نَسِيتُ فَأَكَلْتُ وَشَرِبْتُ وَأَنَا صَائِمٌ، فَقَالَ لَهُ: لَيْسَ عَلَيْكَ كَفَّارَةٌ، أَطْعَمَكَ اللَّهُ وَسَقَاكَ
'I forgot and ate and drank while I was fasting.' He (the Prophet ﷺ) said: 'There is no expiation upon you; Allah fed you and gave you drink.'
Nasitu fa akaltu wa sharabtu wa ana sa'im. Faqala lahu: Laysa 'alayka kaffarah, at'amakallahu wa saqak.
When to Read
This is not a dua to recite *after* accidentally eating or drinking, but rather a statement made to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ about the incident. The key takeaway is the Prophet's ﷺ assurance that the fast remains valid and no expiation is required.
How to Read
When you accidentally eat or drink during your fast, do not panic. Recognize it was a mistake. If you were to mention it to someone knowledgeable, you would use the words from the hadith to describe what happened. Otherwise, simply cease eating or drinking and continue your fast, trusting in Allah's mercy.
Virtues & Benefits
The primary benefit is the relief and knowledge that an accidental lapse does not invalidate your fast. The Prophet's ﷺ response teaches us that Allah is Most Merciful and does not hold us accountable for genuine mistakes. It encourages perseverance in fasting, knowing that Allah rewards the intention and effort, even with unintentional slips.
Source & Authentication
Narrated by Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him): The Prophet ﷺ said, 'If someone forgets that he is fasting and eats or drinks, he should complete his fast, for it is only Allah who has fed him and given him drink.' (Sahih al-Bukhari 6644). Another narration by Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him): 'If one of you has forgotten while fasting, so he eats or drinks, then let him complete his fast, for it was Allah who fed him and gave him to drink. There is no expiation (Kaffarah) upon him.' (Sahih Muslim 1155). In one narration, a man said to the Prophet ﷺ: 'I forgot and ate and drank while I was fasting.' He said: 'There is no expiation upon you; Allah fed you and gave you drink.' (Sahih Muslim 1155).