The days on which voluntary fasting is permissible
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Fatwa number ( 6139 )
Q: I am a Saudi man, about 27 years old. I entered prison and turned to Allah in worship. I fast the following: I fast Monday and Thursday of every week, I fast three days of every month, I fast the entire month of Rajab every year, I fast ten days of Dhul-Hijjah, meaning nine days at 'Arafah, I fast 'Ashura with a day before it and a day after it, I fast six days of Shawwal, and I fast half of Sha'ban. The question is this: It is said that fasting is only for Ramadan, and the rest is religious innovation (bid'ah), and there is no authentic hadith. I know that I found an authentic hadith in the book Tanbih al-Ghafilin by the Shaykh Abu al-Layth al-Samarqandi . I ask for an answer: Is fasting on these days valid or is it religious innovation (bid'ah)? I know that my fellow prisoners say that this is religious innovation (bid'ah) and that fasting on these days is not permissible.
A: Fasting Monday and Thursday of every week, fasting three days of every month, fasting the ninth of Dhul-Hijjah, fasting the tenth of Muharram and fasting a day before it or a day after it, and fasting six days of Shawwal, all
of this is a recommended practice (sunnah) for which authentic hadiths have been established from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). Likewise, fasting the first half of Sha'ban, and fasting all of it or most of it, is all a recommended practice (sunnah). As for specifically fasting the day that corresponds to the middle of Sha'ban, it is disliked (makruh) and there is no evidence for it. We ask Allah for you to increase your success. As for fasting Rajab alone, it is disliked (makruh), and if one fasts part of it and breaks the fast for part of it, the dislike is removed. We ask Allah to multiply your reward and accept your repentance. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: I am a Saudi man, about 27 years old. I entered prison and turned to Allah in worship. I fast the following: I fast Monday and Thursday of every week, I fast three days of every month, I fast the entire month of Rajab every year, I fast ten days of Dhul-Hijjah, meaning nine days at 'Arafah, I fast 'Ashura with a day before it and a day after it, I fast six days of Shawwal, and I fast half of Sha'ban. The question is this: It is said that fasting is only for Ramadan, and the rest is religious innovation (bid'ah), and there is no authentic hadith. I know that I found an authentic hadith in the book Tanbih al-Ghafilin by the Shaykh Abu al-Layth al-Samarqandi . I ask for an answer: Is fasting on these days valid or is it religious innovation (bid'ah)? I know that my fellow prisoners say that this is religious innovation (bid'ah) and that fasting on these days is not permissible.
A: Fasting Monday and Thursday of every week, fasting three days of every month, fasting the ninth of Dhul-Hijjah, fasting the tenth of Muharram and fasting a day before it or a day after it, and fasting six days of Shawwal, all
of this is a recommended practice (sunnah) for which authentic hadiths have been established from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). Likewise, fasting the first half of Sha'ban, and fasting all of it or most of it, is all a recommended practice (sunnah). As for specifically fasting the day that corresponds to the middle of Sha'ban, it is disliked (makruh) and there is no evidence for it. We ask Allah for you to increase your success. As for fasting Rajab alone, it is disliked (makruh), and if one fasts part of it and breaks the fast for part of it, the dislike is removed. We ask Allah to multiply your reward and accept your repentance. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.