Reminding a fasting person when he eats or drinks forgetfully

Reminding a fasting person when he eats or drinks forgetfully

Selections from the speech of Sheikh Muhammad ibn `Uthaymain (may Allah bestow mercy on his soul)

The Question:

What is the ruling if I see someone fasting eating or drinking forgetfully? And how to remind him?

The answer:

When you see someone eating or drinking forgetfully while he is fasting, you have to warn him and remind him of his fasting because a believer is like a strong building for his Muslim brother whose different parts enforce each other. Therefore, when you see someone sleeping in the time of Salah, do not say that a sleeping person is not charged and shall not be held accountable as long as he is sleeping, but you should wake him up.

Scholars said: It is a must to inform the sleeping person of the time of Salah before its due time elapses. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "If I forget, remind me." The fasting person who eats or drinks forgetfully is excused but the one who is attentive is not excused because he knows that such an action corrupts fasting but there is an excuse for the sleeping person which is forgetfulness, so he should remind him.