Fasting in Islam is one of the greatest worships that can take the Muslim to the highest degrees in Jannah provided they maintain sincerity and observation for manners since the main objective of fasting is to achieve Taqwa (fear of Allah).
In this article, we explore the various types of voluntary fasting days in Islam in detail, discuss the rewards associated with different types of fasting, and examine other forms of disliked and Haram fasting. This will help Muslims adhere to the Prophetic tradition in their worship. Let’s get started!
The Meaning Of Voluntary Fasting Days In Islam?
Voluntary fasting days in Islam means any type of fast legislated by Allah other than the obligatory fast. It’s also called Sunnah fasting and recommended fasting. Thus, this voluntary fasting helps the Muslim to come close to the Creator through a recommended good deed.
To illustrate, the word “voluntary” excludes any obligatory fasting, i.e., fasting Ramadan, expiation (kaffarah) stated by Sharia for violating a rule, or vow that one committed himself to. Also, the term excludes any type of fasting forbidden by Allah Almighty.
Types Of Voluntary Fasting Days
There are two main types of voluntary fasting days in Islam–absolute and restricted voluntary fasting:
- Absolute voluntary fasting days: are those which Shariah texts without being restricted to a certain time. Thus, whatever day the Muslim chooses to fast voluntarily with no stated forbidden days or cases.
- Restricted voluntary fasting days: are those mentioned in Shariah texts restricted to a certain time, such as fasting six days of Shawwal.
Thus, there are a lot of options available for the Muslim to practice this honorable act of worship whatever lifestyle he has.
What Are The Voluntary Fasting Days?
There is a group of restricted voluntary fasting days mentioned in authentic Islamic texts. Here are those days along with their legitimacy:
1. Fasting one day and breaking the fast one day:
The ideal case for voluntary fasting days in Islam is that of Prophet David (PBUH). Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) says:
“There is no fasting superior to the fast of my brother Dawūd; fasting half of one’s life by fasting one day and eating one day.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
2. Fasting on Mondays and Thursdays:
One of the Prophetic traditions in fasting is to fast on Mondays and Thursdays. This is because deeds are presented before Allah, the Exalted, on these two days, and the Prophet (PBUH) would love to have his deeds presented while he was fasting:
“ The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) used to strive to fast on Mondays and Thursdays” [Sahih Sunan Ibn Majah]
3. Fasting three days of each month:
Fasting three days of the month equals fasting the whole month since the reward in Islam is doubled by ten. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) says:
“Fasting three days every month is fasting your entire lifetime.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Also, Muslims can fast these three days at any time of the month.
When ‘Ā’ishah was asked: “Did the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) fast three days of each month?” she replied, yes…“It did not matter to him in which part of the month he fasted.” [Sahih Muslim]
Still, it’s better to fast these three days like what the Prophet mentioned in another hadith:
“If you fast three days of the month, then fast the thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth.” [Ibn Majah: sound hadith]
4. Fasting the first eight days of Dhul-Hijjah:
The reward for any good deed–including fasting–in these days is so special.
“There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than on these days,” referring to the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah. [Sahih Al-Bukhari]
5. Fasting the Day of Arafat for non-pilgrims:
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) urged the Muslims to fast on the day of Arafat saying:
“It is an expiation for the sins of the preceding year and the current year.” [Muslim]
Still, there is an exception for the pilgrim since the Prophet (PBUH) doesn’t fast Arafat upon performing the hajj. Umm Al-Fadl says:
“I sent him [Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)] a cup of milk while he was observing the halt at ‘Arafah on his camel, and he drank it.” [Sahih Sunan Abi Dawud]
6. Fasting most of Shaban month:
The Prophet (PBUH) would not fast in any month more than he did in Sha‘bān out of its virtue due to closeness to Ramadan obligatory fasting. Thus, fasting in Shaban prepares the Muslim for the obligation, and complements the shortcomings of obligatory fasting.
7. Fasting the six days of Shawwal:
Fasting the six days of Shawwal serves as complementary fasting for the shortcomings that happened in the obligatory fasting of Ramadan. Moreover, fasting these days with Ramadan serves as the fast of the whole year out of Allah’s merciful rule of doubling the reward of deeds by ten.
“Whoever fasts during the month of Ramadan and then follows it with six days of Shawwal will be (rewarded) as if he had fasted the entire year.” [Sahih Muslim]
8. Fasting the tenth of Muharram:
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) urges Muslims to fast the tenth day of Muharram (Ashura) saying: “Fast the Day of Ashura, for indeed I anticipate that Allah will forgive (the sins of) the year before it.” [Sahih At-Tirmidhi]
Also, to act differently from the Jews and Christians, the Muslim is recommended to fast one day before Ashura. When Prophet Muhammad was informed that Ashura is a day which the Jews and Christians hold in high esteem, he said: When the next year comes, God willing, we would observe fast on the 9th. [Sahih Muslim]
9. Fasting most of the Muharram month:
“The most excellent fast after Ramadan is Allah’s month, Muharram,”
as Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) says in the hadith reported in Sahih Muslim. Still, this superiority refers to absolute voluntary fasting. Nevertheless, the best voluntary fasting is that which is close to the obligatory fasting of Ramadan, both before and after. To illustrate, Just as the voluntary prayers before and after obligatory ones, are better than absolute voluntary prayer, fasting before and after Ramadan is better than any other voluntary fasting, as Ibn Rajab explains.
Overall, voluntary fasting days in Islam are summarized in weekly days like Mondays and Thursdays, monthly ones, like the three days of every month, preferably the 13th, 14th, and 15th, as well as annual days such as Ashura, Arafat, and the six days of Shawwal.
Voluntary Fasting In Islam Reward
Voluntary fasting in Islam rewards believers not only in the hereafter but also in this worldly life. It is Allah’s mercy to show His servants part of the reward for their deeds here before granting the full reward in the hereafter. The following is a selection of rewards mentioned for fasting in the Quran and authentic hadiths:
1. Fasting Prevents from Hellfire:
“Fasting is a prevention from hell”
as Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) mentioned in the hadith reported in Sahih Al-Bukhari. Also, in another hadith, he says:
“Whoever fasts one day in the cause of Allah, Allah shall put between him and Hellfire a trench as wide as the distance between the heavens and the earth.” [Sound Hadith: At-Tirmidhi]
Some scholars interpreted the phrase “in the cause of Allah” mentioned in the previous hadith as sincerity in fasting, while others restricted it to Jihad time.
2. Fasting reward is beyond the rule of multiplication:
Good deeds in Islam–other than fasting–can be multiplied from ten to seven hundred times. But for fasting the reward is beyond our limited perspective:
“Allah, the Exalted, says: ‘(multiplication is so) except for fasting, for indeed it is for Me, and I will reward it.’” [Sahih Muslim]
3. Fasting guarantees happiness in this life and hereafter:
Fasting, whether obligatory or voluntary, leads to true happiness. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) says:
“The one who fasts, experiences two joys: he feels pleasure when he breaks the fast. He is joyful by virtue of his fast when he meets his Lord.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
4. Special gate in Jannah for those used to fast:
One of the eight gates of Jannah is for those known for their fasting habit. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) says:
“ In Paradise, there is a gate called Ar’Rayyan, it will be said on the Day of Resurrection: “Where are those who used to fast? Would you like to enter through Ar-Rayyan?” whoever enters through it will never thirst again.” [Sahih Sunan An-Nasa’i]
5. Fasting helps in building Taqwa and self-restriction:
Allah Almighty states in the Quran that the objective of fasting is to achieve Taqwa (fearing Allah):
“O believers! Fasting is prescribed for you—as it was for those before you—so perhaps you will become mindful ˹of Allah˺.” [Quran, 2: 183]
Also, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) advises those who can’t afford marriage to fast so that fasting helps them in keeping modest:
“Those who cannot [afford marriage] should fast; it controls the sexual desire.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
6. Fasting clears the sins:
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) states that good deeds overwrite bad ones. In the following hadith, he mentions specific types of sins to be cleared by specific good deeds including fasting:
“A man’s trial [i.e., excessive concern or neglect of rights] is in his family, his wealth, his children, and his neighbors. It is atoned for by the Salat, fasting, charity, and by commanding good and forbidding evil.” [Sahih At-Tirmidhi]
7. Fasting helps in answering supplications:
Allah Almighty promises the one fasting to answer their supplications. As Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) says,
“There are three whose supplications are not turned back: … and a fasting person until he breaks his fast.” [Sunan Ibn Majah: Hasan Hadith]
It’s important to note that answering supplications has three forms, only one of them is to have what you ask as is. Also, there are barriers hindering supplications sometimes from being answered so we need to avoid them.
8. Fasting intercedes for the Muslim:
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) says that fasting and the Quran have a special relation with their true people in Judgment Day:
“Fasting and the Qur’an intercede for a man. Fasting says, ‘O my Lord, I have kept him away from his food and his passions by day, so accept my intercession for him.’” [Sahih Hadith]
To sum up, knowing the reward of fasting helps the Muslims to keep this worship. Fasting prevents the Muslims from hellfire, guarantees countless balance of good deeds for them, answered supplications, true happiness, and intercession. Fasting also clears the sins and helps the Muslim to achieve self-control and Taqwa, and increases the Muslim’s opportunity to enter Jannah.
Definition Of Haram Fasting Days
Haram fasting days are those on which Allah Almighty commands believers to break their fast as an obligation. Therefore, anyone who fasts on these days is considered a sinner deserving of punishment, while those who do not fast are rewarded for obeying the command.
Some of these days are explicitly mentioned in Prophetic sayings and are agreed upon as forbidden by consensus, while other days are subject to varying scholarly opinions.
Which 5 Days Are Haram For Fasting?
There is no Quranic verse or authentic hadith specifying exactly five forbidden days for fasting. In fact, upon examining the hadiths that explicitly mention forbidden fasting days, there are more than five days indicated. Here are the explicitly haram fasting days:
- Fasting the day of Eid-ul-Fitr.
- Fasting the day of Eid-ul-Adha. The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) forbade fasting the two days: Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.
- The days of Tashriq (the three days following Eid-ul-Adha, i.e. 11th, 12th, and 13th of Dhul Hijjah). Still, there is an exception to fasting these days, according to most scholars, for pilgrims of a specific case: ‘Nobody was allowed to fast on the days of Tashriq except for those (pilgrims), who could not afford the Hadi (sacrifice).‘ (Al-Bukhari)
- Fasting the day of doubt (i.e., the 30th of Shaban when the appearance of the moon is doubtful). Some people may doubt this day to be the start of Ramadan so they fast out of doubt, which is haram. Prophet Muhammad PBUH says: “He who keeps fast on this day disobeys AbulQasim (i.e. the Prophet)” [Sahih]
Thus, the day of al-Fitr, al-Adha, days of Tashriq, and days of doubt are Haram for every Muslim to fast. Moreover, there are extra Haram days but for some sections only. For example, the wife whose husband is present is not allowed to observe voluntary fasting except after his permission.
Moreover, there are days disliked for fasting since their form of ruling reported is not binding. Thus, most scholars consider them as disliked not forbidden:
- Fasting Friday only: Prophet Muhammad PBUH says: “None of you should fast on Friday unless he fasts a day before it or a day after it.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
- Fasting Saturday only.
- Practicing Wisal in fasting: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) forbade us from practicing wisal in fasting (i.e. fasting continuously without breaking one’s fast in the evening or eating before the following dawn). (Agreed Upon)
- Fasting every day for life.
Therefore, Muslims should follow the Prophet’s traditions of fasting and avoid innovation so they get closer and loved by Allah Almighty.
Can I Fast On Saturday Only In Islam?
You can’t fast on Saturday only if it’s an absolutely voluntary fasting since Prophet Muhammad PBUH forbade fasting on Saturday only saying:
“Do not fast on Saturday except for what has been made obligatory upon you (by Allah).”
According to this Hadith, fasting on Saturday is allowed if it is an obligatory form of fasting, such as a day of Ramadan, a makeup day, or similar. Additionally, exceptions include when Saturday coincides with another occasion for voluntary fasting, such as Arafat Day, or for someone who follows the practice of fasting one day and breaking fast on the other (the fast of Prophet Dawud).
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Conclusion: What Days Should You Fast In Islam?
To conclude, voluntary fasting in Islam has a flexible system suitable for most Muslims to observe so that they win the great reward of fasting. There is weekly fasting on Mondays and Thursdays, monthly fasting of three days, and annual fasting on Arafat day, Ashura, six days from Shawwal, and the first eight days of Dhul Hijjah.
Adhering to the balanced system of fasting in Islam helps Muslims stay steadfast, earn rewards for following Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), and avoid deviating from disliked or even forbidden forms of fasting out of ignorance or overzealousness.
