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Controversial miscellaneous issues related to Islam

Fasting in Islam
When is fasting forbidden

Although fasting is considered a pious act in Islam, there are times when fasting is prohibited. There are certain days in which fasts are prohibited:

  • Eid ul-Adha (The feast of Sacrifice)
  • Eid ul-Fitr (The feast of breaking the fast)
  • Ayyam at-Tashriq (the 11th, 12th and 13th of the month of Dhu al-Hijjah).
  • Fasting is not allowed on a Friday which is not within the month of Ramadan, unless one has been fasting prior to Friday or intends to fast a day after it.
  • A Woman Cannot Offer Voluntary Fasting Unless After Gaining Her Husband’s Permission: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, forbade a woman to fast if her husband was present unless after gaining his permission. Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet said: “A woman is not to fast [even] for one day while her husband is present except with his permission, unless it is during Ramadan." (Recorded by Ahmad, al-Bukhari, and Muslim)

    Muslims scholars have interpreted this prohibition as one of forbiddance, and they allow the husband to end his wife's fasting if she fasted without his permission and he seeks his right [to sexual intercourse] from her. This is also true, obviously, for days other than those of Ramadan in which case she does not need her husband's permission. Similarly, if she fasted without his permission because he was not present, he has the right to end her fast when he returns.

    If the husband is sick or incapable of intercourse, it is permissible for the woman to fast without his permission, for this case is similar is similar to the case where he is not present.

  • Offering Consecutive Days of Fasting without Eating (Al-Wisal): Abu Hurairah reported that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Do not perform Al-Wisal." He repeated it thrice and the people said to him: "But you perform Al-Wisal, O Messenger of Allah!" He said: “You are not like me in that matter. I spend the night in such a state that Allah feeds me and gives me to drink. Devote yourselves to the deeds which you can perform." (Related by Al-Bukhari and Muslim.)

    The scholars say this prohibition implies that the act is disliked. Ahmad and Ishaq say that it is allowed to fast until the time of the pre-dawn meal as long as it is not a hardship on the one fasting. This opinion is based on what al-Bukhari recorded on the authority of Abu-Sa`id Al-Khudri: "The Messenger of Allah said: “Do not make Al-Wisal. If one of you insists on making Al-Wisal, he may continue his fast [after sunset] until the time of the pre-dawn."

  • Perpetual Fasting: It is forbidden to do so because there are certain days of the year on which one is not allowed to fast. The Messenger of Allah said: “There is no [reward for] fasting for the one who perpetually fasts." (Related by Ahmad, Al-Bukhari, and Muslim.)

    If one breaks his fast during the days of `Eid and the days of Tashreeq, then his perpetual fasting would no longer be considered disliked. In his comments on this issue, At-Tirmidhi says: "A group of scholars dislike fasting every day if it includes the `Eids [`Eidul-Fitr, `Eidul-Adha] and the days of Tashreeq. If one breaks his fast on those days, his action is no longer disliked, as he is no longer fasting the whole year." The scholars are Malik, Ash-Shafi’i, Ahmad, and Ishaq.

    The Prophet approved of Hamzah Al-Aslami's numerous fasts when he told him: "Fast if you wish and break your fast if you wish."