Thus, drinking in Ramadan out of forgetfulness does not require making up the fast. The evidence is the hadith of Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him: “Whoever forgets while fasting and eats or drinks, let him complete his fast, for it was Allah who fed him and gave him drink.” (1) Whoever does not deliberately commit the violation is not sinful, nor is any expiation due from him.

Likewise, when ‘Adi ibn Hatim, may Allah be pleased with him, intended to fast, he placed two cords—one white and one black—because of Allah’s saying: “Eat and drink until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct to you from the black thread; then complete the fast until nightfall.” [al-Baqarah 2:187] They used to derive rulings directly from the Quran. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said to him: “Your pillow must indeed be broad, if the white and black threads are beneath your pillow.” (2) He did not command him to repeat the fast, because he was ignorant of the ruling.

Likewise, Asma’ bint Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with her, reported that they broke their fast on a cloudy day during the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and he did not command them to make up the fast. (3) This was because they were unaware of the actual state of affairs.

The same also applies to prayer. The evidence is that Mu‘awiyah ibn al-Hakam, may Allah be pleased with him, entered the prayer with the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. A man sneezed and said, “Praise be to Allah,” so Mu‘awiyah said, “May Allah have mercy on you,” while he himself was praying. The people stared at him—that is, they looked at him in disapproval—so he said, “May my mother be bereaved of me!” Thus he added further speech to what he had already said, and they began striking their thighs