The ruling on fasting with the intention of voluntary worship and reducing obesity
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Question:
Our sister asks—may the Shaykh be respected—and says: I fast on Mondays and Tuesdays, then Wednesdays and Thursdays, and so on in this manner, out of love for voluntary worship, and out of love for reducing my food intake, and out of fear of obesity. What is the ruling?
Answer:
There is nothing wrong with it; praise be to Allah, this is good. If you limit yourself to Mondays and Thursdays, or three days of every month, all of this is good. And whoever fasts as much of the year as he wishes, there is nothing wrong with it. But he should not exceed fasting one day and breaking the fast the next. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to 'Abdullah ibn 'Amr:Sahih al-Bukhari 1980 He said: I want something better than that. He said—(peace and blessings be upon him): The best fasting for the one who fasts voluntarily is to fast one day and break the fast the next, if he is able and has the capacity to do so. This is the best. And if he is content with Monday and Thursday, or three days of every month, that is easier for him and better. Yes, it is better for him so that he does not regret it, so that he does not turn back from his deed.
As for the best fasting in terms of it being voluntary, the best is to fast one day and break the fast the next, if he is able to do so, and it does not result in his neglecting the affairs of his family, or neglecting the seeking of knowledge, or neglecting other obligations. Then there is nothing wrong with it. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah bless you.
Our sister asks—may the Shaykh be respected—and says: I fast on Mondays and Tuesdays, then Wednesdays and Thursdays, and so on in this manner, out of love for voluntary worship, and out of love for reducing my food intake, and out of fear of obesity. What is the ruling?
Answer:
There is nothing wrong with it; praise be to Allah, this is good. If you limit yourself to Mondays and Thursdays, or three days of every month, all of this is good. And whoever fasts as much of the year as he wishes, there is nothing wrong with it. But he should not exceed fasting one day and breaking the fast the next. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to 'Abdullah ibn 'Amr:
Narrated `Abdullah bin `Amr: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) was informed about my fasts, and he came to me and I spread for him a leather cushion stuffed with palm fires, but he sat on the ground and the cushion remained between me and him, and then he said, "Isn't it sufficient for you to fast three days a month?" I replied, "O Allah's Apostle! (I can fast more)." He said, "Five?" I replied, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! (I can fast more)." He said, "Seven?" I replied, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! (I can fast more)." He said, "Nine (days per month)?" I replied, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! (I can fast more)" He said, "Eleven (days per month)?" And then the Prophet said, "There is no fast superior to that of the Prophet (ﷺ) David it was for half of the year. So, fast on alternate days."
صم يومًا، وأفطر يومًاThere is nothing better than that; this is the fast of Dawud, half the year
لا أفضل من ذلك، هذا صوم داود، نصف الدهرAs for the best fasting in terms of it being voluntary, the best is to fast one day and break the fast the next, if he is able to do so, and it does not result in his neglecting the affairs of his family, or neglecting the seeking of knowledge, or neglecting other obligations. Then there is nothing wrong with it. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah bless you.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.