Written by: Sheikh Mubashar Ahmad Rabbani (Hafizahullah)
Abu Ubaid, the freed slave of Ibn Azhar, narrates:
"I went to Umar ibn Khattab (رضي الله عنه) on the day of Eid, and he said: ‘The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) has forbidden fasting on these two days – the day of breaking your fast (Eid al-Fitr) and the day on which you eat from your sacrificial meat (Eid al-Adha).’"
[Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Fasting, Chapter: Fasting on the Day of Eid, Hadith 1990]
"This hadith proves the prohibition of fasting on both Eid days, whether it is a vowed fast, an expiatory fast, a voluntary fast, or a fast for Hajj Tamattu'. This prohibition has been agreed upon by scholarly consensus."[Fath al-Bari, 4/239]
Aisha (رضي الله عنها) narrates that:
"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) forbade fasting on two days – the day of Eid al-Fitr and the day of Eid al-Adha."
[Sahih Muslim, Book of Fasting, Chapter: Prohibition of Fasting on the Two Eid Days, Hadith 1140]
"There is unanimous agreement among scholars on the prohibition of fasting on these two days, regardless of whether it is a vowed fast, a voluntary fast, an expiatory fast, or any other type of fast."
Allama Shawkani (رحمه الله) explains the wisdom behind this prohibition:
"The reason for prohibiting fasting on these two days is that it would mean turning away from the feast that Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) has prepared for His servants."[Nayl al-Awtar, 4/351-352]
Question:
What is the ruling regarding fasting on the day of Eid? Some people believe that fasting remains obligatory until they perform the sacrifice on Eid day.Answer:
Fasting on the day of Eid is prohibited in Islam.Abu Ubaid, the freed slave of Ibn Azhar, narrates:
"I went to Umar ibn Khattab (رضي الله عنه) on the day of Eid, and he said: ‘The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) has forbidden fasting on these two days – the day of breaking your fast (Eid al-Fitr) and the day on which you eat from your sacrificial meat (Eid al-Adha).’"
[Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Fasting, Chapter: Fasting on the Day of Eid, Hadith 1990]
Prohibition of Fasting on Eid Days
Hafiz Ibn Hajar (رحمه الله) states:"This hadith proves the prohibition of fasting on both Eid days, whether it is a vowed fast, an expiatory fast, a voluntary fast, or a fast for Hajj Tamattu'. This prohibition has been agreed upon by scholarly consensus."[Fath al-Bari, 4/239]
Aisha (رضي الله عنها) narrates that:
"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) forbade fasting on two days – the day of Eid al-Fitr and the day of Eid al-Adha."
[Sahih Muslim, Book of Fasting, Chapter: Prohibition of Fasting on the Two Eid Days, Hadith 1140]
Scholarly Consensus on the Prohibition
Imam Nawawi (رحمه الله) states:"There is unanimous agreement among scholars on the prohibition of fasting on these two days, regardless of whether it is a vowed fast, a voluntary fast, an expiatory fast, or any other type of fast."
Allama Shawkani (رحمه الله) explains the wisdom behind this prohibition:
"The reason for prohibiting fasting on these two days is that it would mean turning away from the feast that Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) has prepared for His servants."[Nayl al-Awtar, 4/351-352]
