The Ruling on Consecutive Voluntary Fasting

Question:
He says: We have noticed that some of the residents of the house are fasting on consecutive days, knowing that this fasting is not a vow, an expiation, or something obligatory, but rather seeking reward from Allah the Exalted. We know that the best fasting is the fasting of Dawud (peace be upon him). We ask Your Eminence to clarify whether this consecutive fasting has a basis in the Shari'ah. Please inform us, may Allah reward you with good.

Answer:
It is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), in the hadith of Aisha and Ibn Abbas and others, according to his busyness and leisure. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) also used to fast on Mondays and Thursdays when that was easy for him, and he encouraged the Ummah to fast three days of every month, and he used to fast them as well. So the Sunnah is that the believer should seek reward in whatever is easy for him: if he wishes, he may fast consecutively according to his leisure; if he wishes, he may break his fast consecutively; if he wishes, he may fast Mondays and Thursdays; and if he wishes, he may fast three days of every month. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to Abdullah ibn Amr, who used to fast constantly: “Fast three days of the month, for one good deed is rewarded with ten like it.” When the man persisted, he said: “Fast the fast of David.” He used to fast one day and break the fast the next. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “There is nothing better than that.” He said: “Is there nothing better than that?” He said: “There is nothing better than that. The best fasting is to fast one day and break the fast the next, for whoever is able to do so, and it does not occupy him from what is more obligatory and what is more important. And if he fasts three days of every month, that is sufficient for him.”

The presenter:
May Allah reward you,