Nafil Fasts

“The most beloved prayer to Allaah is the prayer of Dawood (peace be upon him), and the most beloved fasting to Allaah is the fasting of Dawood. He used to sleep half the night, stand in prayer for one-third of the night, and sleep for one-sixth, and he used to fast ______________.” (al-Bukhaari, 1131; Muslim, 1159).

• alternate days

• everyday

According to hadeeth of ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Mas’ood (may Allaah be pleased with him): “We were young men with the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and we did not have anything (i.e., we could not afford). The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said to us, ‘O young men, whoever among you can afford to __________, then let him do so, for it is more effective in lowering the gaze and guarding chastity. And whoever is not able to do that, then let him fast, for that will be a shield for him.’” (al-Bukhaari, 5066; Muslim, 1400).

• get married

• travel

‘Aa’ishah(r.a)said: “The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was keen to fast on __________and___________.” (al-Nasaa’i, 2320; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’ al-Sagheer, 4827). The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was asked about it, and he said: “Those are two days on which people’s deeds are shown to the Lord of the Worlds, and I want my deeds to be shown to Him when I am fasting.” (al-Nasaa’i, 2358; Ibn Maajah, 1740; Ahmad, 8161; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’, 1583).

• Mondays and Thursdays

• Fridays and Saturdays

It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “My close friend [i.e., the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)] advised me to do three things which I will never give up until I die:

What are the three things?

(al-Bukhaari, 1178; Muslim, 721).

• fasting three days each month, praying Duha, and sleeping after paying Witr."

• fasting on alternate days, wudu before sleeping, and sleeping after Isha."

It was narrated that Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) was asked about fasting on the day of ‘___________’. He said, “I do not know of any day on the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) fasted that was better than this day and any month that was better than this month, meaning Ramadaan.” (al-Bukhaari, 2006; Muslim, 1132).

(Hint: It is Sunnah to fast the day before or the day after along with ‘Aashoora’, in order to be different from the Jews.)

• Aashoora

• Arafat

Fasting on the day of ___________ may atone for the sins of the preceding and the coming years.

• Arafah

• Ashoora

The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever fasts Ramadaan then fasts six days of Shawwaal, it is as if _____________.” (Muslim, 1164). See also Question no. 7859.

• as if he fasted for a lifetime.

• as if his past and future sins for a year are forgiven.

“The best of fasting after Ramadaan is the month of Allaah __________, and the best of prayer after the obligatory prayers is prayer at night (qiyaam al-layl).” (Muslim, 1163).

• Muharram

• Shaban

‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) said: “The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to fast until we thought that he would never break his fast, and he would not fast until we thought that he would never fast. I never saw the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) fast an entire month apart from Ramadaan, and the month in which I saw him fast the most was _________. He used to fast all of ___________ or all of it apart from a few days.” (al-Bukhaari, 1969; Muslim, 1156).

• Muharram

• Shaaban

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him): “Whoever fasts one day for the sake of Allaah, Allaah will keep his face _________________’ distance from Hell,” (al-Nasaa’i, 2247; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Sunan al-Nasaa’i, 2121).

• seventy years

• seven years