Fasting is one of the most beloved acts of worship to Allah SWT, because it involves sincerity, detachment, and obedience to His commands. It requires abstaining from all things that invalidate the fast from dawn until sunset with sincere intention and seeking reward. Fasting is only valid for every Muslim who is adult, sane, and meets the conditions of fasting. In this article, we will Talk about the days of fasting in Islam with Sharia evidence from the Quran and Sunnah, with an explanation of the virtue and rulings of each day.
Days of Fasting in Islam
Muslims are keen to seek out the days of fasting in Islam in order to draw closer to Allah SWT and gain His pleasure and win His Paradise. Among the most prominent of these days that are recommended to fast are:
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Fasting the Day of Arafah
It is the ninth day of Dhu al-Hijjah, and it is one of the types of voluntary fasting by which the servant draws closer to his Lord. It is recommended to fast it for those who are not performing Hajj, because of its great virtue and abundant reward.
It is one of the virtuous days in which Allah SWT expiates the sins of two years. The evidence for this is what was narrated from the Prophet PBUH who said:
صيام يوم عرفة أحتسب على الله أن يكفر السنة التي قبله والسنة التي بعده.
“Fasting the Day of Arafah, I hope from Allah that it expiates the sins of the past year and the coming year.”
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Fasting the Day of Ashura and Tasu’a
Fasting the Day of Ashura and Tasu’a is a Sunnah of the Prophet PBUH, because it involves opposition to the Jews. The evidence for this is what was narrated from Muawiyah, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allah PBUH said:
إن هذا يوم عاشوراء ولم يكتب عليكم صيامه، وأنا صائم، فمن شاء صامه، ومن شاء فليفطر.
“This is the day of Ashura and fasting it has not been enjoined on you. I am fasting and whoever wishes may fast and whoever wishes may not.”
This indicates that fasting Ashura is not obligatory but is a recommended Sunnah. The reward for fasting the Day of Ashura and Tasu’a is the expiation of the sins of the past year, and the evidence for this is that:
أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم: سئل عن صوم يوم عاشوراء؟ فقال: يكفر السنة الماضية.
the Prophet PBUH was asked about fasting the Day of Ashura? He said: “It expiates the past year.”
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Fasting Six Days of Shawwal
Fasting six days of the month of Shawwal is a confirmed Sunnah, because of its great virtue and abundant reward. The evidence for this is the hadith of Abu Ayyub al-Ansari, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Prophet PBUH said:
من صام رمضان ثم أتبعه ستاً من شوال كان كصيام الدهر.
“Whoever fasts Ramadan and then follows it with six days of Shawwal, it is as if he has fasted the entire life,”
Fasting the White Days
It is Sunnah to fast the White Days, which are the thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth days of the Hijri months. This is based on what was narrated from Abu Dharr who said: The Prophet PBUH said:
أبا ذر: إذا صمت من الشهر ثلاثة أيام فصم ثلاث عشرة وأربع عشرة وخمس عشرة
“O Abu Dharr, if you fast three days of the month, then fast the thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth.”
These days are called the White Days because the moon rises from the beginning to the end and is a full moon.
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Fasting Mondays and Thursdays
One of the most prominent days of fasting in Islam is fasting on Mondays and Thursdays, and fasting them is a recommended Sunnah. The wisdom behind fasting them is that deeds are raised to Allah SWT on these two days. The evidence for this is what was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah PBUH said:
تعرض الأعمال يوم الاثنين والخميس، فأحب أن يعرض عملي وأنا صائم.
“Deeds are presented on Mondays and Thursdays, and I like my deed to be presented while I am fasting.”
Fasting the Sacred Months
The sacred months are the month of Muharram, the month of Dhu al-Qa’dah, the month of Dhu al-Hijjah, and the month of Rajab. They are among the months in which a Muslim draws closer to Allah SWT to increase reward and expiate sins. The evidence for this is what was narrated from Abu Bakra, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Prophet PBUH said:
«إنَّ الزَّمَانَ قَدْ اسْتَدَارَ كَهَيْئَتِهِ يَوْمَ خَلَقَ اللهُ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضَ، السَّنَةُ اثْنَا عَشَرَ شَهْرًا، مِنْهَا أَرْبَعَةٌ حُرُمٌ، ثَلاثٌ مُتَوَالِيَاتٌ: ذُو القَعْدَةِ وَذُو الحِجَّةِ وَالمُحَرَّمُ، وَرَجَبُ مُضَرَ الَّذِي بَيْنَ جُمَادَى وَشَعْبَانَ»
“Time has come back to its original state which it had when Allah created the heavens and the earth; the year is twelve months, four of which are sacred, three consecutive: Dhu al-Qa’dah, Dhu al-Hijjah and Muharram, and Rajab of Mudar which comes between Jumada and Sha’ban.”
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Fasting the Nine Days of Dhu al-Hijjah
One of the days of fasting in Islam is fasting the nine days of Dhu al-Hijjah, and it is Sunnah to fast them in emulation of the Prophet PBUH. The evidence for this is what was narrated by al-Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah from Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Prophet PBUH said:
ما من أيام أحب إلى الله أن يتعبد له فيها من عشر ذي الحجة، يعدل صيام كل يوم منها بصيام سنة، وقيام كل ليلة منها بقيام ليلة القدر.
“There are no days more beloved to Allah that He be worshiped in them than the ten days of Dhu al-Hijjah, fasting each day of them is equivalent to fasting a year, and standing in prayer each night of them is equivalent to standing in prayer on the Laylat Al Qadr.”
Fasting Ramadan
It is the fourth pillar of Islam, and it is an individual obligation on every Muslim who is adult, sane, and meets the conditions. The evidence for this is the saying of Allah SWT:
(يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ)
Yā ayyuhā alladhīna āmanū kutiba ʿalaykumuṣ-ṣiyāmu kamā kutiba ʿala alladhīna min qablikum laʿallakum tattaqūn.
“O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous.”
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What is Fasting in Fulfillment of a Vow?
Fasting in fulfillment of a vow means obligating oneself to fast when it is not originally obligatory, in connection with the occurrence of something specific or the achievement of a specific goal. It is a permissible fast in the Quran and Sunnah, and it must be fulfilled if the condition or goal is achieved. The evidence for this is the saying of Allah SWT:
(وَمَا أَنْفَقْتُمْ مِنْ نَفَقَةٍ أَوْ نَذَرْتُمْ مِنْ نَذْرٍ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ يَعْلَمُهُ )
Wa mā anfaqtum min nafaqatin aw nazartum min nazrin fa-inna Allāha ya’lamuh.
“And whatever you spend of expenditures or vow of vows – indeed, Allah knows it.”
The evidence from the Sunnah is the saying of the Prophet PBUH:
((مَن نذَر أن يطيع الله فليُطِعْه، ومَن نذر أن يعصيه فلا يعصِه)).
“Whoever vows to obey Allah, let him obey Him, and whoever vows to disobey Him, let him not disobey Him.”
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What are the Expiations that Require Fasting?
There are many types of expiations that require fasting, and among the most prominent of them are:
Expiation for Zihar
It means that a man forbids his wife to himself with a specific statement, and he must then fast for two consecutive months. The evidence for this is the saying of Allah SWT:
(وَالَّذِينَ يُظَاهِرُونَ مِنْ نِسَائِهِمْ ثُمَّ يَعُودُونَ لِمَا قَالُوا فَتَحْرِيرُ رَقَبَةٍ مِنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ يَتَمَاسَّا ذَلِكُمْ تُوعَظُونَ بِهِ وَاللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ * فَمَنْ لَمْ يَجِدْ فَصِيَامُ شَهْرَيْنِ مُتَتَابِعَيْنِ مِنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ يَتَمَاسَّا)
Wa alladhīna yuzāhirūna min nisā’ihim thumma yaʿūdūna limā qālū fataḥrīru raqabatin min qabli an yatamāssā, dhālikum tūʿaẓūna bih, wallāhu bimā taʿmalūna khabīr. Fa man lam yajid fa-ṣiyāmu shahrayni mutatābiʿayni min qabli an yatamāssā.
“And those who pronounce zihar concerning their wives and then [wish to] go back on what they said – then [there must be] the freeing of a slave before they touch one another. That is what you are admonished thereby; and Allah is Acquainted with what you do. And he who does not find [a slave] – then a fast of two successive months before they touch one another.”
Expiation for Accidental Killing
It means that a Muslim kills a person unintentionally, and then he must fast for two consecutive months. The evidence for this is the saying of Allah SWT:
وَمَا كَانَ لِمُؤْمِنٍ أَنْ يَقْتُلَ مُؤْمِنًا إِلَّا خَطَأً وَمَنْ قَتَلَ مُؤْمِنًا خَطَأً فَتَحْرِيرُ رَقَبَةٍ مُؤْمِنَةٍ وَدِيَةٌ مُسَلَّمَةٌ إِلَى أَهْلِهِ إِلَّا أَنْ يَصَّدَّقُوا فَإِنْ كَانَ مِنْ قَوْمٍ عَدُوٍّ لَكُمْ وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَتَحْرِيرُ رَقَبَةٍ مُؤْمِنَةٍ وَإِنْ كَانَ مِنْ قَوْمٍ بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَيْنَهُمْ مِيثَاقٌ فَدِيَةٌ مُسَلَّمَةٌ إِلَى أَهْلِهِ وَتَحْرِيرُ رَقَبَةٍ مُؤْمِنَةٍ فَمَنْ لَمْ يَجِدْ فَصِيَامُ شَهْرَيْنِ مُتَتَابِعَيْنِ تَوْبَةً مِنَ اللَّهِ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًا
Wa mā kāna li-mu’minin an yaqtula mu’minan illā khaṭa’an, wa man qatala mu’minan khaṭa’an fataḥrīru raqabatin mu’minah wa diyatun musallamatun ilā ahlih illā an yaṣṣaddaqū, fa in kāna min qawmin ʿaduwwin lakum wahuwa mu’minun fataḥrīru raqabatin mu’minah, wa in kāna min qawmin baynakum wa baynahum mīthāqun fadiyatun musallamatun ilā ahlih wa taḥrīru raqabatin mu’minah, fa man lam yajid fa-ṣiyāmu shahrayni mutatābiʿayni tawbatan mina Allāh, wa kāna Allāhu ʿalīman ḥakīman.
“And it is not for a believer to kill a believer except by mistake. And whoever kills a believer by mistake – then [there must be] the freeing of a believing slave and payment of compensation presented to his family unless they give [up their right as] charity. But if he (i.e. the slain person) was from a people at war with you and he was a believer – then [only] the freeing of a believing slave; and if he was from a people between yourselves and whom there is a treaty – then payment of compensation presented to his family and the freeing of a believing slave. And whoever does not find [one or cannot afford to buy one] – then [instead], a fast for two successive months [as] repentance to Allah. And Allah is ever Knowing and Wise.”
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Expiation for Intercourse during the Day in Ramadan
Whoever has intercourse with his wife during the day in Ramadan intentionally has invalidated his fast, and he must expiate by freeing a slave, or fasting two consecutive months, or feeding sixty poor people, in that order.
Expiation for Breaking an Oath
It means swearing by Allah to do something and then not doing it, and its expiation is feeding ten poor people, or clothing them, or freeing a slave. Whoever cannot find any of these must fast for three days. The evidence for this is the saying of Allah SWT:
لَا يُؤَاخِذُكُمُ اللَّهُ بِاللَّغْوِ فِي أَيْمَانِكُمْ وَلَكِنْ يُؤَاخِذُكُمْ بِمَا عَقَّدْتُمُ الْأَيْمَانَ فَكَفَّارَتُهُ إِطْعَامُ عَشَرَةِ مَسَاكِينَ مِنْ أَوْسَطِ مَا تُطْعِمُونَ أَهْلِيكُمْ أَوْ كِسْوَتُهُمْ أَوْ تَحْرِيرُ رَقَبَةٍ فَمَنْ لَمْ يَجِدْ فَصِيَامُ ثَلَاثَةِ أَيَّامٍ ذَلِكَ كَفَّارَةُ أَيْمَانِكُمْ إِذَا حَلَفْتُمْ وَاحْفَظُوا أَيْمَانَكُمْ كَذَلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ آيَاتِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
Lā yu’ākhidhukumullāhu bil-laghwi fī aymānikum walākin yu’ākhidhukum bimā ʿaqqadtumul-aymān, fa kaffāratuhu iṭʿāmu ʿasharati masākīna min awsaṭi mā tuṭʿimūna ahlīkum aw kiswatuhum aw taḥrīru raqabah, fa man lam yajid fa-ṣiyāmu thalāthati ayyām, dhālika kaffāratu aymānikum idhā ḥalaftum, waḥfaẓū aymānakum, kadhālika yubayyinu Allāhu lakum āyātihi laʿallakum tashkurūn.
“Allah will not impose blame upon you for what is unintentional in your oaths, but He will impose blame upon you for what you intended of oaths. So its expiation is the feeding of ten needy people from the best of what you feed your [own] families or clothing them or the freeing of a slave. But whoever cannot find [or afford it] – then a fast of three days. That is the expiation for oaths when you have sworn. And protect your oaths. Thus does Allah make clear to you His verses that you may be grateful.”
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Is it Possible to Replace Fasting as Expiation with Feeding the Poor?
It is possible to replace fasting as expiation with feeding the poor if the individual is unable to fast due to a Sharia-approved reason, such as old age or chronic illness. In that case, it is permissible to feed the poor instead of fasting. However, if one is able to fast, it is not permissible to replace fasting with feeding the poor, because fasting is the default in expiation.
What are the Days on Which Fasting is Prohibited?
We have mentioned the days of fasting in Islam, and now we will present to you the days on which fasting is prohibited, which are as follows:
- Fasting the Days of Eid.
- Fasting the Days of Tashreeq، which are the eleventh, twelfth, and thirteenth days of Dhu al-Hijjah.
What is the Ruling on Fasting the Entire Year in Islam?
Fasting the entire year means fasting the entire year without breaking the fast on the days of Eid and the days of Tashreeq, and its ruling is disliked and some said it is prohibited. The evidence for this is that the Prophet PBUH forbade Abdullah bin Amr from fasting the entire year, and he also forbade whoever wanted to fast and not break his fast.
Fasting is one of the great acts of worship that benefit Muslims in this world and the Hereafter, and it is one of the commendable actions that help in refining the soul and feeling for the poor and needy. Therefore, Muslims are keen to know the days of fasting in Islam so that they can fast them and draw closer to Allah SWT.
