Some people say that if you see a Muslim drinking or eating out of forgetfulness during the day in Ramadaan, you do not have to tell him, because Allaah has fed him and given him to drink as it says in the hadeeth. Is this correct?
Praise be to Allaah.
Whoever sees a Muslim
drinking or eating during the day in Ramadaan, or doing anything else that
breaks the fast, has to tell him off, because doing that openly during the
day in Ramadaan is wrong. Even if a person has an excuse for doing that, (he
should not do it), lest people dare to do openly things that Allaah has
forbidden, i.e., openly doing things that break the fast during the day in
Ramadaan, claiming that they have forgotten that they are fasting. If the
one who does that openly is sincere in his claim to have forgotten, then he
does not have to make up the fast, because the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever forgets that he is fasting
and eats or drinks, let him complete his fast, for the One Who fed him and
gave him to drink was Allaah.” (Saheeh, agreed upon). Similarly, the
traveler should not eat or drink openly among residents who do not know that
he is a traveler, rather he should do that in secret so that they will not
accuse him of doing something that Allaah has forbidden and so that he will
not encourage anyone else to dare to do that. And similarly, the kuffaar
should be prevented from openly eating or drinking etc. among the Muslims,
so as to prevent anyone taking this matter lightly and because they are not
allowed to practise their false religion openly among the Muslims. And
Allaah is the Source of strength.
