they did not mention it; and if it were authentic, we would interpret it as being recommended, for performing it consecutively is better, due to the adherence to the report, the avoidance of disagreement, and its resemblance to the performance of the original act. And Allah knows best.

510 - Issue: He said: (Whoever enters into a voluntary fast, then breaks it, has no obligation to make it up, although if he does make it up, it is good.)

The sum of this is that whoever enters into a voluntary fast, it is recommended for him to complete it, but it is not obligatory. If he exits it, he is not required to make it up. It was reported from Ibn Umar and Ibn Abbas that they both started the day fasting, then broke their fast. Ibn Umar said: "There is no harm in it, as long as it is not a vow or the makeup of Ramadan." Ibn Abbas said: "If a man fasts voluntarily, then if he wishes to interrupt it, he may interrupt it; and if he enters into a voluntary prayer, then if he wishes to interrupt it, he may interrupt it" (1). Ibn Mas'ud said: "Whenever you wake up intending to fast, you are in one of two states: if you wish, you fast, and if you wish, you break your fast" (2). This is the school of Ahmad, al-Thawri, al-Shafi'i, and Ishaq. Hanbal has reported from Ahmad that if he resolves to fast and makes it binding upon himself, then breaks his fast without an excuse, he must repeat a day in place of that day. This is interpreted as meaning he recommended it, or that he had made a vow, to be consistent with the rest of the narrations from him. Al-Nakha'i, Abu Hanifah, and Malik said: It becomes binding upon starting it (3) and one cannot exit it except with an excuse; if he exits it, he must make it up. From Malik, it is reported: He has no obligation to make it up. Those who required making it up argued based on what was reported from Aisha, that she said: "I and Hafsah woke up fasting as volunteers, then a hayys (4) was gifted to us, so we broke our fast. Then we asked the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), and he said: 'Make up a day in its place'" (5). And because it is an act of worship that becomes binding upon a vow, therefore it becomes binding