Explanation of the hadith of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), traced to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): “Do not anticipate Ramadan by fasting one day or two days, unless…”

The Shaykh : He (may Allah have mercy on him) said: In the Book of Fasting, it is narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: It is agreed upon by al-Bukhari and Muslim. In this hadith, there is an explicit prohibition against anticipating Ramadan by fasting one day or more than one day. This falls under the category of preserving the specific time prescribed for fasting, which is the month of Ramadan. It is not permissible to add to Ramadan, whether by advancing or delaying, by one day or two days. In reality, although this hadith came specifically regarding the prohibition of anticipating Ramadan and connecting days from Sha'ban to Ramadan, it contains a strong hint that it is not permissible to add to the prescribed worship. This is an explicit ruling prohibiting a man from anticipating Ramadan by fasting one day or two days. This undoubtedly includes fasting the Day of Doubt, as will be mentioned in the following hadith. This prohibition against anticipating Ramadan by fasting one day or two days affirms the obligation to preserve the worship as it was legislated, without addition or reduction. What Allah (Mighty and Majestic) has made obligatory for His believing servants is the month of Ramadan, which may be thirty days at times and twenty-nine days at other times. It is not permissible to advance by one day or two days for fear that Ramadan might become more than thirty days, given the passage of time and the Muslims' established knowledge of the Book and the Sunnah.