Source: Urdu Sharh of ‘Umdat al-Ahkam min Kalam Khayr al-Anam
Translation by: Hafiz Faizullah Nasir
Narrated by ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنهما:
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ forbade the practice of continuous fasting (Wisaal). The companions said: But you observe Wisaal! He ﷺ replied: I am not like you. I am provided food and drink (by my Lord).”
This narration is also reported by Abū Hurayrah, ʿĀ’ishah, and Anas ibn Mālik رضي الله عنهم.
References:
❖ There is no difference of opinion that Wisaal does not invalidate the fast, since the Prophet ﷺ did not command those who practiced Wisaal to make it up.
[Al-Furūʿ by Ibn al-Mufliḥ: 3/86]
❖ However, the prohibition of Wisaal is not an indication of absolute forbiddance (Taḥrīm), because the Prophet ﷺ himself practiced Wisaal even after forbidding it, as documented in both Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī and Muslim.
❖ Hence, the prohibition is to relieve the companions of hardship, as clarified by ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها.
[Fatḥ al-Bārī by Ibn Ḥajar: 4/202; Irshād al-Sārī by al-Qasṭallānī: 3/397]
Narrated by Abū Saʿīd al-Khudrī رضي الله عنه:
“Whoever among you wants to observe Wisaal, let him do so until Suḥūr only.”
Reference:
❖ Permissible Wisaal means fasting through the day without breaking the fast at Maghrib, and only eating at Suḥūr the following morning. This level of fasting is allowed.
❖ Fasting multiple days without eating at all (neither Iftār nor Suḥūr) is absolutely forbidden. It is considered harmful and invalid according to Hadith.
❖ The Prophet ﷺ forbade non-stop daily voluntary fasting (Ṣawm al-Dahr). He said:
“There is no fast for the one who fasts every day continuously.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 1878]
❖ If fasting prevents a person from fulfilling their obligations or neglects a greater act of devotion, continuous fasting is ḥarām.
❖ If it interferes with other meritorious deeds, it is Makrūh.
❖ The best practice is to fast every alternate day, as this was the fast of Dāwūd عليه السلام.
[Majmūʿ al-Fatāwā: 22/302]
Narrated by ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAmr ibn al-ʿĀṣ رضي الله عنه:
“The Prophet ﷺ was informed that I said: I will fast every day and stand in prayer every night as long as I live. The Prophet ﷺ said: You cannot bear that. Fast and break the fast. Pray and sleep. Fast three days in a month – that equals the reward of fasting a lifetime...”
...until he ﷺ finally said:
“Fast one day and break the next – this is the fast of Dāwūd عليه السلام and the best form of fasting. There is nothing superior to this.”
References:
Translation by: Hafiz Faizullah Nasir
The Ruling on Continuous Fasting (Wisaal):
Narrated by ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنهما:“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ forbade the practice of continuous fasting (Wisaal). The companions said: But you observe Wisaal! He ﷺ replied: I am not like you. I am provided food and drink (by my Lord).”
This narration is also reported by Abū Hurayrah, ʿĀ’ishah, and Anas ibn Mālik رضي الله عنهم.
References:- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Book of Fasting, Hadith: 1964
- Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Book of Fasting, Hadith: 2618
Vocabulary Explanation:
- الوصال: Fasting multiple consecutive days without eating or drinking between them – skipping both Iftār and Suḥūr.
Commentary:
❖ There is no difference of opinion that Wisaal does not invalidate the fast, since the Prophet ﷺ did not command those who practiced Wisaal to make it up.[Al-Furūʿ by Ibn al-Mufliḥ: 3/86]
❖ However, the prohibition of Wisaal is not an indication of absolute forbiddance (Taḥrīm), because the Prophet ﷺ himself practiced Wisaal even after forbidding it, as documented in both Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī and Muslim.
❖ Hence, the prohibition is to relieve the companions of hardship, as clarified by ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها.
[Fatḥ al-Bārī by Ibn Ḥajar: 4/202; Irshād al-Sārī by al-Qasṭallānī: 3/397]
Hadith Regarding Permissible Limit of Wisaal:
Narrated by Abū Saʿīd al-Khudrī رضي الله عنه:“Whoever among you wants to observe Wisaal, let him do so until Suḥūr only.”
Reference:- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Book of Fasting, Hadith: 1967
Vocabulary Explanation:
- إلى السَّحَر: Up to the time of Suḥūr (pre-dawn meal).
Clarification:
❖ Permissible Wisaal means fasting through the day without breaking the fast at Maghrib, and only eating at Suḥūr the following morning. This level of fasting is allowed.❖ Fasting multiple days without eating at all (neither Iftār nor Suḥūr) is absolutely forbidden. It is considered harmful and invalid according to Hadith.
Ruling on Continuous Nafl Fasting:
❖ The Prophet ﷺ forbade non-stop daily voluntary fasting (Ṣawm al-Dahr). He said:“There is no fast for the one who fasts every day continuously.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 1878]
Statement of Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله:
❖ If fasting prevents a person from fulfilling their obligations or neglects a greater act of devotion, continuous fasting is ḥarām.❖ If it interferes with other meritorious deeds, it is Makrūh.
❖ The best practice is to fast every alternate day, as this was the fast of Dāwūd عليه السلام.
[Majmūʿ al-Fatāwā: 22/302]
Hadith on the Best Form of Fasting:
Narrated by ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAmr ibn al-ʿĀṣ رضي الله عنه:“The Prophet ﷺ was informed that I said: I will fast every day and stand in prayer every night as long as I live. The Prophet ﷺ said: You cannot bear that. Fast and break the fast. Pray and sleep. Fast three days in a month – that equals the reward of fasting a lifetime...”
...until he ﷺ finally said:
“Fast one day and break the next – this is the fast of Dāwūd عليه السلام and the best form of fasting. There is nothing superior to this.”
References:- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Book of Fasting, Hadith: 1976
- Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Book of Fasting, Hadith: 1159
Conclusion:
- Fasting multiple days with only one Suḥūr (Wisaal) is discouraged and only permissible up to Suḥūr of the next day.
- Extended Wisaal (without both Iftār and Suḥūr) is prohibited.
- The best and most balanced fasting is the alternate-day fasting of Dāwūd عليه السلام.
