Days When Fasting is Prohibited in Islam

Compiled by: Ubaidullah Tahir (Hafizahullah)

1. Prohibition of Fasting on Eid Days​

❀ Narration:
Abu Ubaid reported:

I attended Eid with Umar bin Khattab (RA), and he said: "These are two days that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) forbade fasting: the day of your breaking fast (Eid al-Fitr) and the day you eat from your sacrifices (Eid al-Adha)."

[Sahih Bukhari 1990, Sahih Muslim 1137]

2. Prohibition of Fasting on the Day of Arafah for Pilgrims​

❀ Narration:
Uqbah bin Amir (RA) said:

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "The Day of Arafah, the Day of Sacrifice, and the Days of Tashreeq are our days of Eid, O people of Islam, and these are days of eating and drinking."

[Sunan Abu Dawood 2419, Sunan Tirmidhi 773, Sunan Nasai 3004, Sahih]

• Note: The Day of Arafah is the 9th of Dhul-Hijjah, the Day of Sacrifice is the 10th, and the Days of Tashreeq are the 11th, 12th, and 13th of Dhul-Hijjah.
• Pilgrims are prohibited from fasting on the Day of Arafah, while non-pilgrims are encouraged to fast due to its great virtue.

❀ Supporting Narration:
Umm Fadl bint Harith (RA) reported:

People debated about whether the Prophet (ﷺ) was fasting on the Day of Arafah. Some said he was fasting, and others said he was not. I sent him a cup of milk while he was standing on his camel, and he drank it.

[Sahih Bukhari 1988, Sahih Muslim 1123]

3. Prohibition of Fasting During the Days of Tashreeq​

❀ Narration:
Abu Murrah, the freed slave of Umm Hani, reported:

He went with Abdullah bin Amr (RA) to his father, Amr bin Al-As (RA). Amr presented food to them and said, "Eat." Abdullah said, "I am fasting." Amr said: "Eat, for these are the days that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) commanded us to break our fast and forbade fasting."

Imam Malik commented: "These are the Days of Tashreeq."

[Sunan Abu Dawood 2418, Sahih]

❀ Narration:
Amr bin Salim Al-Zarqi narrated from his mother:

We were at Mina when a caller announced: "Indeed, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) says: Do not fast, for these are days of eating and drinking." She said: "I lifted the tent’s rope and saw that the caller was Ali bin Abi Talib (RA)."

[Musnad Ahmad 821, Sahih]

4. Prohibition of Continuous Fasting (Sawm Wisal)​

❀ Narration:
Abdullah bin Umar (RA) said:

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prohibited continuous fasting. The people said, "But you do it, O Messenger of Allah." He replied: "I am not like you. I am fed and given drink."

[Sahih Bukhari 1962, Sahih Muslim 1102]

• Note: Continuous fasting (Sawm Wisal) means fasting for two or more consecutive days without breaking the fast at night.

❀ Narration:
Abu Saeed Al-Khudri (RA) reported:

I heard the Prophet (ﷺ) say: "Do not practice continuous fasting (wisal), but if one of you wishes to do so, then only until Suhoor (pre-dawn meal)." The people said, "But you do it, O Messenger of Allah." He replied: "I am not like you; I spend the night with my Lord, and He feeds and gives me drink."

[Sahih Bukhari 1963]

5. Prohibition of Fasting Solely on Fridays​

❀ Narration:
Muhammad bin Abbad bin Ja’far asked Jabir bin Abdullah (RA) while performing Tawaf:

“Did the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) forbid fasting on Fridays?” He replied, "Yes, by the Lord of this House."

[Sahih Muslim 1143]

❀ Narration:
Abu Hurairah (RA) said:

I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: "None of you should fast on Friday unless he fasts a day before it or a day after it."

[Sahih Bukhari 1985, Sahih Muslim 1143]

6. Prohibition of Fasting Solely on Saturdays​

❀ Narration:
Al-Samma bint Busr (RA) reported:

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Do not fast on Saturday unless it is an obligatory fast. Even if you find nothing but a grape peel or a tree branch, chew on it."

[Sunan Abu Dawood 2421, Sunan Tirmidhi 744, Sunan Ibn Majah 1726, Sahih]

• Note: Solely fasting on Saturdays is disliked unless combined with another day. Imam Tirmidhi stated that this prohibition is due to the Jews venerating Saturdays.

7. Prohibition of Voluntary Fasting Without a Husband's Permission​

❀ Narration:
Abu Hurairah (RA) reported:

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "A woman should not fast while her husband is present without his permission."

[Sahih Bukhari 5192, Sahih Muslim 1026]

❀ Narration:
Abu Hurairah (RA) also narrated:

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "A woman should not fast a single day (outside of Ramadan) while her husband is present unless she has his permission."

[Sunan Tirmidhi 782, Sunan Ibn Majah 1761, Sahih]

Conclusion​

The days prohibited for fasting serve specific spiritual, social, or health-related objectives in Islam. By observing these rulings, Muslims uphold the prophetic guidance and maintain balance in worship practices.