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Voluntary fasting.

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:

Assalam Alaykum Brother

 

I am fasting 6 days out of each month so far and working well. This is done out of trying to be closer to God's grace and his acceptance. Can you give me some clues with your profound knowledge and research if this is agreeable to God's (SWT) acceptance and Prophet's (PBUH) approval.

 

May God guide you to Jannah and we be your companions going there too...

 

Thanks

 

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Answer:

 

Voluntary fasting

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.

 

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 4.629 Narrated by Abdullah bin Amr

Allah's Messenger (saws) was informed that I have said: "By Allah, I will fast all the days and pray all the nights as long as I live." On that, Allah's Messenger (saws) asked me. "Are you the one who says: 'I will fast all the days and pray all the nights as long as I live?'" I said, "Yes, I have said it." The Prophet (saws) said, "You cannot do that! So fast (sometimes) and do not fast (sometimes). Pray and sleep. Fast for three days a month, for the reward of a good deed is multiplied by ten times, and so the fasting of three days a month equals the fasting of a year." I asked, "O Allah's Messenger (saws), I can do (fast) more than this." The Prophet (saws) replied "Fast on every third day." I said: "I can do (fast) more than that." The Prophet (saws) said: "Fast on alternate days and this was the fasting of Prophet Dawood (a.s.) which is the best sort of fasting." I said, "O Allah's Messenger (saws), I can do (fast) more than that." The Messenger of Allah (saws) said, "There is nothing better than that (ie. fasting on alternate days)!"

 

The absolute maximum one is permitted to observe voluntary fasting in Shariah is to fast every alternate day. Respected brother, if you are observing voluntary fasts for six days of the month for the Sake and Pleasure of your Lord Most Gracious, rest assured you are well within the boundaries to do so.

 

Hadrat Abu Hurairah (r.a.) reported that the Messenger of Allah (saws) said: "Allah Subhanah Said: 'Every action of the son of Adam is for him except fasting, for that is solely for Me. I give the reward for it.'

Related by Muslim.

 

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said: ‘By the One in Whose Hand is the soul of Muhammad, the [bad] breath of the one who is fasting is better in the Sight of Allah on the Day of Resurrection than the smell of musk! The one who is fasting is happy at two times: when he breaks his fast he is happy with it, and when he meets his Lord he will be happy that he has fasted."

Related by Ahmad, Muslim, and an-Nasa'i.

 

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said that Allah Subhanah Says: ‘He (one who observes fasts) leaves his food, drink, and desires for My Sake. His fasting is for Me... I will give the reward for it, and for every good deed, he will receive ten similar to it."

Related by al-Bukhari and Abu Dawud.

 

Abdullah ibn Amr (r.a.) reported that the Messenger of Allah (saws) said: "The fast and the Qur'an are two intercessors for the servant of Allah on the Day of Resurrection. The fast will say: 'O Lord, I prevented him from his food and desires during the day. Let me intercede for him.' The Qur'an will say: 'I prevented him from sleeping at night. Let me intercede for him.' And their intercession will be accepted." Related by Ahmad.

 

Abu Umamah (r.a.) reported: "I came to the Messenger of Allah (saws) and said: 'Order me to do a deed that will allow me to enter Paradise.' He (saws) replied: 'Stick to fasting, as there is no equivalent to it.' Then I came to him again and he (saws) said: 'Stick to fasting."'

Related by Ahmad, an-Nasa'i, and al-Hakim.

 

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (r.a.) reported that the Messenger of Allah (saws) said: "No servant fasts on a day in the path of Allah except that Allah removes the Hell Fire seventy years further away from his face."

Related by Bukhari and Muslim.

 

Sahl ibn Sa'd (r.a.) reported that the Prophet (saws) said: "There is a gate to Paradise that is called ‘ar-Rayyan’. On the Day of Resurrection it will say: 'Where are those who fasted?' When the last [one] has passed through the gate, it will be locked."

Related by Bukhari and Muslim.

 

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

 


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