Is it obligatory for one who fasted a voluntary fast to do so afterwards?
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Question:
The questioner from Algeria says: My question is about voluntary fasting. As is known to us, if one fasts these six days of Shawwal, a debt remains upon him; that is, it is obligatory for him to fast them every year until death. It is also obligatory for him to fast the remaining days of voluntary fasting, which are the Day of 'Arafah, the white days of every month, the second half of Sha'ban, and 'Ashura... and so on of the other days. Is this correct?
Answer:
This is not correct. Voluntary acts are for whoever wishes to do them and whoever wishes to leave them. These are recommended voluntary acts; if he wishes, he fasts them every year, and if he wishes, he fasts them in some years and leaves them in some years. The matter is broad in this regard. Likewise, fasting on the Day of 'Arafah, likewise fasting on the Day of 'Ashura, likewise fasting on Mondays and Thursdays, and fasting three days of every month... all of these are voluntary. If Allah makes fasting easy for him, he fasts them, and if he leaves them, there is no blame on him. And if he fasts in some months and leaves in some months, there is nothing wrong with it. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would sometimes fast and sometimes leave. He would sometimes fast the three days of every month, and sometimes fast Mondays and Thursdays, and sometimes be occupied with this and leave it, and not fast, (peace and blessings be upon him).
And likewise Sha'ban; he would fast most of it, or all of it except a little, as Aisha and Umm Salama said. So if fasting is facilitated, there is nothing wrong with it, and if not, there is no blame. This is only in the obligatory... the obligatory must be done... fasting Ramadan is mandatory except for an excuse such as illness or travel. As for the voluntary acts, praise be to Allah, the matter is broad in them. If he fasts them in some years and leaves them in some years, there is nothing wrong with it, or if he fasts three days of every month at times and leaves them, or if he fasts Mondays and Thursdays at times and leaves them, all of this has no blame in it, and praise be to Allah. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
The questioner from Algeria says: My question is about voluntary fasting. As is known to us, if one fasts these six days of Shawwal, a debt remains upon him; that is, it is obligatory for him to fast them every year until death. It is also obligatory for him to fast the remaining days of voluntary fasting, which are the Day of 'Arafah, the white days of every month, the second half of Sha'ban, and 'Ashura... and so on of the other days. Is this correct?
Answer:
This is not correct. Voluntary acts are for whoever wishes to do them and whoever wishes to leave them. These are recommended voluntary acts; if he wishes, he fasts them every year, and if he wishes, he fasts them in some years and leaves them in some years. The matter is broad in this regard. Likewise, fasting on the Day of 'Arafah, likewise fasting on the Day of 'Ashura, likewise fasting on Mondays and Thursdays, and fasting three days of every month... all of these are voluntary. If Allah makes fasting easy for him, he fasts them, and if he leaves them, there is no blame on him. And if he fasts in some months and leaves in some months, there is nothing wrong with it. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would sometimes fast and sometimes leave. He would sometimes fast the three days of every month, and sometimes fast Mondays and Thursdays, and sometimes be occupied with this and leave it, and not fast, (peace and blessings be upon him).
And likewise Sha'ban; he would fast most of it, or all of it except a little, as Aisha and Umm Salama said. So if fasting is facilitated, there is nothing wrong with it, and if not, there is no blame. This is only in the obligatory... the obligatory must be done... fasting Ramadan is mandatory except for an excuse such as illness or travel. As for the voluntary acts, praise be to Allah, the matter is broad in them. If he fasts them in some years and leaves them in some years, there is nothing wrong with it, or if he fasts three days of every month at times and leaves them, or if he fasts Mondays and Thursdays at times and leaves them, all of this has no blame in it, and praise be to Allah. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.