Seeking knowledge is better than fasting if it harms the pursuit of knowledge
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Some students of knowledge, out of their eagerness to increase in good and their desire for it, fast a lot of voluntary fasts, fasting one day and breaking the fast the next. However, this affects their acquisition of knowledge on the other hand, such as not reviewing the texts or the Qur'an. What is the ruling on this action?
Fasting is undoubtedly a righteous deed, and among the best of deeds.And He singled him out for Himself, as He said: (Fasting is for Me, and I shall reward it) And Dawud used to fast one day and break the fast the next, and that is the best of fasting. But there is a deed better than it, which is seeking knowledge. Indeed, seeking knowledge is better than fasting, and I mean voluntary fasting. So if fasting one day and breaking the fast the next prevents him from engaging in knowledge, we tell him: You are now doing the lesser and leaving the greater, for seeking knowledge is better.Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him) said: Nothing equals knowledge for one whose intention is sound.It is said: And what is the soundness of intention?He said: He intends to remove ignorance from himself and from others.
As for a man who has become accustomed to fasting, and fasting is easy for him in summer or winter, and perhaps it makes him more energetic, then this does not turn him away from seeking knowledge nor prevent him from it. For this reason, you find that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) only fasted on Mondays and Thursdays and three days of every month, but he did not fast one day and break the fast the next; because he was occupied with other things. As for a man who is a worshipper and has no occupation in knowledge, and fasting does not prevent him from voluntary prayer, reading the Qur'an, and the morning and evening remembrances, then it is good for him to fast as Dawud fasted.
Fasting is undoubtedly a righteous deed, and among the best of deeds.And He singled him out for Himself, as He said: (Fasting is for Me, and I shall reward it) And Dawud used to fast one day and break the fast the next, and that is the best of fasting. But there is a deed better than it, which is seeking knowledge. Indeed, seeking knowledge is better than fasting, and I mean voluntary fasting. So if fasting one day and breaking the fast the next prevents him from engaging in knowledge, we tell him: You are now doing the lesser and leaving the greater, for seeking knowledge is better.Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him) said: Nothing equals knowledge for one whose intention is sound.It is said: And what is the soundness of intention?He said: He intends to remove ignorance from himself and from others.
As for a man who has become accustomed to fasting, and fasting is easy for him in summer or winter, and perhaps it makes him more energetic, then this does not turn him away from seeking knowledge nor prevent him from it. For this reason, you find that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) only fasted on Mondays and Thursdays and three days of every month, but he did not fast one day and break the fast the next; because he was occupied with other things. As for a man who is a worshipper and has no occupation in knowledge, and fasting does not prevent him from voluntary prayer, reading the Qur'an, and the morning and evening remembrances, then it is good for him to fast as Dawud fasted.