What is the ruling on fasting on Saturday, whether as a voluntary act or an obligation, in other than Ramadan?
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The questioner : The questioner says: What is the ruling on fasting on Saturday, whether as a voluntary act or an obligation, in other than Ramadan?
The Shaykh : The scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) have differed regarding fasting on Saturday: is it permissible, disliked, or is there a distinction between fasting it alone or combining it with the day before or the day after? Some scholars said that there is nothing wrong with fasting it, and that the hadith reported on this matter is an anomalous narration that contradicts the authentic hadiths. One of the conditions for acting upon a hadith is that it not be anomalous, because the absence of anomaly is a condition for the validity of a hadith. Since it is good, and what is neither valid nor good is not permissible to act upon. This is the view held by a group of the earlier and contemporary scholars. Others said that it is not permissible to fast it, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prohibited it and said:Sunan Ibn Majah 1726Hasan (Darussalam). And some distinguished between fasting it alone or fasting a day before it or a day after it. This is the well-known view in the madhhab of Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (may Allah have mercy on him). It is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) , so he ordered her to break her fast so that she would not single out Friday for fasting. The point of this hadith is that he said: "Will you fast tomorrow?" meaning Saturday. This indicates the permissibility of fasting on Saturday along with Friday. This is provided there is no reason to single out Saturday, such as it coinciding with the Day of 'Arafah or the Day of 'Ashura, or a day that a person fasts. In that case, there is no dislike in it, because the one fasting did not fast it because it is Saturday, but because it coincided with that day. For example, if Saturday is the Day of 'Arafah, he fasts it without dislike. Or if it is the Day of 'Ashura, he fasts it without dislike, but on the Day of 'Ashura, he should fast a day before it or a day after it. Or if it is a fast he observes, such as if this man fasts one day and breaks the fast the next, and his fasting day coincides with Saturday, then there is nothing wrong with that.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : The scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) have differed regarding fasting on Saturday: is it permissible, disliked, or is there a distinction between fasting it alone or combining it with the day before or the day after? Some scholars said that there is nothing wrong with fasting it, and that the hadith reported on this matter is an anomalous narration that contradicts the authentic hadiths. One of the conditions for acting upon a hadith is that it not be anomalous, because the absence of anomaly is a condition for the validity of a hadith. Since it is good, and what is neither valid nor good is not permissible to act upon. This is the view held by a group of the earlier and contemporary scholars. Others said that it is not permissible to fast it, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prohibited it and said:
Do not fast on Saturdays apart from days when you are obliged to fast
لا تصوموا يوم السبت إلا فيما افترض عليكمThat he said to Juwayriyah, and she had been fasting on Friday: "Did you fast yesterday?" She said: "No." He said: "Will you fast tomorrow?" She said: "No." He said: "Then break your fast."
أنه قال لـجويرية وقد كانت صائمة يوم الجمعة قال: أصمت أمس؟ قالت: لا، قال: أتصومين غداً؟ قالت: لا، قال: فأفطريThe questioner : May Allah reward you with good.