The Birth Day of the Prophet ﷺ Is Not an Eid, Because Fasting on That Day Is Recommended
Compiled by: Toheed.com
✿ Prohibition of Fasting on Eid Days and the Reality of Fasting on the Prophet’s ﷺ Birthday
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, wa ʿalā ālihi wa aṣḥābihi ajmaʿīn, ammā baʿd:
Islam is a complete code of life, in which the rulings regarding acts of worship and the status of Eid days are clearly defined. The Noble Prophet ﷺ prohibited fasting on certain days so that a believer practices religion in its true spirit and remains protected from innovation and extremism.
➊ Fasting on Eid al-Fiṭr and Eid al-Aḍḥā Is Ḥarām
Ḥadīth:
عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ:
«لا صَوْمَ يَوْمَيْنِ: يَوْمِ الْفِطْرِ وَيَوْمِ النَّحْرِ»
[سنن الدارمي/كتاب الصوم/حدیث: 1791]
Translation:
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Fasting on two days is not permissible: the day of Eid al-Fiṭr and the day of Eid al-Aḍḥā.”
Takhrīj al-Ḥadīth:
Verified as authentic by Ḥusayn Salīm Asad al-Dārānī.
This narration is agreed upon. See:
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 1992, 1995]
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1137]
[Abū Dāwūd: 2417]
[Al-Tirmidhī: 772]
[Ibn Mājah: 1721]
[Musnad Abī Yaʿlā: 1160]
[Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Ḥibbān: 1617]
[Musnad al-Ḥumaydī: 767]
Explanation:
These two days are meant for joy, gratitude, and feasting for Muslims. Therefore, turning them into days of grief and hardship through fasting is not only impermissible but strictly ḥarām.
➋ Friday Is a Weekly Eid
Ḥadīth:
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم:
«نَهَى رَسُولُ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنْ صَوْمِ يَوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ إِلَّا بِيَوْمٍ قَبْلَهُ، أَوْ يَوْمٍ بَعْدَهُ»
[سنن ابن ماجه/كتاب الصيام/حدیث: 1723]
Translation:
Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ forbade fasting on Friday alone, unless it is joined with a day before it or a day after it.
Takhrīj al-Ḥadīth:
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī/Ṣawm 63 (1985)
- Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim/Ṣawm 24 (1144)
- Sunan Abī Dāwūd/Ṣawm 50 (2420)
- Sunan al-Tirmidhī/Ṣawm 42 (743)
- Musnad Aḥmad (2/458) (Ṣaḥīḥ)
- Tuḥfat al-Ashrāf: 12503
Shaykh al-Albānī: Ṣaḥīḥ
Shaykh Zubayr ʿAlī Zaʿī: Bukhārī and Muslim
Explanation:
Friday is called the weekly Eid; hence fasting specifically on this day alone is prohibited. However, if it is combined with Thursday or Saturday, then it is permissible.
➌ Fasting on Monday (The Day of the Prophet’s ﷺ Birth)
Ḥadīth:
عَنْ أَبِي قَتَادَةَ الْأَنْصَارِيِّ، أَنَّهُ سُئِلَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنْ صَوْمِ يَوْمِ الِاثْنَيْنِ، فَقَالَ:
«فِيهِ وُلِدْتُ، وَفِيهِ أُنْزِلَ عَلَيَّ»
[صحيح ابن خزيمة/حدیث: 2117، صحيح مسلم: 1162 (مفہوم کے ساتھ)]
Translation:
Abū Qatādah al-Anṣārī رضي الله عنه reported that when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was asked about fasting on Monday, he said: “It was the day I was born, and the day revelation was sent down to me.”
Explanation:
- Fasting on Monday is recommended (mustahabb).
- The Messenger of Allah ﷺ remembered his birthday through fasting.
- If the Prophet’s ﷺ birthday were an Eid, then fasting on that day would not have been allowed, as fasting is forbidden on Eid.
❀ Conclusion
✔ Fasting on Eid al-Fiṭr and Eid al-Aḍḥā is ḥarām.
✔ Friday is the weekly Eid, and fasting on it alone is prohibited.
✔ Fasting on Monday is recommended because it is both the day of the Prophet’s ﷺ birth and the day revelation was revealed to him.
Hence, it is absolutely clear that the Prophet’s ﷺ birthday is not an Eid, for if it were, fasting on that day would not have been permissible.
