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Question: What is the ruling for eating or drinking forgetfully while fasting? If one sees a fasting person reaching for something to eat or drink during the fasting hours, should he be reminded or not? Answer: by Shaykh Muhammad bin Saalih al-Uthaymeen رحمه الله : Eating or drinking forgetfully while fasting will not render fasting null. However, if one remembers that one is fasting, one must stop eating or drinking immediately.  If the bite or drink is still in the mouth, it should be spit out immediately. The proof of the validity of the fast of such a person is indicated in the statement of Allaah's Prophet صل الله عليه و سلم  as reported by Muslim: "If one forgot and ate or drank while fasting, one should complete his fast. This food or drink that one takes forgetfully is but a grant provided by Allaah, the Almighty." Moreover, a person will not be punished, for any sin that was committed due to forgetfulness. This is based on the verse of the glorious Qur?aan:  Al-Baqarah (2):286 لاَ يُكَلِّفُ اللّهُ نَفْسًا إِلاَّ وُسْعَهَا لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتْ وَعَلَيْهَا مَا اكْتَسَبَتْ رَبَّنَا لاَ تُؤَاخِذْنَا إِن نَّسِينَا أَوْ أَخْطَأْنَا رَبَّنَا وَلاَ تَحْمِلْ عَلَيْنَا إِصْرًا كَمَا حَمَلْتَهُ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِنَا رَبَّنَا وَلاَ تُحَمِّلْنَا مَا لاَ طَاقَةَ لَنَا بِهِ وَاعْفُ عَنَّا وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا وَارْحَمْنَا أَنتَ مَوْلاَنَا فَانصُرْنَا عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِينَ Allâh burdens not a person beyond his scope. He gets reward for that (good) which he has earned, and he is punished for that (evil) which he has earned. "Our Lord! Punish us not if we forget or fall into error, our Lord! Lay not on us a burden like that which You did lay on those before us (Jews and Christians); our Lord! Put not on us a burden greater than we have strength to bear. Pardon us and grant us Forgiveness. Have mercy on us. You are our Maulâ (Patron, Suppor-ter and Protector, etc.) and give us victory over the disbelieving people." A person who notices, or sees a fasting person eating forgetfully, must remind him. This is based on the statement of Allaah's Messenger صل الله عليه و سلم  as reported by Muslim: "He whoever sees a wrong or ill act being performed, must correct it by hand. If one is not capable to do so, then by a good word to the sinner. But, if one is not capable of saying a good word, then one may deny this sin in his heart and mind." Eating or drinking while fasting is a forbidden evil act. It is pardoned however if one does so forgetfully. But people, who notice this person, must remind him that it is the fasting month of Ramadaan. Witnesses who neglect to remind forgetting persons have no excuse.