Dear respected Shaykh, assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh. How is the intention to make up a missed fast done? نية قضاء الصوم

Praise be to Allah, and may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah, his family and his companions.   Wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh.   As to what follows:   In response to your question, we say:     There is nothing that is pronounced verbally in making intention, rather the intention is the heart’s undertaking, and  the heart’s resolution to fast the next day is sufficient. This resolution is shown by partaking sahur, or having a heavy supper, if the person eats supper, sahur and so on. Also the sister mentioned in her question that she makes an intention to make up for one missed day of  fasting, the second missed day of fasting, and so on. She does not need to say, “This fast is for making up for the first day, second that I did not fast,” and so on.  Rather, she should intend- like if she has to make up for the fast of five days- to make up for one of the missed days and that’s it.  It is not imperative for her to intend to make up for the first day, second day and third day of Ramadan. This specification is part of the extremism that is unlawful and not permissible. Allah the Exalted says, “So whoever among you is ill or on a journey [during them] - then an equal number of days [are to be made up],” [al-Baqarah 2: 184] a number of days is to be made up for the missed days without specification. Thus the intention is the heart’s resolve, determination, and nothing more.