In her letter, she says: “I inform you that I am a woman who fasts the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah and Muharram, the six days of Shawwal, the white days, as well as Mondays”
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The questioner : Your Eminence, Shaykh Muhammad.
The Shaykh : Welcome to you.
The questioner : Your Eminence, Shaykh Muhammad, this is the letter before us, which is the first in this session. It was received from the sister in Islam, Luwla Salman al-Jasim, from Bahrain. In her letter, she says: “I inform you that I am a woman who fasts the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah and Muharram, the six days of Shawwal, the white days, as well as Mondays and Thursdays. It happens that on these days I fast on a Friday. Some people say that fasting on Friday is disliked because it is a day of celebration for Muslims. I ask you, may your excellence clarify the ruling on this. I offer you my sincere thanks.”
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds. What these people told you, that fasting on Friday is disliked, is correct, but not in an absolute sense. Fasting on Friday is disliked for one who intends it and singles it out for fasting, due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)Sahih Muslim 1144b.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : As for if a person fasts on Friday because it coincided with a fast he was accustomed to, then there is no blame on him for that. Likewise, if he fasts the day before it or the day after it, there is no blame on him for that, and no dislike.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : An example of the first case is if it is a person’s custom to fast on the Day of 'Arafah, and the Day of 'Arafah falls on a Friday, then there is no blame on him for fasting on Friday and limiting himself to that day, because he singled out this day not because it is Friday, but because it is the Day of 'Arafah. Likewise, if this day coincided with the Day of 'Ashura and he limited himself to it, there is no blame on him for that, even though it is better on the Day of 'Ashura to fast the day before it or the day after it. Also, if he fasts on Friday not for a reason other than it being Friday, then we tell him: if you want to fast on Saturday, continue your fasting; and if you do not want to fast on Saturday and did not fast on Thursday, then break your fast, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : As for your action, in that you fast these days you mentioned and it coincides with Friday, there is absolutely no blame on you, and you have not done anything disliked. Yes.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Welcome to you.
The questioner : Your Eminence, Shaykh Muhammad, this is the letter before us, which is the first in this session. It was received from the sister in Islam, Luwla Salman al-Jasim, from Bahrain. In her letter, she says: “I inform you that I am a woman who fasts the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah and Muharram, the six days of Shawwal, the white days, as well as Mondays and Thursdays. It happens that on these days I fast on a Friday. Some people say that fasting on Friday is disliked because it is a day of celebration for Muslims. I ask you, may your excellence clarify the ruling on this. I offer you my sincere thanks.”
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds. What these people told you, that fasting on Friday is disliked, is correct, but not in an absolute sense. Fasting on Friday is disliked for one who intends it and singles it out for fasting, due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)
Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) as saying: Do not single out the night (preceding) Friday among the nights for prayer and do not single out Friday among days for fasting but only when anyone among you is accustomed to fast (on dates) which coincide with this day (Friday).
لا تخصوا يوم الجمعة بصيام ولا ليلتها بقيامThe questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : As for if a person fasts on Friday because it coincided with a fast he was accustomed to, then there is no blame on him for that. Likewise, if he fasts the day before it or the day after it, there is no blame on him for that, and no dislike.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : An example of the first case is if it is a person’s custom to fast on the Day of 'Arafah, and the Day of 'Arafah falls on a Friday, then there is no blame on him for fasting on Friday and limiting himself to that day, because he singled out this day not because it is Friday, but because it is the Day of 'Arafah. Likewise, if this day coincided with the Day of 'Ashura and he limited himself to it, there is no blame on him for that, even though it is better on the Day of 'Ashura to fast the day before it or the day after it. Also, if he fasts on Friday not for a reason other than it being Friday, then we tell him: if you want to fast on Saturday, continue your fasting; and if you do not want to fast on Saturday and did not fast on Thursday, then break your fast, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : As for your action, in that you fast these days you mentioned and it coincides with Friday, there is absolutely no blame on you, and you have not done anything disliked. Yes.
The questioner : Yes.