Prohibition of Fasting on Friday – Islamic Ruling and Wisdom
Source: Fatawa Arkan-e-Islam
It is authentically reported from the Noble Prophet ﷺ:
«لَا تَخْتَصُّوا يومَ الْجُمُعَة بصيام ولا ليلتها بقيامِ»
(Sahih Muslim, Book of Fasting, Chapter: Disapproval of Fasting on Friday Alone, Hadith: 1144)
❝Do not single out Friday for fasting, and do not single out its night for standing in prayer.❞
The reason for the specific prohibition of fasting on Friday is as follows:
◈ Friday is a weekly day of Eid.
◈ It is considered one of the three Islamic Eids:
➊ Eid al-Fitr
➋ Eid al-Adha
➌ The weekly Eid: Friday
On this basis, fasting on Friday alone has been prohibited. Additional reasons include:
◈ Men are required to go early to the Friday prayer.
◈ They should engage in supplication and remembrance.
◈ Friday resembles the Day of Arafah – just as the pilgrim is not commanded to fast on Arafah due to their engagement in supplication and remembrance.
Moreover, this principle is also noteworthy:
❝When multiple acts of worship coincide, the one that cannot be delayed should be performed, and the one that can be delayed should be postponed.❞
If someone raises the objection:
❝If Friday is an Eid, then fasting on this day should be completely forbidden, just like Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. Why is there only a prohibition on fasting alone?❞
Then the answer is:
◈ Friday occurs four times a month, therefore it does not hold the same level of status as the two Eids.
◈ Its prohibition is not of a ḥarām (strictly forbidden) level.
◈ There are several characteristics in the two Eids that are not found in Friday.
◈ If a person fasts on Thursday before it or Saturday after it, this indicates that he has not singled out Friday, hence the prohibition does not apply.
A questioner asked:
❝Is the prohibition of fasting on Friday limited to voluntary fasts, or is the ruling general and includes Qada (make-up) fasts as well?❞
The answer:
◈ In light of the evidences, the ruling appears to be general.
◈ That is, fasting specifically on Friday is considered makruh (discouraged) – whether the fast is obligatory or voluntary.
◈ However, if a person due to engagements or work is only able to fast on Friday, then fasting on Friday will not be considered makruh in his case because fasting is unavoidable for him.
ھٰذَا مَا عِنْدِي وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
Source: Fatawa Arkan-e-Islam❀ Prohibition of Fasting Specifically on Friday: Its Wisdom, Scope, and the Ruling on Qada Fasts ❀
✦ The Noble Statement of the Prophet ﷺ:
It is authentically reported from the Noble Prophet ﷺ:
«لَا تَخْتَصُّوا يومَ الْجُمُعَة بصيام ولا ليلتها بقيامِ»
(Sahih Muslim, Book of Fasting, Chapter: Disapproval of Fasting on Friday Alone, Hadith: 1144)
❝Do not single out Friday for fasting, and do not single out its night for standing in prayer.❞
✿ Wisdom Behind the Prohibition of Fasting on Friday
The reason for the specific prohibition of fasting on Friday is as follows:
◈ Friday is a weekly day of Eid.
◈ It is considered one of the three Islamic Eids:
➊ Eid al-Fitr
➋ Eid al-Adha
➌ The weekly Eid: Friday
On this basis, fasting on Friday alone has been prohibited. Additional reasons include:
◈ Men are required to go early to the Friday prayer.
◈ They should engage in supplication and remembrance.
◈ Friday resembles the Day of Arafah – just as the pilgrim is not commanded to fast on Arafah due to their engagement in supplication and remembrance.
Moreover, this principle is also noteworthy:
❝When multiple acts of worship coincide, the one that cannot be delayed should be performed, and the one that can be delayed should be postponed.❞
✿ Friday Is Different from the Two Eids
If someone raises the objection:
❝If Friday is an Eid, then fasting on this day should be completely forbidden, just like Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. Why is there only a prohibition on fasting alone?❞
Then the answer is:
◈ Friday occurs four times a month, therefore it does not hold the same level of status as the two Eids.
◈ Its prohibition is not of a ḥarām (strictly forbidden) level.
◈ There are several characteristics in the two Eids that are not found in Friday.
◈ If a person fasts on Thursday before it or Saturday after it, this indicates that he has not singled out Friday, hence the prohibition does not apply.
✿ Is This Ruling Only for Voluntary Fasts or Does It Include Obligatory and Qada Fasts As Well?
A questioner asked:
❝Is the prohibition of fasting on Friday limited to voluntary fasts, or is the ruling general and includes Qada (make-up) fasts as well?❞
The answer:
◈ In light of the evidences, the ruling appears to be general.
◈ That is, fasting specifically on Friday is considered makruh (discouraged) – whether the fast is obligatory or voluntary.
◈ However, if a person due to engagements or work is only able to fast on Friday, then fasting on Friday will not be considered makruh in his case because fasting is unavoidable for him.
ھٰذَا مَا عِنْدِي وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
