Making the intention for fasting and when to begin the fast

dear sirs

i got ramadan programme from many places. I am not sure about two things. i will appreciate guidance. 

1) for niyyat of fast i have two references. one says i am keeping tomorrows fast. second says this Ramadan fast. in pakistan people are changing to TODAY’s fast. which niyyat is correct.

2) second question is that one chart shows timings  for 15 and 18 degrees, what does it mean. this is  a new thing for me.

with dua and salam

 بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

الجواب حامدا ومصليا ومسلما

The answers to your queries may be found below:

1) In principle, one is not required to make a verbal intention for the fast to be valid. Merely knowing in one’s heart that they intend to fast is sufficient. Thus, as long as a person has the correct intention in their heart, it will make no difference whether one verbally says the fast is for today or tomorrow. 

Islamically, the day begins after sunset. Thus, it would be more correct to say one is intending to fast “today”. However, it is commonly understood that the new day begins at the break of dawn, therefore one may also say they intend to fast “tomorrow” and neither of the wordings would be incorrect.

2) There is a difference of opinion amongst the scholars regarding when Fajr and Isha time starts (how many degrees below the horizon is the sun when each time starts). Our view is that the more correct opinion is that time for Fajr begins when the sun is 18 degrees below the horizon and that Isha may be offered after the sun reaches 15 degrees below the horizon.

والله اعلم

Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala knows best.

Taha Abdulkareem

Approved by Mufti Husain Ahmad Madani