A woman who fasts every Monday and Thursday and in Sha'ban, but her mother forbids her from fasting in Sha'ban on the grounds that it is not permissible to fast before Ramadan; is this correct?
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The questioner : I am a girl who fasts every Monday and Thursday, and I also fast in Sha'ban, but my mother forbids me from fasting in Sha'ban on the grounds that it is not permissible to fast before Ramadan. Is this correct?
The Shaykh : Your fasting on Mondays and Thursdays is a recommended fast that is sought after. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to fast on Mondays and Thursdays and said:Sunan an-Nasa'i 2358Hasan (Darussalam).
Likewise, increasing fasting in Sha'ban is recommended, for the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not fast in any month as much as he fasted in Sha'ban, except for Ramadan. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to fast for most of Sha'ban.
However, one who does not fast in Sha'ban is forbidden from fasting one or two days before Ramadan, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Sahih Muslim 1082a. The important thing is that you convey to your mother that fasting in Sha'ban is part of the Sunnah, and that a person should fast the whole of it or all but a little of it.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : Your fasting on Mondays and Thursdays is a recommended fast that is sought after. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to fast on Mondays and Thursdays and said:
Those are two days in which deeds are shown to the Lord of the worlds, and I like my deeds to be shown (to Him) when I am fasting.
هما يومان تعرض فيهما الأعمال على الله فأحب أن يعرض عملي وأنا صائمLikewise, increasing fasting in Sha'ban is recommended, for the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not fast in any month as much as he fasted in Sha'ban, except for Ramadan. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to fast for most of Sha'ban.
However, one who does not fast in Sha'ban is forbidden from fasting one or two days before Ramadan, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
Do not observe fast for a day, or two days ahead of Ramadan except a person who is in the habit of observing a particular fast; he may fast on that day.
لا يتقدمن أحدكم رمضان بصوم يوم ولا يومين إلا رجل كان يصوم صوماً فليصمهThe questioner : May Allah bless you.