Fasting in general and voluntary fasting in
particular is a great worship of all time. Fasting is not restricted to
Ramadhan, it is an act of worship that can be [and should be in some cases]
performed at any time and at any place except when not recommended. Indeed,
it is a worship that draws the believer closer to Allaah and closer to
perfection.
In prayer most of us pray Sunna [supererogatory/optional/voluntary] prayer before or after mandatory prayer, called Rawatib, such as four Rak`at before and two after, two after Maghrib and `Isha and the two rak`at of Fajr. These are prayers we pray before or after a mandatory prayer.
Similarly, there is a mandatory fasting and that
is in Ramadhan. Just as the one performs the Rawatib before and after the
Fardh prayer one should fast before and after Ramadhan, and just as the
Rawatib were set by the Prophet
the in some specific manner and amount, the Nafl [optional] Fasting was
also set by the Prophet
.
In this short article we shall review the fasting of some days that were
recommended by the Prophet
.
1- Six days of the month of Shawwal:
Abu Ayyoub reported that the Messenger of Allaah,
said "Whoever fasts the month of Ramadhan and then follows it by fasting
six days during the month of Shawwal will be rewarded as if he had fasted
the entire year. [Muslim, at-Tirmithi, Ibn Majah, Abu Dawood and Ahmad
by way of Jabir].
These days can be anytime during the month of Shawwal except the first day because it is unlawful to fast the day of Eid. These days do not have to be at beginning of the month nor do they have to be consecutive. Hence, Muslims should seize this opportunity and fast these six days to get Allaah's reward.
Why the fasting of six days of Shawal after Ramadhan equates that of the whole year? Some `Ulamaa' say that the good deed is rewarded ten times. Thus fasting six days is like fasting 60 days, added to 30 days of Ramadhan times 10 (i.e. 300) it makes it a year.
2- The day of `Arafah: This is for those who are
not performing the Hajj (pilgrimage)
Abu Qatadah said : the Messenger of Allaah, ,
said: "Fasting on the day of `Arafah is an expiation [of sins] for two
years, the year preceding it and the year following it and the fasting
the day of `Aashuraa' is an expiation for the year preceding it. [Muslim,
an-Nasa'i, Ibn Majah, Abu Dawood].
3- Fasting three days of every month:
`Amr Ibn Sharhabeel said : A man came to the Messenger
of Allaah,
and said : O Messenger of Allah! what do you say in a man who fasts the
whole year [time], on this the Messenger of Allaah,
said : I wish he would not eat anything during the year, he said what about
two thirds of the year, he replied "more", he said what about half of it,
he said more and then said : Shall I not inform you of what takes away
the whispers of the chest, they said yes tell us, he said " fasting three
days from every month. [an-Nasaa'i; Sahih]
Abu Tharr Al-Ghefari said: "The Messenger of Allaah ,
said "Whoever fasts from every month three days, it is like fasting
the whole year, then Allaah revealed what backs this in His book "Whoever
comes with a good deed, he is rewarded ten folds", one day for ten.
[Ibn Majah and at-Tirmithi].
Abu Tharr Al-Ghefari said: "The Messenger of Allaah ,
said "O Abu Tharr! if you fast three days of every month, then fast
the 13th, the 14th and the 15th [these are call the al-ayaam al-beedh,
the white days]". [Ahmad, an-Nasaa'i and at-Tirmithi; Sahih]
4- Fasting Mondays and Thursdays:
`Aa'ishah
said : The Messenger of Allaah
,
used to fast Mondays and Thursdays". [an-Nasaa'i; Sahih]
Abu Hurairah
reported that the most the Prophet
,
would fast would be Monday and Thursday. He
was asked about that and he
said: "The deeds of people are presented to Allaah on every Monday and
Thursday. Allaah forgives every Muslim except for those who are deserting
each other. He says: "leave them for later." [Ahmad; Hasan]
5- Fasting Tasu'a and `Aashuraa':
Tasu`aa' and `Aashuraa' are respectively the ninth and the tenth day of the month of Muharram.
Ibn Abbas
reported: "The Prophet
came to Madinah and found the Jews fasting the day of Ashura. He asked
them: "Why are you fasting this day?" They said: "This is a great day.
Allaah saved Mousa (Moses) and the tribes of Israel from their enemies
on this day and therefore Mousa fasted on it. "The Prophet
said: "We have more of a right to Mousa than you." So he fasted on that
day also and ordered the people to fast on that day." [al-Bukhari and
Muslim].
When the Prophet ,
fasted the day of Ashura, the people told him that this day is a day that
Jews and Christians honor. The Prophet
said: "When the following year comes, Allaah willing, we shall fast both
the ninth and the tenth day of Muharram (that is to be different from the
Jews and the Christians.)" The Prophet
,
died before the following year." [Muslim].
6- Fasting during the month of Muharram:
Muharram is the first month of the Islaamic year
The month of Muharram is the first month of the
lunar year. Abu Hurairah
reported: "I asked the Prophet
:
"Which prayer is best after the obligatory prayers?" He said: "Prayer during
the middle of the night." I asked: "Which fast is best after the fast of
Ramadhan?" He said: "Fasting during the month of Muharram." [Muslim].
7-Fasting during the month of Sha`baan
Sha`baan is the month before Ramadan Sha`baan `Aa'isha
said: "I have never seen the Messenger of Allaah
,
completing the fast of a month as he did for Ramadhan, and I have never
seen him fasting so much as he would in Sha`baan." [al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Fasting of a woman in her husband's presence.
Abu Hurairah
reported that the Prophet
,
said : "A woman is not to fast [even] for one day while her husband
is present except with his permission, unless it is during Ramadhaan."
[al-Bukhari, Muslim and Ahmad]
Intention for voluntary fasting
As opposed to Ramadan, the intention does not have
to be made before dawn. The person can intend fasting [and start fasting]
after dawn any time [even after noon] given that he did not eat anything.
`Aa'ishah
said : The Prophet
,
came to us one day and said, "Do you have any [food]?" We said "No".
He
said: Therefore, I am Fasting". [Muslim and Abu Dawood]
Breaking the fast when fasting voluntarily and making up voluntary fasting
Ummu Hani
reported that the Prophet
,
entered her room during the day of the conquest of Makkah. He
was offered something to drink and he
drank from it. Then he
offered it to me [Ummu Hani] and I said :" I am fasting". The Prophet
,
said : The one who is fasting voluntarily is in charge of himself. If you
wish you may fast and if you wish you may break your fast". [Ahmad, ad-Daraqutni,
al-Baihaqi, al-Hakim and at-Tirmithi]. In another narration, Ummu Hani
said I am fasting but I dislike to return your leftover. He
said: If it [the day you are fasting] is a making up for a day of Ramadhan
then make up another day for it, and if it is a voluntary fasting day,
then if you wish make it up and if you wish not don't" [Ahmad and Abu Dawood]
`Aishah
said : The Prophet
,
came to us one day and said, "Do you have any [food]?" We said "No". He
said: Therefore, I am Fasting and then he
came to me after that day and I was gifted some Hais [a kind of food],
so I left it for him
,
and he
used to like al-Hais. She said :" O Messenger of Allaah
!
we were gifted some Hais and I left some for you
.
He
said "Bring it closer to me, though I woke up with the intention of fasting,
I
will eat from it. Then he
said: The example of the voluntary fasting is like the man who takes out
money [to give] for charity, if he likes he give it and if he likes he
keep it. [Ibn Majah; Hasan]
Conclusion
It is clear that voluntary fasting was something
very common among the Sahaba
and in the previous nations of believers and the Prophets Dawood and Mousa
alaihim as-salaam are good examples. Indeed it is the way of the Believers
that we should strive to follow.