What is the ruling on fasting on Saturday other than for an obligatory reason?
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The Shaykh : The question here is: If you are bored, and my evidence for your boredom is the circulation of this hadith among you, then I am relieved from speaking and answering questions. But if you are prepared to listen, then listen.
What about fasting on Saturday, even if it falls on one of the white days, or six white days, or Ashura, or 'Arafah?
The question is clear, and the answer is as follows, briefly; because we have spoken about this issue many times. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said:As-Sunan al-Kubra lil-Nasa'i 13:357, As-Sunan al-Kubra lil-Nasa'i 13:357 meaning: the bark of a tree; . This is an affirmation of the Muslim's response to the command of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) to break the fast on Saturday, even if he finds nothing to drink or eat except the bark of a tree, let him chew it; to achieve the breaking of the fast.
This hadith—listen—this hadith prohibits fasting on Saturday at any time it falls; that is, whether it falls on one of the white days, or falls on the day of Ashura, or falls on the day of 'Arafah—and it is the day that expiates the past year and the coming year—; at that time, it is necessary to break the fast on this day. Let one of us remember the fasting of Monday and the fasting of Thursday, which are prescribed to fast, and preferred over many days of the week to fast. If Monday coincides with a festival, or Thursday coincides with a festival; what does the Muslim do? At that time, he does not fast; because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) prohibited fasting on the day of the festival; so at that time, what is the reconciliation between the virtue of fasting on Monday or Thursday and the prohibition of fasting on the day of the festival?
The reconciliation is according to the principle of usul al-fiqh; the rule says: "If a text that prohibits—meaning: that forbids—contradicts a text that permits, the text that forbids is given precedence over the text that permits." On this rule, the scholars of usul proceeded, giving precedence to the prohibition over the permission. So fasting on these days we mentioned, and the best of them is the day of 'Arafah, is left if it falls on Saturday; because fasting is prohibited, and that is a preferred day; so at that time, the prohibiting is given precedence over the permitting.
This is the summary of the answer, and Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, and now depart, O mature women.
What about fasting on Saturday, even if it falls on one of the white days, or six white days, or Ashura, or 'Arafah?
The question is clear, and the answer is as follows, briefly; because we have spoken about this issue many times. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Do not fast on Saturday except in what is obligatory upon you; even if one of you finds nothing except the bark of a tree, let him chew it.
لا تصوموا يوم السبت إلا فيما افترض عليكم ؛ ولو لم يجد أحدكم إلا لحاء شجرة فليمضَغْهEven if one of you finds nothing except the bark
ولو لم يجد أحدكم إلا لحاءLet him chew it
فليمضغهThis hadith—listen—this hadith prohibits fasting on Saturday at any time it falls; that is, whether it falls on one of the white days, or falls on the day of Ashura, or falls on the day of 'Arafah—and it is the day that expiates the past year and the coming year—; at that time, it is necessary to break the fast on this day. Let one of us remember the fasting of Monday and the fasting of Thursday, which are prescribed to fast, and preferred over many days of the week to fast. If Monday coincides with a festival, or Thursday coincides with a festival; what does the Muslim do? At that time, he does not fast; because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) prohibited fasting on the day of the festival; so at that time, what is the reconciliation between the virtue of fasting on Monday or Thursday and the prohibition of fasting on the day of the festival?
The reconciliation is according to the principle of usul al-fiqh; the rule says: "If a text that prohibits—meaning: that forbids—contradicts a text that permits, the text that forbids is given precedence over the text that permits." On this rule, the scholars of usul proceeded, giving precedence to the prohibition over the permission. So fasting on these days we mentioned, and the best of them is the day of 'Arafah, is left if it falls on Saturday; because fasting is prohibited, and that is a preferred day; so at that time, the prohibiting is given precedence over the permitting.
This is the summary of the answer, and Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, and now depart, O mature women.
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