By: Ubaidullah Tahir حفظه الله
Abu Qatadah al-Ansari (رضي الله عنه) narrated:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was asked about fasting on Monday, and he said:
“It is the day I was born and the day on which revelation was sent down to me.”
[Sahih Muslim: 1162]
Usamah ibn Zayd (رضي الله عنهما) said:
I asked: “O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, you fast to such an extent that you seem not to break the fast, and then you stop fasting to the extent that it seems you do not fast—except on two days. If those days are part of your usual fasting schedule, good; otherwise, you make sure to fast them.”
He ﷺ asked: “Which two days?”
I said: “Monday and Thursday.”
He ﷺ replied:
“Those are the two days when deeds are presented before the Lord of the Worlds, and I like that my deeds be presented while I am fasting.”
[Sunan an-Nasa’i: 2358 | Musnad Ahmad: 21753 – Hasan]
Aisha (رضي الله عنها) said:
“The Prophet ﷺ was particularly keen to fast on Mondays and Thursdays.”
[Sunan at-Tirmidhi: 745 | Sunan an-Nasa’i: 2187 | Ibn Majah: 1739 – Hasan]
→ Day of the Prophet’s birth and revelation.
✔ Monday & Thursday:
→ Deeds are presented to Allah on these days.
→ The Prophet ﷺ preferred to be fasting when his deeds were presented.
✔ He ﷺ had a regular practice of observing fasts on these two days out of devotion and gratitude.
✦ These fasts carry great spiritual merit and are highly recommended (masnun) for every believer.
Hadith 1:
Abu Qatadah al-Ansari (رضي الله عنه) narrated:The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was asked about fasting on Monday, and he said:
“It is the day I was born and the day on which revelation was sent down to me.”
[Sahih Muslim: 1162]
Hadith 2:
Usamah ibn Zayd (رضي الله عنهما) said:I asked: “O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, you fast to such an extent that you seem not to break the fast, and then you stop fasting to the extent that it seems you do not fast—except on two days. If those days are part of your usual fasting schedule, good; otherwise, you make sure to fast them.”
He ﷺ asked: “Which two days?”
I said: “Monday and Thursday.”
He ﷺ replied:
“Those are the two days when deeds are presented before the Lord of the Worlds, and I like that my deeds be presented while I am fasting.”
[Sunan an-Nasa’i: 2358 | Musnad Ahmad: 21753 – Hasan]
Hadith 3:
Aisha (رضي الله عنها) said:“The Prophet ﷺ was particularly keen to fast on Mondays and Thursdays.”
[Sunan at-Tirmidhi: 745 | Sunan an-Nasa’i: 2187 | Ibn Majah: 1739 – Hasan]
✦ Summary of Virtues:
✔ Monday:→ Day of the Prophet’s birth and revelation.
✔ Monday & Thursday:
→ Deeds are presented to Allah on these days.
→ The Prophet ﷺ preferred to be fasting when his deeds were presented.
✔ He ﷺ had a regular practice of observing fasts on these two days out of devotion and gratitude.
✦ These fasts carry great spiritual merit and are highly recommended (masnun) for every believer.
