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:

Burhan,

Salam - your answers are vaild , however does that mean you can not fast for 31 days as the questioner asked?  i.e. is there a limit set to 30 days?

Thanks & regards,

Nadeem Shahzad Ahmed

(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:

Fast 31 days

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.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verses 183-184:

183 O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you that ye may (learn) self-restraint.

184 (Fasting) for a fixed number of days; but if any of you is ill or on a journey the prescribed number (should be made up) from days later.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 185:

185 Ramadan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur'an as a guide to mankind also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (between right and wrong). So everyone of you who is present (or witnesses) the month should spend it in fasting but if anyone is ill or on a journey the prescribed period (should be made up) by days later. Allah intends every facility for you He does not want to put you to difficulties. (He wants you) to complete the prescribed period and to glorify Him in that He has guided you; and perchance ye shall be grateful.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 7.222 Narrated by Ibn Umar

The Prophet (saws) (holding out his ten fingers thrice), said, "The month is thus and thus and thus," namely thirty days. Then (holding out his ten fingers twice and then nine fingers), he (saws) said, "It may be thus and thus and thus," namely twenty nine days. He (saws) meant once thirty days and once twenty nine days.

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 2312 Narrated by Abdullah ibn Umar

The Prophet (saws) said: ‘The month consists of twenty-nine days, but do not fast till you sight it (the moon) and do not break your fast till you sight it. If the weather is cloudy, calculate it thirty days.

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 2315 Narrated by Abdullah ibn Mas'ud

We kept fast for twenty-nine days along with the Prophet (saws) more often than we kept fast for thirty days.

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 2320 Narrated by Abdullah ibn Abbas

The Prophet (saws) said: ‘Do not fast one day or two days just before Ramadan except in the case of a man who has been in the habit or observing a fast (on that day); and do not fast until you sight it (the moon). Then fast until you sight it. If a cloud appears on that day (i.e. 29th of Ramadan) then complete the number thirty (days) and then end the fasting.

Allah Subhanah has Commanded the believers who witness the month of Ramadan to spend it in fasting, and in light of the above absolutely clear guidance of the Messenger of Allah (saws) a lunar or Islamic month can be only 29 or 30 days.

Your Question: however does that mean you can not fast for 31 days as the questioner asked?  i.e. is there a limit set to 30 days?

In light of the above quoted guidance of Allah and His Messenger (saws) the absolute minimum number of days in an Islamic or lunar month would be 29, and the absolute maximum number of days in an Islamic or lunar month would be 30 days.

Allah Subhanah has Commanded and made obligatory upon the believers to fast for a ‘fixed number of days’ in the month of Ramadan. The Messenger of Allah (saws) guided the believers to abstain from fasting one or two days before Ramadan starts so as not to mix their voluntary fasts with their obligatory fasts; and he (saws) also forbade the believers to observe a fast on the Day of Eid. Thus fasting 31 days assuming them all to be in the month of Ramadan would not be in accordance with the guidance of Allah and His Messenger (saws).

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