[Q 124] Forbidden Fasting Days in Islam

Question

Which days in the year can a person not fast?

For example on the day of Eid – and if so does this also include Eid e Milaad un Nabi?

بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم

الجواب بعون الملک الوهاب اللهم هداية الحق والصواب

Answer

There are 5 days throughout the year in which it is impermissible to fast; Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, the days of Tashreeq (11, 12, and 13th of Zul Hijja).

Aside from these days it is permissible to fast on any day, even the day of mawlid. Regarding the matter of the Milaad of the Prophet ﷺ being a day of eid then this is in terms of the the similarity (with eid) in happiness, mercy, bounty not in terms of Shar’i rulings. Keep in mind that to keep a fast on the Milaad with the intention of celebrating it, is not just permissible but rather it is an extremely positive and desirable act.

It is stated in Bada’i al-Sna’e

أما الصيام في الأيام المكروهة فمنها: صوم يومي العيد، وأيام التشريق

[Bada’i al-Sna’e, Vol 2, Page 78, publisher Darul Kitab Ulmia[

It has been narrated in Sahih Muslim by Abu Qatada al-Ansari رضي الله عنه:

أن رسول الله ﷺ سُئل عن صوم يوم الإثنين قال: ذاك يوم ولدت فيه ويوم بعثت أو أنزل عليّ فيه

Translation:

That the noble Messenger of Allah ﷺ was asked about (his) fasting on Monday, he ﷺ said “This is the day I was born and the day I was sent (or he ﷺ said) the day the Quran was revealed onto me.”

[Sahih Muslim, Vol 2, Page 819, publisher Dar Ahiya al-Trath al-Arabi Beirut]

Answered by:Mubashar Attari(AskMufti Scholar)

Verified by:Maulana Umar Madani

Translated by: Aqib Attari