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One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

What does the Quran and Sunnah say about fasting in the days other than that of the Holy month of Ramazan. Can we fast every single day of the year or not? 

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Answer:

Can one fast everyday

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 no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad(saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Q-1: What does the Quran and Sunnah say about fasting in the days other than that of the Holy month of Ramazan.

The Holy Quran specifically talks about the prescribed fasts of Ramadan (Chp2 Surah Baqarah verses 183-185) , and the fasts which are to be done as an atonement for deeds like accidental killing (Chp 4 Surah Nisaa verse 92), breaking of an oath (Chp 5 Surah Maidah verse 89), etc.

Abu Hurairah reported the Messenger of Allah (saws) said:

• "Allah 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.'
• 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.
• “Allah Said: ‘He 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.’”

Abu Umamah 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 said: 'Stick to fasting, as there is no equivalent to it.' Then I came to him again and he said: 'Stick to fasting."' This hadith is related by Ahmad, an-Nasa'i, and al-Hakim.

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reported that the Messenger of Allah (saws) said: "No servant fasts on a day in the path of Allah except that Allah removes the hellfire seventy years further away from his face." This is related by Bukhari and Muslim in their Sahihs.

Sahl ibn Sa'd 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." This is related by Bukhari and Muslim.

The Prophet (saws) would fast most of the month of Sha'ban. 'Aishah said: "I never saw the Messenger of Allah fast a complete month save for Ramadan, and I have never seen him fast more in a month than he did in Sha'ban." This is related by Bukhari and Muslim.

Usamah ibn Zaid inquired: "O Messenger of Allah, I never find you fasting in any month like you do during the month of Sha'ban." The Prophet responded: "That is a month the people neglect. It comes between Rajab and Ramadan. It is a month in which the deeds are raised to the Lord of the Worlds. I love that my deeds be raised while I am fasting." This is related by Abu Dawud, an-Nasa'i, and by Ibn Khuzaimah in his Sahih.

Abu Dharr al-Ghafari reported: "The Messenger of Allah ordered us to fast for three days of every month--that is, on the days of the full moon (the 13th, 14th, and 15th of the lunar month). And he (saws) said: 'It is like fasting the whole year.' " This is related by an-Nasa'i and by Ibn Hibban.

It is related that the Prophet (saws) would fast on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday of one month and on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of the next month. He would also fast for three days at the beginning of the month, or on the first Thursday and the next two Mondays of the month.

Abu Hurairah reported that the most the Prophet (saws) would fast would be Monday and Thursday. He (saws) was asked about that and he said: "The actions are presented on every Monday and Thursday. Allah forgives every believer, except for those who are boycotting each other." This is related by Ahmad.

Q-2: Can we fast every single day of the year or not? 

The Messenger of Allah (saws) prohibited the believers to fast every single day of the year.

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said: "There is no [reward for] fasting, for the one who perpetually fasts." This is related by Ahmad, al-Bukhari, and Muslim.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 4.629 Narrated by Abdullah bin Amr

The Messenger of Allah (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, the Prophet 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." He (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 time, and so the fasting of three days a month equals the fasting of a year." I said, "O Allah's Apostle! I can do (fast) more than this." He said, "Fast on every third day." I said: "I can do (fast) more than that." He said: "Fast on alternate days and this was the fasting of David which is the most moderate sort of fasting." I said, "O Allah's Apostle! I can do (fast) more than that." He said, "There is nothing better than that."

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

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan