Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

What is the correct Niyyah for performing sunnah fasting on Arfah day (Haj)? Can we club a sunnah fasting along with a "fardh" fasting which was missed to take during Ramadan ? If we can do that, how can we say the Niyyah for both together ? Should we say Niyyah in arabic or in any language ?

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Answer:

Intention for fasting

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Question: What is the correct Niyyah for performing sunnah fasting on Arfah day (Haj)?

The Sunnah and thus correct ‘neeyah’ or making the intention for fasting, regardless of whether it is the obligatory fasts of Ramadan or the Sunnah or Nafl fasts, is to make intention in ones heart that one intends to observe a fast, preferably before the start of the fast.

To the best of our knowledge, there is absolutely nothing in the authentic and established Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws) whereby he (saws) declared a verbal intention to observe his worship of fasts; he (saws) would simply make an intention in his heart to observe the fast and fulfill his intention.

Thus the Sunnah and correct ‘neeyah’ of performing the Sunnah fast on the Day of Arafah is to simply make an intention in one’s heart, preferably before the start of the fast, that one intends to observe the Sunnah fast on the Day of Arafah; that very intention made in their hearts would more than suffice to fulfill the condition of ‘neeyah’ for observing a fast.

Your Question: Can we club a sunnah fasting along with a "fardh" fasting which was missed to take during Ramadan ?

The scholars and jurists of all the major schools of thought are unanimous in their opinion that if one for any reason has missed one’s obligatory fasts of Ramadan, then it would be best and preferred that they atone for their missed obligatory fasts first before observing any Sunnah or Nafl fasts.

It would not be permissible for one in Shariah to ‘club’ the obligatory missed fasts with a Sunnah/Nafl fast; each must be observed individually with the missed obligatory fasts taking precedence over the Sunnah/Nafl fasts.

Your Question: Should we say Niyyah in arabic or in any language ? 

As stated above, the ‘neeyah’ or intention for fasting is the intention one makes in one’s heart prior to the start of the fast; and it is absolutely permissible for one to make that intention in one’s heart in any language one wills.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan