What is the ruling on fasting on Thursday?

Question:
May Allah guide you, Honorable Shaykh. This questioner says: A student of knowledge told me that fasting on Thursday is not established. What is your opinion on this statement?

Answer:
Fasting on Monday and Thursday is established from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and it is a recommended practice (sunnah). One fasts two days of the week, Monday and Thursday. This is established, there is no doubt about it, if Allah wills. Yes. Well done. Some people have appeared who want to contradict people and cast doubt on their righteous deeds, and they discourage people from righteous deeds, while they do nothing themselves. The strange thing is that they do nothing, but when they see someone doing something and striving in voluntary acts, they go around casting doubt on it, saying this is not established, this is weak, this is such and such. But they only discourage people from righteous action. And this is a sign of evil, not a sign of [good]. Yes.