Is it compulsory to make the intention for fasting in Ramadan every night of the month? هل تجب النية في صيام رمضان كل ليلة؟

Praise be to Allah, and may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah, his family and his companions.   As to what follows:   In response to your question, we say, and with Allah Almighty lies all success:     The majority of scholars  including the four Imams and others hold that it is imperative to make an intention every night because of the statement of the Prophet (peace be upon him) “The reward of deeds depends upon the intentions “ [al-Bukhari (1)] and other texts, because fasting each day is an independent act of  worship. Imam Malik was of the opinion that when the month of Ramadan starts and a person makes an intention to fast all of it, he does not need to renew his intention every night, and the previous intention will suffice. However, it is compulsory for him to make a new intention if he breaks his fast either for an acceptable reason or for no reason. An example of an acceptable reason is menstruation whereby a woman breaks her fast because of menses, a traveler who breaks his journey because of travelling, or a sick person who breaks his fast because of sickness.  When such a person wants to resume his fast he should renew his fasting. As for the person who did not break his fast for an acceptable reason or no reason; then in this state one intention at the beginning of the month is sufficient for him. This is the opinion which is closer to the truth.   The intention is an action of the heart and does not need to be verbally pronounced. So, the issue of intention is easy and does not require the evil insinuations which afflict some people who say: “How do I make the intention?,”  “Did I make the intention?,” “I did not make the intention.”   Whoever drinks water with the intention of getting strength for fasting, that is sufficient.