Ruling on Fasting Saturday Alone
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A woman became ritually pure on Friday, and the standing at 'Arafah was on Saturday. Is it permissible to fast on Saturday alone?
Fasting on Saturday is permissible if there is a reason, such as if it coincides with the Day of 'Arafah or the Day of 'Ashura, or if one is among those who fast one day and break the fast the next, and his fasting coincides with Saturday; in that case, there is no harm. However, if he fasts it alone for no reason, some scholars said: there is no harm in that either; because the prohibition that came regarding fasting on a specific basis, or with valid evidence, is for Friday.As for Saturday, the hadith that came regarding it said: This hadith is anomalous and is not acted upon. Among those who held this view was our Shaykh, 'Abd al-'Aziz ibn Baz (may Allah grant him understanding and have mercy on him), who said: The prohibition of fasting on Saturday is an anomalous hadith that is not acted upon, because it contradicts the authentic hadiths. For, (the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was approached by his wife Juwayriyyah while she was fasting on Friday, and he said: Did you fast yesterday?She said: No,He said: Will you fast tomorrow?She said: No,He said: So break your fast) His statement: (Will you fast tomorrow?) is clear evidence that there is no harm in fasting on Saturday. It is known that when a hadith contradicts strong, authentic hadiths and is weaker than them, it is considered anomalous, as is the rule in hadith terminology: that the anomalous is what a trustworthy narrator contradicts in relation to one who is more trustworthy than him.
Accordingly, fasting on Saturday is not absolutely disliked, whether one adds the day before or after it to it, or does not, and whether it is for a reason or not.
And on this basis, we say: If one fasts on Saturday, there is no blame on him; however, Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him), in the well-known view among his followers, said: Fasting Saturday alone for no reason is disliked, and if one fasts another day with it, either Friday or Sunday, there is no harm, just as there is no harm if it is for a reason.
This is perhaps the closest of the opinions, so that we do not nullify the hadith prohibiting fasting on Saturday.It is said: Whoever fasts on Saturday because it is Saturday, that is prohibited; we do not say: it is not permissible.We say: It is prohibited, and whoever fasts it for a reason or adds another day to it, there is no harm.
Fasting on Saturday is permissible if there is a reason, such as if it coincides with the Day of 'Arafah or the Day of 'Ashura, or if one is among those who fast one day and break the fast the next, and his fasting coincides with Saturday; in that case, there is no harm. However, if he fasts it alone for no reason, some scholars said: there is no harm in that either; because the prohibition that came regarding fasting on a specific basis, or with valid evidence, is for Friday.As for Saturday, the hadith that came regarding it said: This hadith is anomalous and is not acted upon. Among those who held this view was our Shaykh, 'Abd al-'Aziz ibn Baz (may Allah grant him understanding and have mercy on him), who said: The prohibition of fasting on Saturday is an anomalous hadith that is not acted upon, because it contradicts the authentic hadiths. For, (the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was approached by his wife Juwayriyyah while she was fasting on Friday, and he said: Did you fast yesterday?She said: No,He said: Will you fast tomorrow?She said: No,He said: So break your fast) His statement: (Will you fast tomorrow?) is clear evidence that there is no harm in fasting on Saturday. It is known that when a hadith contradicts strong, authentic hadiths and is weaker than them, it is considered anomalous, as is the rule in hadith terminology: that the anomalous is what a trustworthy narrator contradicts in relation to one who is more trustworthy than him.
Accordingly, fasting on Saturday is not absolutely disliked, whether one adds the day before or after it to it, or does not, and whether it is for a reason or not.
And on this basis, we say: If one fasts on Saturday, there is no blame on him; however, Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him), in the well-known view among his followers, said: Fasting Saturday alone for no reason is disliked, and if one fasts another day with it, either Friday or Sunday, there is no harm, just as there is no harm if it is for a reason.
This is perhaps the closest of the opinions, so that we do not nullify the hadith prohibiting fasting on Saturday.It is said: Whoever fasts on Saturday because it is Saturday, that is prohibited; we do not say: it is not permissible.We say: It is prohibited, and whoever fasts it for a reason or adds another day to it, there is no harm.