Sunnah Fasting Days In Islam: Voluntary Fasting Guide

Noha Radwan
November 2, 2024
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Sunnah fasting—voluntary fasts outside Ramadan—offers immense spiritual rewards. Observing fasts on specific days like Mondays, Thursdays, the “white days” (13th, 14th, 15th of each Hijri month), Shawwal, Ashura, and Arafah brings blessings, forgiveness, and closeness to Allah, enriching the soul beyond Ramadan.

We will explain these days in this article. So, let’s explore them together.

This artilce covers the next points:

What is the meaning of fasting?

Fasting means abstaining from eating, drinking and marital relationships between husband and wife from dawn to sunset.

So fasting during Ramadan or outside it, has the same concept.

Meaning of Sunnah Fasting Days:

Sunnah fasting in Islam refers to voluntary fasts outside of Ramadan that hold significant spiritual rewards. Specific Sunnah fasting days include Mondays and Thursdays, as Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) often observed them, along with the three “white days” (13th, 14th, and 15th) of each Hijri month, most of Sha’ban, the six days of Shawwal, the day of Ashura, and the first nine days of Dhu al-Hijjah, especially the Day of Arafah.

Importance of Sunnah Fasting Days In Islam?

Fasting Sunnah days means fasting days outside Ramadan which are neither for expiation nor vow.

Fasting these days have a great reward as prophet Mohammed peace be upon him said”

مَنْ صَامَ يَوْمًا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ بَعَّدَ اللَّهُ وَجْهَهُ عَنِ النَّارِ سَبْعِينَ خَرِيفًا”

which means:

“If anyone fasts for a day while engaged in jihad, God will remove him* seventy years’ distance from hell.”

*Literally, ‘his face’.

So this reward will be provided to the fasting Muslim who engaged in Jihad or a Muslim who is fasting and seeking this reward from Allah Almighty.

Each Sunnah fasting day holds unique benefits. For instance, fasting on Mondays and Thursdays is encouraged as these are days when deeds are presented to Allah. The six days of Shawwal are said to be equivalent to fasting an entire year when combined with Ramadan.

Ashura, observed on the 10th of Muharram, carries the reward of expiating sins from the previous year, and the Day of Arafah brings forgiveness for sins of both the previous and coming years. These practices embody a strong tradition of devotion and gratitude, aiming for spiritual purification and deeper connection with Allah.

What are the Sunnah Fasting Days?

Sunnah Fasting can be weekly, monthly, or occasional. It differs from Ramadan fasting. In Ramadan, you must have the intention of fasting (Niyyah) before dawn, while for Sunnah fasting, you don’t need to have this intention before Fajr. You can make the intention when you wake up and continue fasting for the rest of the day.

Let’s explain the difference between them.

These fasting days are:

Mondays and Thursdays.
Three days of the Hijri month, especially the 13th, 14th, and 15th.
Most of Sha’ban.
Six days of Shawwal, except the day of Eid al-Fitr.
The day of Ashura, which is the 10th day of the month of Muharram.
The first nine days of Dhu al-Hijjah, including the day of Arafat for non-Hajj Muslims.

Sunnah Fasting Of Mondays and Thursdays

Mondays and Thursdays are the days the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, used to fast. In the hadith, he said:

“تعرض الأعمال يوم الاثنين والخميس، فأحب أن يعرض عملي وأنا صائم”

Which means:

“Deeds of people are presented (to Allah) on Mondays and Thursdays, so I like my actions to be presented while I am fasting.”

This hadith highlights the benefits of fasting on these days of the week:

Deeds are presented to Allah, the Almighty, on these days every week. Because of this, Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, fasted on Mondays and Thursdays. As Muslims, we should follow this noble example.
It is Sunnah, as Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, fasted these days regularly. Any Muslim who follows this Sunnah will be rewarded, inshaAllah.

Sunnah Fasting of the three days of the Hijri month

It also sunnah to fast three days each Hijri month, every Muslim can fast any three days that are suitable for them,whether in the beginning, middle or at the end of the month, either separated or consecutive, as mentioned in the following hadith:

عن معاذة العدوية: أنها سألتْ عائشةَ رضي الله عنها : أكانَ رسولُ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَصُومُ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ ثَلاَثة أيَّامٍ؟ قالتَ: نعم. فقلتُ: مِنْ أيِّ الشَّهْرِ كَانَ يَصُوم؟ قالتَ: لَمْ يَكُنْ يُبَالِي مِنْ أيِّ الشَّهْرِ يَصُومُ.

Which means:

Mu‘ādhah al-‘Adawiyah reported that she asked ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her): “Did the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) fast three days of each month?” ‘Ā’ishah replied: ‘Yes.’ Mu‘ādhah asked: “In which part of the month did he fast?” ‘Ā’ishah replied: “It did not matter to him in which part of the month he fasted.”

It is also preferable to fast the three consecutive days of the Hijri month, which are the 13th, 14th, and 15th, known as the “white days” due to the bright illumination of the full moon on these nights.

You can find this meaning in the following hadith:

عن أبي ذر رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : «إِذَا صُمْتَ مِنَ الشَّهْرِ ثَلاَثاً، فَصُمْ ثَلاَثَ عَشْرَةَ، وَأرْبَعَ عَشْرَةَ، وَخَمْسَ عَشْرَةَ»

Which means:

Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “If you fast three days of the month, then fast the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth.”

By combining the two meanings of the hadith, you can conclude the following:

Fasting three days of the Hijri month is a Sunnah, and you will be rewarded if you apply it.
You can fast any three days of the month, whether separated or consecutive.
However, it is preferable to fast on the 13th, 14th, and 15th of each Hijri month.

The Sunnah Fasting of the Days of Sha’ban

It is another Sunnah as prophet Mohammed peace be upon him fast most days of Sha’ban as mentioned in the following hadith:

عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، زَوْجِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَّهَا قَالَتْ “كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَصُومُ حَتَّى نَقُولَ لاَ يُفْطِرُ وَيُفْطِرُ حَتَّى نَقُولَ لاَ يَصُومُ وَمَا رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم اسْتَكْمَلَ صِيَامَ شَهْرٍ قَطُّ إِلاَّ رَمَضَانَ وَمَا رَأَيْتُهُ فِي شَهْرٍ أَكْثَرَ صِيَامًا مِنْهُ فِي شَعْبَانَ ‏.”

:Which means‏

Narrated ‘Aishah, wife of Prophet (peace be upon him):

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to fast to such an extent that we thought that he would never break his fast, and he would go without fasting to such an extent that we thought he would never fast. I never saw the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) fast a complete month except in Ramadan, and I never saw his fast more in any month than in Sha’ban.

This hadith indicates that Prophet Mohammed, peace be upon him, fasted more in Sha’ban than in any other month, as people tend to neglect fasting during this time. This is because it falls between Rajab, the month preceding it, and Ramadan.

Additionally, during this month, deeds are presented to Allah, the Almighty, which is why Prophet Mohammed, peace be upon him, preferred to fast in Sha’ban.

The Sunnah Fasting of the six days of Shawwal

A great reward will be given to Muslims who fast for six days in Shawwal, such that it is equivalent to fasting for a whole year.

This meaning can be found in the following hadith:

قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم “من صام رمضان وأتبعه ستا من شوال كان كصيام الدهر”

Which means that:

“If anyone fasts during Ramadan, then follows it with six days in Shawwal, it will be like a perpetual fast.”

Ramadan is equivalent to fasting for ten months, and fasting six days in Shawwal equals two months, as each day is multiplied by ten. Together, fasting during Ramadan and six days of Shawwal is equivalent to fasting for a full year.

Fasting six days in Shawwal also compensates for any deficiencies that may have occurred during Ramadan, such as sins or negligence in worship.

It is important to note that fasting on the day of Eid al-Fitr is forbidden, but you can fast on any other day during the month of Shawwal.

The Sunnah Fasting of the day of Ashura

When Prophet Mohammed, peace be upon him, was asked about the day of Ashura (the tenth day of the month of Muharram), he said:

“يكفر الله به السنة التي قبله”

which means:

“Fasting on the day of Ashura, I hope, will expiate for the sins of the previous year.”

The day of Ashura is the day when Allah, suhanhu wa tala, saved Prophet Musa (Moses), peace be upon him, and his followers from Pharaoh. Fasting on this day is a form of gratitude to Allah.

It is also recommended to fast on the ninth day of Muharram along with the tenth (the day of Ashura), as Prophet Mohammed, peace be upon him, said:

“لَئِنْ بَقِيتُ إِلَى قَابِلٍ لأصومن التَّاسِع”

which means:

“If I am spared until next year, I shall fast on the ninth.”

This indicates that Prophet Mohammed, peace be upon him, expressed the intention to fast both the ninth and tenth days of Muharram if he were to live until the following year.

The Sunnah Fasting of the first nine days of Dhu al-Hijjah

Another great reward is granted for those who caring about doing good deeds including fasting in the first nine days of Dhu al-Hijjah.This meaning is reflected in the next hadith:

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَا مِنْ أَيَّامٍ الْعَمَلُ الصَّالِحُ فِيهِنَّ أَحَبُّ إِلَى اللَّهِ مِنْ هَذِهِ الْأَيَّامِ الْعَشَرَةِ» قَالُوا: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَلَا الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ؟ قَالَ: «وَلَا الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ إِلَّا رَجُلٌ خَرَجَ بِنَفْسِهِ وَمَالِهِ فَلَمْ يَرْجِعْ مِنْ ذَلِكَ بِشَيْءٍ»

Which means:

“There are no days in which a good deed is more pleasing to God than these ten days.” On being asked whether not even jihad in God’s path were as pleasing, he replied, “Not even jihad in God’s path, except when a man goes out in person with his property and loses both life and property.”

This emphasizes the importance of focusing on good deeds during these days. Additionally, fasting on the ninth day of Dhu al-Hijjah, known as the Day of Arafah, has its own significant reward. When the Prophet Mohammed, peace be upon him, was asked about fasting on the Day of Arafah, he said:

«يُكَفِّرُ اَلسَّنَةَ اَلْمَاضِيَةَ وَالْبَاقِيَةَ»

which means:

“Fasting on the Day of Arafah expiates for the sins of the previous year and the coming year.”

However, fasting on the Day of Arafah is forbidden for those performing Hajj, though any other Muslim is permitted to fast on this day.

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Conclusion:

In this article we discussed the meaning of fasting, which involves abstaining from eating, drinking and marital relationships between husband and wife from dawn to sunset.

We also explained the concept of fasting sunnah days which refers to fasting on days outside of Ramadan which are neither an expiation nor vow, and we highlighted the great rewards associated with it .

Fasting can be weekly, monthly, or occasional. In Ramdan you must have the intention of fasting (Niyyah) before dawn, while for Sunnah fasting, you don’t need to have this intention before Fajr.

We also provided a detailed explanation of Sunnah fasting days and their rewards in details, sunnah days include:

Mondays and Thursdays.
Three days of the Hijri month, especially the 13th, 14th, and 15th.
Most of Sha’ban.
Six days of Shawwal, except the day of Eid al-Fitr.
The day of Ashura, which is the 10th day of the month of Muharram.
The first nine days of Dhu al-Hijjah, including the day of Arafat for non-Hajj Muslims.