Voluntary fasting and Non-obligatory (supererogatory) Fasting

Definition of Non-obligatory (Voluntary) Fasting

Supererogatory fasts comprise great virtues and magnificent rewards. In a Qudsi hadeeth reported by Abu Hurayrah, the Prophet ﷺ said: “Indeed every righteous deed by the son of Adam is rewarded from ten to seven hundred times, but Allah Almighty says: ‘Fasting is an exception. This is because it is for Me and I shall reward (the one who fasts) accordingly.’” [ Agreed upon.]

Days on which Supererogatory Fasting is Recommended

1- Six days in the month of Shawwal (after the month of Ramadan)

The Prophet ﷺsaid “Whosoever fasts the month of Ramadan and thereafter follows it up with six days of fasting in Shawwal, it will be recorded (altogether) for him as a complete year of fasting.” [ Source: Muslim.]

It is the same if he does it consecutively or spreads it over the entire month.

2- First nine days of Dhul Hijjah (the twelfth month of the Islamic calendar)

The Prophet ﷺ said : “There is no other day in which good deeds performed are so pleasing to Allah than these days (i.e. the first ten days of the twelfth month). The companions inquired: “What about jihad (fighting) in the cause of Allah?” The Prophet said: “Not even jihad in the cause of Allah (is up to its rewards), except for a man who went out in the cause of Allah with his life and wealth and did not return with anything of either (of them).” [ Source: Bukhari.]

However, the most important of these days is the day of ‘Arafah, for those not performing the pilgrimage. The day of ‘Arafah is the ninth day of the twelfth month of the Islamic calendar. The Prophet ﷺ said: “As for fasting on the day of ‘Arafah, I expect Allah Almighty will reward that by forgiving the sins of a year gone and a coming year.” [ Source: Muslim.]

3- Fasting on ‘Ashura

This is because the Prophet said: “And as for fasting on the day of ‘Ashura, I expect that Allah Almighty shall forgive the sins of the year prior to it.” [ Source: Muslim.]

The reason for fasting on this day is in accordance with what was related from the authority of ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas, who said: “When the Prophet ﷺ arrived at Madinah, he found the Jews fasting on ‘Ashura. Then he inquired why (do they fast on that day)? They answered, ‘This a good day, the day Allah Almighty saved the children of Israel from their enemy, and as such Prophet Musa (peace be upon him) fasted thereafter (on that day).’ Then the Prophet said: ‘I have more right to Musa than you.’ Then he fasted and ordered the Muslims to fast on that day.” [ Source: Bukhari.] In another narration by Imam Muslim, the Prophet said, “If I remain (alive) till the next year, I shall fast the ninth day.” [ Source: Muslim.]

4- The bright days in every month

It is authenticated that Abd al-Malik ibn al-Minhal conveyed from his father that the Prophet ﷺ ordered them to fast the three “bright” days. He said, “It is [equivalent] to fasting the entire month.” [ Source: Ibn Habban.]

5- Fasting on Monday and Thursday of every week

Abu Hurayrah reported that the Prophet ﷺ said: “Deeds are reported to Allah Almighty on every Monday and Thursday; and I like that my deeds are reported while I am fasting.” [ Source: Tirmidhi.]

6- Fasting on alternative days

The best form of supererogatory fast is the fast of Prophet Dawud (peace be upon him). He used to fast a day and take a break the next day. Abdullah ibn ‘Amr reported the Prophet ﷺ to have said: “The best form of fasting is the fasting of Dawud (peace be upon him); he used to fast a day and take a break on the next (day).” [ Source: An-Nasaii.]

7- Fasting in Muharram (the first month of the Islamic calendar).

On the authority of Abu Hurayrah, the Prophet ﷺ said: “The best form of fasting besides Ramadan is in the month of Allah, Al-Muharram.” [ Source: Muslim.]

8- Fasting in Sha’ban (the eighth month of the Islamic calendar)

“O Prophet of Allah! I have not seen you fast in any month as you do in Sha’ban.” The Prophet replied: “That is the month, between Rajab and Ramadan, about which many people are not conscious, and deeds are returned to the Lord of the worlds (during it). Thus I love that my deeds are returned to Allah Almighty while I am fasting.” [ Source: An-Nasaii.]

Regarding the prohibition contained in the Prophet’s ﷺ hadeeth, where he said: “When Sha’baan is half over, do not fast until Ramadan,” [ Source: Ibn Khuzaymah.] it either means that the prohibition is related to deliberately fasting only after the month is halfway over, or to joining Sha’baan with Ramadan. However, a person who continues fasting the second half of Sha’baan after fasting during the first part of the month and does not join that month with Ramadan in fasting, then there is nothing wrong with his fasting.

Days on which Fasting is Prohibited and the Abominable Acts of Fasting

First: The days it is prohibited to fast on

1- It is impermissible to fast on the two days of Eid; Abu Hurayrah t narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ forbade fasting on two days: Day of Adha and day of Fitr.

2- It is impermissible to fast the ayyamut- tashreeq, which are the three days after the day of Eidul-Adha [11th, 12th, and 13th of Dhu’l Hijjah]. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “The days of tashreeq are days of eating and drinking,” [ Source: Muslim.]

but one performing Hajj may fast these days if he is doing qiraan or tamattu’ Hajj and cannot find a sacrificial animal, as is explained by the Qur’an in Ayah 196 of suratul Baqarah: “Then if you are in safety and whosoever performs the ‘Umrah in the months of Hajj, before (performing) the Hajj (i.e. Hajj-at-Tamattu’ and Al-Qiran), he must slaughter a Hady (animal, i.e. a sheep, a cow, or a camel, etc.) such as he can afford, but if he cannot afford it, he should observe Saum (fasts) for three days during the Hajj and seven days after his return (to his home), making ten days in all.”

3- It is impermissible to Fast on the yawmul- shak (day of doubt), which is the day that one doubts whether it is the last of Sha’ban or the first of Ramadhan, when there is cloud or fog that prevents the sighting of the crescent. Ammar, t said: “Whoever fasts the day of doubt has disobeyed Abul Qasim (Muhammad, ﷺ).” [ Source: Tirmidhi.]

Second: Abominable acts of fasting

1- It is makrooh (disliked) to single out Rajab for fasting, because this was a practice of Jahiliyyah (pre-Islamic time of ignorance) for they used to venerate that month and by fasting it, it would be a revival of their practices.

2- It is makrooh to single out Friday for fasting, for the Prophet forbade us to do so. Abu Hurayrah t narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “No one of you should fast on Friday, unless he fasts (a day) before it or after.” [ Source: Muslim.] If this, however, agrees with something he usually does, then it is not makrooh.

3- Wisal, which is fasting uninterruptedly day after day without a break in between, is makrooh. The Prophet forbade wisal as Abdullah bin Omar t said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ forbade Wisal. They (some of the Companions) said: “But you fast uninterruptedly,” whereupon he said: “I am not like you. I am fed and supplied drink (by Allah).” [ Agreed upon.]

Instructions

1- For worship, a Muslim must adhere to the laws of Allah. He must not fast on the days which are forbidden or innovate a fast that was not performed by the Prophet ﷺ, such as fasting on the twenty-seventh of Rajab or the middle of Sha’ban. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever innovates something in this matter of ours (Islam) that is not part of it, will have it rejected.” [ Source : Muslim.]

2- Muslims should avoid venerating the rites of the infidels. They, therefore, must not show devotion to that which the infidels venerate with acts of worship, such as fasting or otherwise.