The validity of making the intention (niyyah) during the day before the middle of the day.

Q. Until what time of the day can one make the intention of Roza during the month of Ramadhan?

A. One can make the niyyah of fasting during Ramadhan as long as "Zahwat-ul-Kubra" (the halfway point of the day) has not passed. The day begins at Subh-e-Saadiq and ends at sunset. For example, if Subh-e-Saadiq is at 4:30 a.m. and sunset is at 7:00 p.m., Zahwat-ul-Kubra would be at 11:45 a.m. Therefore, the niyyah must be made before 11:45 a.m. If the niyyah is made at Zahwat-ul-Kubra or after, the niyyah and, consequently, the fast will not be valid, as most of the day has passed without the intention.

This ruling is based on a Hadith of Bukhari and Tahawi, in which Rasulullah (Sallallaahu 'Alaihi Wasallam) instructed a companion to announce: "Let the one who has already eaten, complete the rest of the day (in a state of fasting) and let the one who has not yet eaten continue his fast."

This announcement was made regarding the fast of 'Aashura (10th Muharram), which was Farz before the obligation of Ramadhan. From this Hadith, the Fuqaha deduced that for a Farz fast like that of Ramadhan, the niyyah is valid only if made before Zahwat-ul-Kubra. However, the person must not have done anything that invalidates the fast, such as eating, drinking, or engaging in sexual activity, from Subh-e-Saadiq until the time the niyyah is made.

[English version of "La validité du niyyah pendant la journée avant la moitié de la journée" – Al Haadi – Vol. 3 No. 2]