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Controversial miscellaneous issues related to Islam

Fasting in Islam
Types of Fasting in Islam

Fasting in Islam has three types:

a- Obligatory
This includes the whole ninth month of the lunar year i.e. Ramadan from the break of the dawn till sunset. Allah says in the Quran, in Surah Al-Baqarah (2-183):
'O you who believe, siyam is prescribed on you as it was prescribed to those before you so that you may become self-restrained.'

b- Voluntary
There are times when it is recommended to make voluntary fasting, after the Traditions of Prophet Muhammad. Among these times are

  • Each Monday and Thursday of a week
  • The 13th, 14th, and 15th day of each lunar month
  • Six days in the month of Shawwal (the month following Ramadan)
  • The Day of Arafat (9th of Dhu al-Hijjah in the Islamic (Hijri) calendar)
  • The Day of Ashuraa (10th of Muharram in the Islamic (Hijri) calendar), with one more day of fasting before or after it
Besides, it is always compensating to fast any day of any month of the year, except the prohibited Days.

c- Penalty fasting
Under certain circumstances Fasting is used as a penalty for a certain action that requires punishment in Islam such as:

  1. if an oath is given, and circumstances dictate that it be broken (or the one giving the oath deliberately breaks it), one needs to fast for three days consecutively if they cannot initially find 10 poor people to feed and provide clothing for (both of which are commanded before the act of fasting as a form of repentance).

  2. During the fasting period, if one deliberately breaks his or her fast, he/she must free one slave, or fast for sixty continuous days, or feed sixty needy persons, or spend in charity an amount equal to feeding sixty persons.