Islamic Verdicts - Volume III

The Book Of fasting

Voluntary fasting

The Days during which fasting is prohibited

Q: What are the days during which it is disliked to fast?

A: The days during which fasting is prohibited are Friday, as it is not permitted to single out Friday for fasting voluntary fasts, because the Messenger (Salallahou 'aleyhi wa salam) prohibited that. Likewise, Saturday should not be singled out for voluntary fasting. However, if the person fasts Friday and Saturday along with it or Thursday along with it, there is no harm in that, as the Hadiths from the Messenger of Allah (Salallahou 'aleyhi wa salam) have stated. Likewise, it is prohibited to fast the day of 'Eidul-Fitr and that is (strictly) forbidden. Similarly, fasting 'Eidun-Nahr and the days of At-Tashreeq should not be fasted, because the Messenger (Salallahou 'aleyhi wa salam) prohibited that. However, concerning the days of At-Tashreeq, a report has come that proves the permissibility of fasting it to make up for the sacrifice of Hajjut-Tamattu' and Hajjul-Qiran specifically for whoever was not able to sacrifice. This is based on what is confirmed in Al-Bukhari from 'A'ishah (Radiyallahou 'an-a) and Ibn 'Umar (Radiyallahou 'an-oum). They both said: "It was not permitted to fast the days of At-Tashreeq except for whoever could not make the sacrifice" (Al-Bukhari no. 1997 and 1998).

In reference to these days being fasted for voluntary fasting or other reasons, then that is not permissible just like the day of the 'Eid. Likewise, it is not permissible to fast the 30th day of Sha'ban if the sighting of the new moon has not been confirmed, for verily, it is a day of doubt. It is not permissible to fast it according to the most correct view of the two opinions of the scholars. It makes no difference whether it is clear outside or cloudy due to the authentic Hadiths that prove the prohibition of that. And Allah is the Giver of success.

Ash-Shaykh Ibn Baz

It is not permissible to fast the 13th Day of Thul-Hijjah

Q: When the fast of the Days of Whiteness (Ayyamul-Beedh, i.e., the 13th, 14th and 15th of each month) coincide with the days of At-Tashreeq (the 11th, the 12th, and the 13th of Thul-Hijjah) is it permissible to fast or not?

A: It is not permissible to fast the 13th of Thul-Hijjah, whether it is a voluntary fast or an obligatory fast. This is because they are days of eating, drinking and remembering Allah, the Mighty and Majestic. Indeed the Prophet (Salallahou 'aleyhi wa salam) forbade fasting them and he did not permit that for anyone other than whoever could not make the sacrifice of Hajjut-Tamattu'. In this case, such a person is allowed to fast the 3 days of At-Tashreeq in place of the sacrifice and he fasts the 7 remaining days (i.e., 10 all together) with his people (i.e., upon returning to his homeland). This is due to what has been confirmed in Sahih Al-Bukhari from 'A'ishah and Ibn 'Umar (Radiyallahou 'an-oum) that they said: "It was not permitted to fast the days of At-Tashreeq except for whoever could not make the sacrifice." In reference to fasting the 14th and 15th (of Thul-Hijjah), there is no harm in that, because they are not from the days of At-Tashreeq. And success is from Allah.

Ash-Shaykh Ibn Baz