A woman vowed to fast for a month and was unable to fast it consecutively; is she permitted to fast it on separate days?
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The Shaykh : A woman vowed to fast for a month, and then she became exhausted from fasting—this is Abu Abd al-Rahman Hasan ibn Qa'id al-'Ariyni or al-'Utaybi—yes, and then she became exhausted from consecutive fasting. Is she permitted to fast it on separate days, even though she said "a month" in her vow?
Does her saying "a month" necessitate that it be consecutive, or is she permitted to fast it on separate days even if she is able to fast it consecutively?
Answer: It is obligatory for her to fast it consecutively in three cases:
If she specified a particular month, such as saying, "I have a vow upon me to Allah to fast the month of Jumada." In this case, consecutiveness is obligatory. Why?
The questioner : Because of the specification.
The Shaykh : It is a necessity, meaning it is not possible for her to fulfill this unless it is consecutive, otherwise the month would pass.
The second case: If she stipulated and said "consecutively."
The third case: If she intended that it be consecutive. In these three situations, consecutiveness is obligatory upon her. In cases other than these, she has a choice. If she fasts consecutively, it is faster for clearing her conscience. If she does not fast consecutively, there is no harm. The evidence for this is that an unrestricted matter is not restricted except by what provides restriction. The proof for this is that when Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) said:[Al-Baqarah 2:196] regarding the expiation for an oath, it was said "consecutive" in the recitation of Abdullah ibn Mas'ud. And regarding the fasting of two months, what did He say?
The questioner : Consecutive.
The Shaykh : Consecutive. This indicates that if the month is mentioned without restriction, consecutiveness is not obligatory in it.
Does her saying "a month" necessitate that it be consecutive, or is she permitted to fast it on separate days even if she is able to fast it consecutively?
Answer: It is obligatory for her to fast it consecutively in three cases:
If she specified a particular month, such as saying, "I have a vow upon me to Allah to fast the month of Jumada." In this case, consecutiveness is obligatory. Why?
The questioner : Because of the specification.
The Shaykh : It is a necessity, meaning it is not possible for her to fulfill this unless it is consecutive, otherwise the month would pass.
The second case: If she stipulated and said "consecutively."
The third case: If she intended that it be consecutive. In these three situations, consecutiveness is obligatory upon her. In cases other than these, she has a choice. If she fasts consecutively, it is faster for clearing her conscience. If she does not fast consecutively, there is no harm. The evidence for this is that an unrestricted matter is not restricted except by what provides restriction. The proof for this is that when Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) said:
a fast of three days
فصيام ثلاثة أيّامThe questioner : Consecutive.
The Shaykh : Consecutive. This indicates that if the month is mentioned without restriction, consecutiveness is not obligatory in it.