Sunnah Fasting

 

Sunnah fasting means voluntary fasting, and Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) use to fast periodically throughout the year in addition to the month of Ramadan which is considered obligatory fasting. 
As the new Hijri 1442 just commenced on August 20, 2020, it will be great to jot down all the dates on your Joy Within Planner as a reminder and motivation. 

Day of Ashura 

The significance of the day of Ashura/ 10th of Muharram, the day Allah (set) saved Hadhrat Musa PBUH and his followers from Pharaoh. 
Ibn Abbas was asked about observing of fast on the day of Ashura, whereupon he said: “I do not know Allah's Messenger, peace be upon him, singling out any day's fast and considering it more excellent than another, except this day (the day of Ashura) and this month, meaning the month of Ramadan” [Muslim].

Mondays & Thursdays of each month
Aishah narrated: "The Prophet used to try to fast on Mondays and Thursdays" [Tirmidhi, Nasai, and Ibn Majah].

Ayam Al-Beedh
Ayam Al-Beedh is also called white days which 13, 14, & 15 of the month in the lunar calendar.
“It is sufficient for you to fast three days every month because for every good deed you will have (the reward of) ten like it, so that will be like fasting for a lifetime” [Bukhari and Muslim]

Month of Shaban

It was narrated that Aishah reported that the Prophet liked the month of Shaban more than any other month as far as supplementary fasting is concerned [Bukkhari].

6 days of Shawwal

The month of Shawwal comes after the month of Ramadan and it is recommended to fast in the months Shawwal for six days after Eid-ul-Fitr.
“Whoever fasts Ramadan and follows it with six days of Shawal, it will be as if he fasted for a lifetime” [Muslim].

Day of Arafah (9th ZUL AL-HIJJAH)
It is recommended to fast the first 9 days of Zul- Al-Hijjah, but Day of Arafah which is 9th Zul Al-Hijjah is highly recommended.
 Abu Qatadah reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, was asked about the observance of fasting on the day of Arafah. He said, "It is an expiation for the sins of the preceding year and the current year" [Muslim]

Days that Prophet Muhammad PBUH forbade us to fast are:

  • Two days of Eid  
  • Fasting the 11, 12, 13th of Zul- Al-Hijjah 
  • Fasting during menstruation or childbirth in women. 
  • Fasting when you are sick and it may harm you.  

Fasting itself is a form of worship and the sunnah fasting is not obligatory which makes the voluntary fasting like extra credit for us, so use the extra credit opportunities to get closer to Allah.

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