SUMMARY: Discover the virtues of fasting beyond the month of Ramadan as a Sunnah.
Fasting is one of the tasks assigned to Muslims during the month of Ramadan. Millions of Muslims fast from sunrise to sundown for an entire month. After Ramadan, not many Muslims fast often, as it is not required. However, there are plenty of days outside of Ramadan that Muslims are encouraged to fast, as it is part of the Sunnah, the teachings of Prophet Muhammad, may Allah send peace and blessings upon him. This article will cover these recommended fasting days and explain why the Prophet, may Allah send peace and blessings upon him, fasted on these days.
Right after Ramadan comes the month of Shawwal, which starts with Eidul-Fitr, Islam's biggest holiday. Following the celebrations of Eid, Muslims are encouraged to fast six days in this month. These fasting days can be consecutive or scattered. Abu Ayyub narrated that the Prophet Muhammad, may Allah send peace and blessings upon him, said: "Whoever fasts Ramadan, then follows it with six from Shawwal, then that is (equal in reward) to fasting every day (Jami at-Tirmidhi 759)."
The Prophet Muhammad, may Allah send peace and blessings upon him, would also fast three days every month. Mondays, Thursdays, and then Mondays of the following week. This is because it is believed that a Muslim’s good deeds are presented to Allah (SWT) on these days. This prophetic tradition is mentioned in numerous hadith. For example, it was narrated that Umm Salamah said: "Allah's Messenger used to fast three days of every month: The Monday and Thursday of the first week and the Monday of the following week (Sunan an-Nasai 2365).”
Abu Hurairah narrated that Allah's Messenger, may Allah send peace and blessings upon him, said: “Deeds are presented on Monday and Thursday, and I love that my deeds be presented when I am fasting (Jami at-Tirmidhi 747).”
The Day of Arafah is the ninth day of Dhul-Hijjah, the last month of the Islamic calendar. This day is also the last day of Hajj, the Islamic pilgrimage. It was narrated from Abu Qatadah that the Prophet, may Allah send peace and blessings upon him, said: “Fasting on the Day of ‘Arafah, I hope from Allah, expiates for the sins of the year before it and the year after it." (Sunan Ibn Majah 1730)
Although it is recommended to fast on the Day of Arafah, the Prophet Muhammad, may Allah send peace and blessings upon him, would not fast if he was actively performing Hajj. Umm al-Fadl bint al-Harith said: “On the day of 'Arafah some people near her argued whether Allah's Messenger, may Allah send peace and blessings upon him, was fasting, some saying that he was, and others saying that he was not. I, therefore, sent him a cup of milk while he was observing the halt at 'Arafah on his camel, and he drank it.” (Sunan Abi Dawud 2441)
The Day of Ashura was another day the Prophet, may Allah send peace and blessings upon him, and his companions would often fast. This day is on the tenth of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar, and marks the day when Musa (Moses) parted the Red Sea. Interestingly, fasting on Ashura was a pre-Islamic tradition, and the Quraish would fast on this day. Upon migrating to Medinah, the Prophet, may Allah send peace and blessings upon him, learned that Jews were fasting on ‘Ashura to commemorate Musa. He said, “we are closer to Moses than you are,” and advised Muslims to fast ‘Ashura for three days, two days, or on the day itself.
It is important to note that while Jews do not fast on the day of Ashura in the Islamic calendar, it is likely that the Prophet’s observance, may Allah send peace and blessings upon him, was on a coincidental overlap between Ashura and Yom Kippur, a Jewish holiday. Furthermore, before Ramadan, ‘Ashura was an obligatory fast, but after Ramadan was established, it became optional. Aisha said: “Quraish used to fast on the day of ‘Ashura in the Pre-Islamic period, and Allah's Messenger, may Allah send peace and blessings upon him, also used to fast on that day. When he came to Medinah, he fasted on that day and ordered others to fast, too. Later when the fasting of the month of Ramadan was prescribed, he gave up fasting on the day of Ashura and it became optional for one to fast on it or not.”
Now that Ramadan is over, it is good for Muslims to carry on the habits applied. Fasting is not only good religiously but physically as well. The Prophet Muhammad, may Allah send peace and blessings upon him, would fast multiple times throughout the year, and by following his tradition, Muslims can be more like him. The effort placed during Ramadan should not end there. Continuing religious acts such as fasting will help Muslims strengthen their faith and get closer to Almighty Allah for years to come.
Source: https://www.islamic-relief.org.uk/resources/islamic-calendar/muharram/day-of-ashura/
Related:
(1) How to Help Teens Maintain their Ramadan Habits Year-Round
(2) Rajab to Ramadan
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