Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Shukran, Brother, Salamalekum.

In the Hadith we observe that the messenger Allah made it a practice to fast on Monday every week, due to the reason he was born on Monday.

In order to follow the Messenger of Allah PBH, which is requirement, do have to fast every Monday or should we fast on the day we were born, every week?

Kindly inform. Jazakallah Khair.

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Fasting on Mondays

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 2055 Narrated by Aisha

Allah's Messenger (saws) used to fast on Mondays and Thursdays.

Related by Tirmidhi and Nasa'i.

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 1261 Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

The Prophet (saws) said: ‘A man's deeds are presented (to Allah The Most Exalted) on Mondays and Thursdays and I prefer that I should be observing fast when my deeds are presented.’

Hadrat Abu Qatadah (r.a.) reported: ‘The Messenger of Allah (saws) was asked about fasting on Mondays. He (saws) said, "That is the day on which I was born and the day on which I received Revelation.``’

Related by Muslim.

It was the practice and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws) to observe voluntary fasts on Mondays and Thursdays. The scholars and the jurists are of the opinion that the main wisdom behind the Prophet (saws) observing voluntary fasts on Mondays and Thursdays was because the deeds of man are officially presented unto the Lord Most Exalted on these two days, and the Prophet (saws) wished that his deeds were presented while he was in the state of observing the voluntary worship of fasts.

Your Question: …In order to follow the Messenger of Allah PBH, which is requirement, do have to fast every Monday or should we fast on the day we were born, every week?

Because this fasting is voluntary, it is permissible for the believers to observe these voluntary fasts any day of the week except Fridays; but it would be preferred and a Sunnah if one were to observe these voluntary fasts on Mondays and Thursdays.

Under no circumstances does the hadith signify or encourage that to follow the example of the Prophet (saws) would be that every believer observe voluntary fasts on the day of the week they themselves were born!

If one indeed wishes to follow the example and the Sunnah of the Prophet (saws) when observing voluntary fasts, they too should observe these voluntary fasts on Mondays and Thursdays, as the deeds are officially presented unto their Lord on these two days of the week.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan