Nasai

1838. Commentary: Although death is a painful thing, for the believer, the longing for the vision and meeting with Allah, and the glad tidings of forgiveness and mercy, overcome the severity of death. For the disbeliever, in addition to the agony of death, the thought of punishment and torment becomes extremely terrifying; therefore, even at the time of death, he does not wish to die.

Hadith Commentary: Benefits and Issues: Due to the virtue of the day of Jumu‘ah (Friday), there was a possibility that people would single out this day for voluntary fasting and for standing in prayer and recitation during its night, and gradually they would begin to treat it as obligatory and mandatory, even though the Shari‘ah has not declared it obligatory or mandatory. In this way, the door to innovation (bid‘ah) would be opened. Therefore, the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam issued this ruling in order to close the path to introducing any act of worship from oneself on any particular day or night. From this, it is established that to declare something obligatory which the Shari‘ah has not made obligatory, or to treat it as if it is obligatory, is not correct.

And thus, one cannot specify any day for an act of worship from one’s own accord.

According to Imam Abu Hanifah rahimahullah and Imam Muhammad rahimahullah, as well as Imam Malik rahimahullah, it is permissible to fast on Friday without restriction, but according to the rest of the Imams, in accordance with the hadith, it is not permissible to single out Friday for fasting, except if it coincides with one’s habitual days.

For example, if a person always fasts on the 1st, 11th, and 21st of the month, and one of these dates falls on a Friday, then fasting on Friday will be permissible. The Hanafis use as evidence for fasting on Friday the narration of Abdullah ibn Mas‘ud radi Allahu anhu that the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam would rarely leave fasting on Friday.

However, this reasoning is not correct,

because according to the narration of Aisha radi Allahu anha, the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam would also always fast on Thursdays. Another narration states that the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam would fast on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday in one month, and in the next month on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

Therefore, the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam did not fast on Friday alone, neglecting the other days.

Explanation:
1:
In Sunan an-Nasa'i, Book of Funerals, Chapter 10, Hadith number 1838, it is mentioned:
Umm al-Mu'minin Aisha (radi Allahu anha) explained the meaning of this hadith as referring to the time of death, when eyesight is taken away, the agony of death (sakrat al-mawt) prevails, and the hair stands on end. At that moment, whoever is given the glad tidings of Allah's mercy and forgiveness, if he desires to meet Allah, then Allah also desires to meet him. And whoever is warned of Allah's punishment, he dislikes meeting Allah, so Allah also dislikes meeting him. That is, the believer feels happiness in meeting Allah, while the disbeliever is overcome with anxiety and fear.