And the conditions¹ for a valid fast are six: Islam and the cessation of menstrual and post-partum bleeding.

Fourth: discernment. A guardian must instruct a discerning child who is able to fast to do so and may discipline him for neglecting it so that he becomes accustomed to the practice.

Fifth: sanity². However, if a person formed his intention during the night and then spent the whole day insane or unconscious yet regained consciousness³ for even a brief moment, the fast is valid.

Sixth: an intention made at night for each obligatory day. Whoever simply entertains in his heart during the night that he will be fasting has intended; likewise, eating or drinking at night with the purpose of sustaining the coming fast⁴ also counts as an intention.

The intention is not harmed if, after making it, one performs an act that would normally break the fast, or if one adds the phrase “if Allah wills” without any doubt. The same applies when, on the night of the thirtieth of Ramadan, one says, “If tomorrow⁵ is still Ramadan, this is my obligatory fast⁶; otherwise⁷ I will not fast.” It would invalidate the intention, however, were he to say that on the first night of the month.

The obligatory fast consists of abstaining from all nullifiers from the appearance of the second (true) dawn until sunset.