Hadith about voluntary fasting

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "The Salat which is dearest to Allah is that of (Prophet) Dawud; and As-Saum (the fasting) which is dearest to Allah is that of (Prophet) Dawud. He used to sleep half the night, get up to perform Salat for one-third of it, then sleep through the remaining one-sixth…

"‏أحب الصلاة إلى الله صلاة داود، وأحب الصيام إلى الله صيام داود، كان ينام نصف الليل ويقوم ثلثه وينام سدسه ويصوم يومًا ويفطر يومًا‏"

+ 21 other versions

My Khalil (the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)) directed me to fast three days of each month, and to observe two Rak'ah Duha (optional prayer) at forenoon, and to perform the Witr prayer before going to bed. [Al- Bukhari and Muslim].

عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال‏:‏ أوصاني خليلي صلى الله عليه وسلم بصيام ثلاثة أيام من كل شهر، وركعتي الضحى، وأن أوتر قبل أن أرقد‏"‏ ‏.‏ ‏(‏‏(‏متفق عليه‏)‏‏)‏ والإيتار قبل النوم إنما يستحب لمن لا يثق باستيقاظ آخر الليل…

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah + 39 other versions

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Every slave of Allah who observes Saum (fasting) for one day for the sake of Allah, Allah will draw his face farther from Hell-fire to the extent of a distance to be covered in seventy years." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

"‏ ما من عبد يصوم يومًا في سبيل الله إلا باعد الله بذلك اليوم وجهه عن النار سبعين خريفًا‏"

+ 18 other versions

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "He who observes As-Saum (the fasts) in the month of Ramadan, and also observes As-Saum for six days in the month of Shawwal, it is as if he has observed As-Saum for the whole year." [Muslim].

"‏من صام رمضان ثم أتبعه بست من شوال كان كصيام الدهر‏"

Narrated by Abu Ayyūb al-Ansāri + 11 other versions

I asked 'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her). Did the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) use to observe three days of Saum (fasting) in every month?" She replied, "Yes." I asked, "On which days in the month did he observed fast?" She replied that he did not mind on which days of the month he observed fast…

وعن معاذة العدوية أنها سألت عائشة رضي الله عنها‏:‏ أكان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يصوم من كل شهر ثلاثة أيام، فقالت‏:‏ نعم‏.‏ فقلت‏:‏ من أي الشهر كان يصوم‏؟‏ قالت‏:‏ لم يكن يبالي من أي الشهر يصوم‏.‏ ‏(‏‏(‏رواه…

Narrated by Ā’ishah + 13 other versions

'A’isha (RAA) narrated, ‘The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to fast until one would say, he never breaks his fast (i.e. he never stops fasting), and he would abandon fasting (at other times) until one would say that he never fasts. And I never saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) fast for a complete month…

وَعَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اَللَّهُ عَنْهَا قَالَتْ: { كَانَ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ ‏- صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏-يَصُومُ حَتَّى نَقُولَ لَا يُفْطِرُ, وَيُفْطِرُ حَتَّى نَقُولَ لَا يَصُومُ, وَمَا رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اَللَّهِ ‏- صلى الله…

Narrated by Ā’ishah + 21 other versions

'A’isha (RAA) narrated, ‘One day the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) entered my house and said, “ls there anything here (to eat)?" I said, ‘NO,’ He said, “I shall then be fasting (today)." Then he came to us another day and we said to him, 'Someone has offered us some hais as a gift.’ He then said, "Show it…

وَعَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اَللَّهُ عَنْهَا قَالَتْ: { دَخَلَ عَلَيَّ اَلنَّبِيُّ ‏- صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏-ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ.‏ فَقَالَ: " هَلْ عِنْدَكُمْ شَيْءٌ? " قُلْنَا: لَا.‏ قَالَ: " فَإِنِّي إِذًا صَائِمٌ " ثُمَّ أَتَانَا…

Narrated by Ā’ishah + 8 other versions

I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) as saying: "None of you should observe fast on Friday except that he should observe fast either one day before it or one day after it." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

"‏لا يصومن أحدكم يوم الجمعة إلا يومًا قبله أو بعده‏"

+ 6 other versions

Juwairiyah bint Al-Harith (May Allah be pleased with her), the Mother of the Believers, said that the Prophet (ﷺ) visited her on a Friday and she was observing fast. He asked, "Did you observe fast yesterday?" She said, "No." He asked, "Do you intend to observe fast tomorrow?" She said, "No." He…

وعن أم المؤمنين جويرة بنت الحارس رضي الله عنها أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم دخل عليها يوم الجمعة وهي صائمة، فقال‏:‏ ‏"‏ أصمت أمس‏؟‏‏"‏ قالت‏:‏ لا، قال‏:‏ ‏"‏ تريدين أن تصومي غدا ‏"‏ قالت‏:‏ لا، قال ‏:‏ ‏"‏فأفطري‏"‏…

+ 5 other versions

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "It is not lawful for a woman to observe an optional Saum (fast) without the permission of her husband when he is at home. Nor should she allow anyone to enter his house without his permission." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

"‏لا يحل للمرأة أن تصوم وزوجها شاهد إلا بإذنه، ولا تأذن في بيته إلا بإذنه‏"

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah + 3 other versions

Abu Dharr (RAA) narrated that The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) commanded 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).’ Related by An-Nasa’i and At-Tirmidhi and rendered authentic by Ibn Hibban.

وَعَنْ أَبِي ذَرٍّ ‏- رضى الله عنه ‏- قَالَ: { أَمَرَنَا رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ ‏- صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏-أَنْ نَصُومَ مِنْ اَلشَّهْرِ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ: ثَلَاثَ عَشْرَةَ, وَأَرْبَعَ عَشْرَةَ وَخَمْسَ عَشْرَةَ } رَوَاهُ…

Narrated by Abu Dharr + 6 other versions

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Deeds of people are presented (to Allah) on Mondays and Thursdays. So I like that my actions be presented while I am fasting." [At-Tirmidhi].

"‏ تعرض الأعمال يوم الاثنين والخميس، فأحب أن يعرض عملي وأنا صائم‏"

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah + 3 other versions

The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) fasted on the Day of ‘Āshūrā'

Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) fasted on the Day of ‘Āshūrā', and ordered Muslims to fast on it.

وعن ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم صام يوم عاشوراء، وأمر بصيامه‏.‏ ‏(‏‏(‏متفق عليه‏)‏‏)‏

Narrated by Ibn ‘Abbās + 7 other versions Explained

The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to leave fasting in a certain month until we would think that he has not fasted at all that month; and he used to fast in another month so much that we would think he has not stopped fasting at all in that month. If one wished to see him praying at night, one could see him (in that state), and if one wished to see him sleeping at night, one could see him (in that state) too

Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to leave fasting in a certain month until we would think that he has not fasted at all that month; and he used to fast in another month so much that we would think he has not…

وعن أنس رضي الله عنه، قال‏:‏ كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ، يفطر من الشهر حتى نظن أن لا يصوم منه، ويصوم حتى نظن أن لا يفطر منه شيئًا، وكان لا تشاء أن تراه من الليل مصليا إلا رأيته، ولا نائمًا إلا رأيته‏.‏ ‏(‏‏(‏رواه…

Narrated by Anas ibn Mālik + 5 other versions Explained

No fasting counts for the one who fasts continuously. Fasting three days is like fasting the entire year

"You fast continuously and stand in prayer at night?" I said: Yes. He said: "If you do that, your eyes will become weak, and your soul will become weary. No fasting counts for the one who fasts continuously. Fasting three days is like fasting the entire year". I said: Indeed, I am capable of more…

يَصُومُ يَوْمًا وَيُفْطِرُ يَوْمًا، وَلاَ يَفِرُّ إِذَا لاَقَى ‏"

Narrated by Abdullah ibn Amr + 11 other versions Explained

A man came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said: How do you fast, Messenger of Allah? The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) became angry at what he said. When Umar observed this (his anger), he said: We are satisfied with Allah as Lord, with Islam as religion, and with Muhammad as Prophet. We seek refuge in Allah from…

ثَلاَثٌ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ وَرَمَضَانُ إِلَى رَمَضَانَ فَهَذَا صِيَامُ الدَّهْرِ كُلِّهِ وَصِيَامُ عَرَفَةَ إِنِّي أَحْتَسِبُ عَلَى اللَّهِ أَنْ يُكَفِّرَ السَّنَةَ الَّتِي قَبْلَهُ وَالسَّنَةَ الَّتِي بَعْدَهُ وَصَوْمُ…

Narrated by Abu Qatāda + 6 other versions

On the day of 'Arafah some people near her argued whether the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was fasting, some saying that he was, and others saying that he was not. I, therefore, sent him a cup of milk while he was observing the halt at 'Arafah on his camel, and he drank it.

‏ فَأَرْسَلَتْ إِلَيْهِ بِقَدَحِ لَبَنٍ وَهُوَ وَاقِفٌ عَلَى بَعِيرِهِ بِعَرَفَةَ فَشَرِبَ ‏.‏

Narrated by Umm al-Fadl bint al-Hārith + 5 other versions

The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to strive to fast on Mondays and Thursdays

‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to strive to fast on Mondays and Thursdays.

يَتَحَرَّى يَوْمَ الاِثْنَيْنِ وَالْخَمِيسِ ‏.‏

Narrated by Ā’ishah + 1 other version Explained

"The Prophet (ﷺ) sent a messenger to the village of the Ansar in the morning of the day of 'Ashura' (10th of Muharram) to announce: 'Whoever has eaten something should not eat but complete the fast, and whoever is observing the fast should complete it.' "She further said, "Since then we used to…

أَرْسَلَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم غَدَاةَ عَاشُورَاءَ إِلَى قُرَى الأَنْصَارِ ‏"‏ مَنْ أَصْبَحَ مُفْطِرًا فَلْيُتِمَّ بَقِيَّةَ يَوْمِهِ، وَمَنْ أَصْبَحَ صَائِمًا فَلْيَصُمْ

Narrated by Ar-Rubayyi bint Mu‘awwidh ibn Afrā + 1 other version

When the Prophet (ﷺ) came to Medina, he found (the Jews) fasting on the day of 'Ashura' (i.e. 10th of Muharram). They used to say: "This is a great day on which Allah saved Moses and drowned the folk of Pharaoh. Moses observed the fast on this day, as a sign of gratitude to Allah." The Prophet (ﷺ)…

لَمَّا قَدِمَ الْمَدِينَةَ وَجَدَهُمْ يَصُومُونَ يَوْمًا، يَعْنِي عَاشُورَاءَ، فَقَالُوا هَذَا يَوْمٌ عَظِيمٌ، وَهْوَ يَوْمٌ نَجَّى اللَّهُ فِيهِ مُوسَى، وَأَغْرَقَ آلَ فِرْعَوْنَ، فَصَامَ مُوسَى شُكْرًا لِلَّهِ‏.‏…

Narrated by Ibn ‘Abbās

Messenger of Allah, it is a day which the Jews and Christians hold in high esteem. Thereupon the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: When the next year comes, God willing, we would observe fast on the 9th But the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) died before the advent of the next year.

فَإِذَا كَانَ الْعَامُ الْمُقْبِلُ - إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ - صُمْنَا الْيَوْمَ التَّاسِعَ ‏"

Narrated by Ibn ‘Abbās