Monday’s Fast
Question:
Is it permissible to fast only on Monday?
Answer:
Yes.
❀ Sayyiduna Abu Qatada Ansari, may Allah be pleased with him, narrates:
سئل عن صوم يوم الاثنين قال ذاك يوم ولدت فيه ويوم بعثت أو أنزل علي فيه
“The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, was asked about fasting on Monday, and he said: On this day I was born and on this day I was granted prophethood.”
Question:
Is it proven that the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, fasted on Monday?
Answer:
Fasting on Monday is established from the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
❀ Sayyiduna Abu Qatadah Ansari رضي الله عنه narrates:
سئل عن صوم يوم الاثنين قال ذاك يوم ولدت فيه ويوم بعثت أو أنزل علي فيه
“The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was asked about fasting on Monday, and he said: On Monday I was born, and on the same day I was granted prophethood or (he said:) on the same day revelation was sent down to me.”
This hadith has been declared authentic by Imam Tirmidhi رحمه الله
, Imam Abu Awana
, Imam Ibn Khuzaymah
, and Imam Ibn Hibban رحمه الله
. Imam Hakim رحمه الله
declared it authentic according to the conditions of Bukhari and Muslim, and Hafiz Dhahabi رحمه الله agreed with this.
❀ Imam Nasai رحمه الله says:
هذا أجود حديث عندي
“This is the best hadith.”
❀ Imam Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari رحمه الله says:
هذا خبر عندنا صحيح سنده لا علة فيه توهنه ولا سبب يضعفه
“In our view, the chain of this hadith is authentic; there is no defect in it that weakens it, nor any reason that causes weakness.”
❀ Hafiz Ibn Abd al-Barr رحمه الله says:
هذا إسناد حسن صحيح
“This chain is Hasan Sahih (good and authentic).”
❀ Hafiz Baghawi رحمه الله declared this hadith authentic.
❀ Allama Ibn Qudamah al-Maqdisi رحمه الله declared this hadith authentic.
Warning:
This is an agreed authentic connected narration. Abdullah bin Mu’bad Zamani is trustworthy, and it is narrated from our master Abu Qatada Ansari, may Allah be pleased with him. Allama Abu Bakr Khateeb Baghdadi, may Allah have mercy on him, has affirmed the narration in Al-Muttafiq wal-Muftariq
, while Imam Bukhari, may Allah have mercy on him, has denied it.
❀ Hafiz Zahbi, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
لا يضره ذلك
“Imam Bukhari’s denial of the narration here is not harmful.”
❀ Our master Usama bin Zaid, may Allah be pleased with both of them, narrates:
قلت يا رسول الله إنك تصوم حتى لا تكاد تفطر وتفطر حتى لا تكاد أن تصوم إلا يومين إن دخلا في صيامك وإلا صمتهما قال أي يومين قلت يوم الاثنين ويوم الخميس قال ذانك يومان تعرض فيهما الأعمال على رب العالمين فأحب أن يعرض عملي وأنا صائم
“I said: O Messenger of Allah! You begin fasting and do not stop, and when you start to stop, you do not fast except for two days, on which you always fast. He said: Which days? I said: Monday and Thursday. He said: On Monday and Thursday, the deeds are presented to the Lord of the Worlds, so I like that my deeds be presented while I am fasting.”
