There are several days in the Islamic Calendar when it’s sunnah (highly recommended) to fast. As the Hijri year follows the moon’s cycle, the dates of these days on the conventional Western calendar change every year.
- Mondays and Thursdays:The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) would fast on Mondays and Thursdays. The reasons for why can be found in several ahadith.
حَدَّثَنَا الْعَبَّاسُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْعَظِيمِ الْعَنْبَرِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا الضَّحَّاكُ بْنُ مَخْلَدٍ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ رِفَاعَةَ، عَنْ سُهَيْلِ بْنِ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ كَانَ يَصُومُ الاِثْنَيْنِ وَالْخَمِيسَ . فَقِيلَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّكَ تَصُومُ يَوْمَ الاِثْنَيْنِ وَالْخَمِيسِ فَقَالَ " إِنَّ يَوْمَ الاِثْنَيْنِ وَالْخَمِيسِ يَغْفِرُ اللَّهُ فِيهِمَا لِكُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ إِلاَّ مُهْتَجِرَيْنِ يَقُولُ دَعْهُمَا حَتَّى يَصْطَلِحَا " .
“O Messenger of Allah, why do you fast on Mondays and Thursdays?” He (ﷺ) said: “On Mondays and Thursdays Allah forgives every Muslim except two who have forsaken one another.”(Sunan Ibn Majah 1740)
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَاصِمٍ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ رِفَاعَةَ، عَنْ سُهَيْلِ بْنِ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " تُعْرَضُ الأَعْمَالُ يَوْمَ الاِثْنَيْنِ وَالْخَمِيسِ فَأُحِبُّ أَنْ يُعْرَضَ عَمَلِي وَأَنَا صَائِمٌ " . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى حَدِيثُ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ فِي هَذَا الْبَابِ حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ غَرِيبٌ .
“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “The deeds are presented on Monday and Thursday. Thus, I love for my deeds to be presented while I am fasting.”(Jami` at-Tirmidhi 747)
وَحَدَّثَنِي زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ مَهْدِيٍّ، حَدَّثَنَا مَهْدِيُّ بْنُ مَيْمُونٍ، عَنْ غَيْلاَنَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَعْبَدٍ الزِّمَّانِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي قَتَادَةَ الأَنْصَارِيِّ، رضى الله عنه أَنَّرَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم سُئِلَ عَنْ صَوْمِ الاِثْنَيْنِ فَقَالَ " فِيهِ وُلِدْتُ وَفِيهِ أُنْزِلَ عَلَىَّ " .
The Prophet (ﷺ) was asked about fasting on Monday. The Prophet said, “That is the day I was born and the day I was sent with revelation.”(Sahih Muslim 1162e)
There are also several health benefits that come with fasting two times a week. These include, but are not limited to, reduced levels of total cholesterol and lowered risk factors for heart disease.
- Six Days in Shawwal: Shawwal is the 10th Islamic month. It is the month that follows Ramadan, as the first of Shawwal is Eid al-Fitr. The rewards for fasting six days in Shawwal alongside Ramadan are great – as if one has fasted for the entire year!
وَعَنْ أَبِي أَيُّوبَ اَلْأَنْصَارِيِّ - رضى الله عنه - أَنَّ رَسُولَ اَللَّهِ - صلى الله عليه وسلم -قَالَ: { مَنْ صَامَ رَمَضَانَ, ثُمَّ أَتْبَعَهُ سِتًّا مِنْ شَوَّالٍ كَانَ كَصِيَامِ اَلدَّهْرِ } رَوَاهُ مُسْلِمٌ
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “Whoever fasts the month of Ramadan and then follows it with six days of fasting in the month of Shawwal, it will be as if he has fasted for the entire year.”
These six days can be spread out throughout the month. It also does not have to be consecutive days. The only day of Shawwal you are not allowed to fast is Eid al-Fitr. This is because it is forbidden to fast on the days of Eid.
“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) forbade fasting on the Day of Fitr and the Day of Adha.”
- FIRST 9 DAYS OF MONTH OF ZIL HAJJ, ESPECIALLY DAY OF : Dhul Hijjah is the twelfth and final month of the Islamic Calendar. The first ten days of the month are extremely blessed, for “there are no days during which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these days.” (Sunan Ibn Majah)
One of the best deeds to do is to fast. Hence, on the first 9 days (as one cannot fast on Eid Al-Adha) it is recommended for us to fast, alongside doing other good deeds, such as reading Qur’an, making dhikr, giving charity and performing nafl (voluntary) prayers.
Fasting in Dhul Hijjah is also sunnah, as the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to fast the month’s first nine days. (Sunan Abi Dawud)
However, for those going on Hajj, it is fine for them to leave the sunnah fast of Arafah.
One of the companions of the Prophet (ﷺ), Ibn Umar, noted that, while performing the pilgrimage, the Prophet (ﷺ) did not fast during Arafat.
In turn, some of the closest companions of the Prophet (ﷺ) – Abu Bakr, Umar and Uthman (may peace be upon them all) – also did not fast on Arafat while on Hajj. (Tirmidhi)
Hence, fasting on the first 9 days of Dhul Hijjah, especially on Arafah, is a highly recommended act for those not on Hajj.
- Ashura (and the Day Before or After it): Ashura occurs on the 10th of Muharram, the first Islamic month. It is a blessed day that commemorates several significant events in Islamic history.
The origins of fasting on Ashura have been documented in this hadith collected by Al-Bukhari and Muslim and reported by Ibn ‘Abbas (RA). The narration goes as follows:
The Prophet (ﷺ) observed the Jewish people fasting on this day and asked why they did so. The Jews replied that this was the day Allah (SWT) granted victory to Musa (AS) and Bani Isra’il over Fir’aun (Pharaoh). Thus, they fasted on this day out of respect.
The Prophet (ﷺ) then said, “We are closer to Musa (AS) than you,” and enjoined in fasting on that day.
There are also great blessings for fasting on Ashura. When asked about fasting on the 10th of Muharram, the Prophet (ﷺ) said, “It will expiate the sins of the past year.” (Sahih Muslim)
It is also recommended to fast the day before Ashura (9th Muharram). Ibn ‘Abbas (RA) reported:وَحَدَّثَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ الْحُلْوَانِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي مَرْيَمَ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ أَيُّوبَ، حَدَّثَنِي إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ أُمَيَّةَ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ أَبَا غَطَفَانَ بْنَ طَرِيفٍ الْمُرِّيَّ، يَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ، بْنَ عَبَّاسٍ - رضى الله عنهما - يَقُولُ حِينَ صَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَوْمَ عَاشُورَاءَ وَأَمَرَ بِصِيَامِهِ قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّهُ يَوْمٌ تُعَظِّمُهُ الْيَهُودُ وَالنَّصَارَى . فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " فَإِذَا كَانَ الْعَامُ الْمُقْبِلُ - إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ - صُمْنَا الْيَوْمَ التَّاسِعَ " . قَالَ فَلَمْ يَأْتِ الْعَامُ الْمُقْبِلُ حَتَّى تُوُفِّيَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم.
“When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) fasted on the day of ‘Ashura and told the people to fast, they said, “O Messenger of Allah, this is a day that is venerated by the Jews and Christians.” The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “Next year, if Allah wills, we will fast on the ninth day.” But by the time the following year came, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had passed away.(Sahih Muslim 1134a)
Thus, to differentiate Muslims from other religions (who also celebrated this day), the Prophet (ﷺ) instructed us to fast on the 9th and 10th of Muharram.
If one fears they may miss Ashura because of the difference in moon sighting, then scholars also permit fasting on the 10th and 11th of Muharram.
- Most of Sha’ban: As the 8th Islamic month, Sha’ban is the month before Ramadan. The Prophet fasted for the majority of this month, with accounts of it recorded in several ahadith. This includes a hadith where ‘Aisha (RA) said:
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، قَالَ قَرَأْتُ عَلَى مَالِكٍ عَنْ أَبِي النَّضْرِ، مَوْلَى عُمَرَ بْنِ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ أُمِّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، - رضى الله عنها - أَنَّهَا قَالَتْ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَصُومُ حَتَّى نَقُولَ لاَ يُفْطِرُ . وَيُفْطِرُ حَتَّى نَقُولَ لاَ يَصُومُ . وَمَا رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم اسْتَكْمَلَ صِيَامَ شَهْرٍ قَطُّ إِلاَّ رَمَضَانَ وَمَا رَأَيْتُهُ فِي شَهْرٍ أَكْثَرَ مِنْهُ صِيَامًا فِي شَعْبَانَ .
“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) would fast until we said he will never break his fast, and he would not fast until we said he would never fast. I did not see the Prophet complete an entire month of fasting except for Ramadan, and I did not see him complete more voluntary fasts than in the month of Sha’ban.”(Sahih Muslim 1156e)
In another hadith, ‘Aisha (RA) also said, “The most beloved month to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) for fasting was Sha’ban, then he would connect it with Ramadan.” (Sunan Abi Dawud).
- The White Days ((Ayam al Beedh): The white days are the 13th, 14th and 15th of each Islamic month. They are called White Days (Ayam al Beedh) as the moon is most lit on these nights.
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ كَثِيرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا هَمَّامٌ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، أَخِي مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ مِلْحَانَ الْقَيْسِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَأْمُرُنَا أَنْ نَصُومَ الْبِيضَ ثَلاَثَ عَشْرَةَ وَأَرْبَعَ عَشْرَةَ وَخَمْسَ عَشْرَةَ . قَالَ وَقَالَ " هُنَّ كَهَيْئَةِ الدَّهْرِ " .
Qatadah Ibn Malhan al-Qaysi said that the Prophet (ﷺ) used to command them to fast the days of the White (nights). He (ﷺ) said that to fast these days “is like keeping perpetual fast.”(Sunan Abi Dawud 2449).
In another hadith, Jarir bin ‘Abdullah recalled that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:أَخْبَرَنَا مَخْلَدُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ، عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ أَبِي أُنَيْسَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ، عَنْ جَرِيرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " صِيَامُ ثَلاَثَةِ أَيَّامٍ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ صِيَامُ الدَّهْرِ وَأَيَّامُ الْبِيضِ صَبِيحَةَ ثَلاَثَ عَشْرَةَ وَأَرْبَعَ عَشْرَةَ وَخَمْسَ عَشْرَةَ " .
“Fasting three days of each month is fasting for a lifetime, and the shining days of Al-Bid, the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth.”(Sunan an-Nasa'i 2420)