to a specific date, many scholars allow the intention to be made before midday (Dhuhr) on the day itself, provided you haven’t broken your fast.
- Vowed fasts on a specific date: If you made a vow to fast on a particular day, the intention should be made the night before, similar to Ramadan. If you forget and remember before midday without having eaten, your fast is still valid.
Why These Fasts Are Observed
Understanding the reason behind each fast can help you focus your intention. Monday and Thursday fasts carry a specific motivation from the Prophet Muhammad, who explained that deeds are presented to Allah on those two days, and he preferred his deeds to be presented while he was fasting (recorded in Sunan al-Tirmidhi). The Day of Arafah (9th of Dhul Hijjah) is considered one of the most rewarding voluntary fasts of the year for non-pilgrims. The White Days correspond to the 13th, 14th, and 15th of each Islamic month, when the moon is at its fullest.
Keeping the purpose of your fast in mind as you make your intention can deepen the spiritual experience, even if it doesn’t change the technical validity of the fast itself.
What to Say When Breaking the Fast
The supplications for breaking a voluntary fast are the same ones used during Ramadan. Two phrases from the prophetic tradition are commonly recited at iftar:
“Dhahaba al-dhama’u wa ibtallatil-‘uruqu wa thabatal-ajru in sha’Allah” (The thirst is gone, the veins are moistened, and the reward is confirmed, God willing).
“Allahumma laka sumtu wa ‘ala rizqika aftartu” (O Allah, I fasted for Your sake and I break my fast with the sustenance You have provided).
The first phrase is more strongly authenticated in hadith collections. Either one is appropriate regardless of the type of fast you’re breaking. As with the opening intention, you can also make a personal supplication in your own language. The moment of breaking a fast is considered a time when prayers are especially likely to be accepted, so many Muslims use it to ask for whatever is most on their heart.