Fathwa - Does eating and drinking after making anintention affect the validity of fasting?

Question
In the month of Ramadhaan, after havingSuhoor meal, I pronounced the
intention to fast. Then, afterwards and before the Athaan of Al-Fajr,
I ate or rather, more accurately, drank. Does this affect my fasting?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify
that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad,
is His slave and messenger.
First, we would like to draw your attention to the fact that it is
sufficient to make the intention to fast with your heart. You should
not utter it because the heart is the place of intentions. Some
scholarshold the view that one intention suffices on the first night
of every fast inwhich consecutiveness is obligatory. It is better to
make the intention everynight to avoid the difference of those who
held this as obligatory.
Concerning your question, the answer is: Allaah The Almighty Allowed a
fasting person to eat and drink till the light of the morning appears.
Allaah The Exalted says (what means): {And eat and drink until the
white thread of dawn becomes distinct to you from the black thread [of
night].} [Quran 2:187]
The Prophet, said: "The difference between our fasting and that of the
People of the Book is the Suhoor meal." [Muslim]
Scholars recommended delaying Suhoor because this is the Sunnah.
Therefore, there is no harm in eating and drinking after concludingthe
intention to fast.
Hence, your fasting is valid. Eating and drinking after concludingthe
intention does not affect fasting.
Allaah Knows best.