praise be to Allaah, but this month I did not fast. When I wanted to
fast I was told that it is not permissible and is bid'ah. Ifasted on
Monday the 1st of the month, then I fasted on Wednesday the 19th of
Sha'baan, and if Allaah wills I will fast tomorrow, Thursday, thenI
will have fasted three days. What is the ruling? And what is the
ruling on fasting a great deal during the month of Sha'baan?.
Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly:
Allaah has forbidden us tospeak about Him without knowledge, and He
mentions that alongside shirk and major sins. Allaah says
(interpretationof the meaning):
"Say (O Muhammad): (But)the things that my Lord has indeed forbidden
are Al-Fawaahish (great evil sins and every kind of unlawful sexual
intercourse) whether committed openly or secretly, sins (of all
kinds), unrighteous oppression, joining partners (in worship) with
Allaah for which He has given no authority, and saying things about
Allaah of which you have no knowledge"
[al-A'raaf 7:33]
An example of speaking about Allaah with no knowledge is what is
mentioned in the question, that some people say it is a bid'ah (an
innovation) to fast three days in Sha'baan in the manner described in
the question.
Secondly: it is mustahabb to fast three days each month, and it is
best to fast the ayaam al-beed, which are the 13th, 14th and 15th of
the month.
It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him)
said: My close friend [the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him)] advised me to do three things which I will not give up
until I die:fasting three days of each month, praying Duha and going
to sleep after Witr.
Narrated by al-Bukhaari (1124); Muslim (721).
It was narrated that 'Abd-Allaah ibn 'Amr ibn al-'Aas (may Allaah be
pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings
of Allaah be upon him) said to me: "It is sufficient for you to fast
three days every month, because for every good deed you will have (the
reward of) ten like it, so that will be like fasting for a lifetime."
Narrated by al-Bukhaari (1874); Muslim (1159).
It was narrated that Abu Dharr said: The Messengerof Allaah (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) said to me: "If you fast any part of
the month, then fast the thirteenth, fourteenth andfifteenth."
Narrated by al-Tirmidhi (761); al-Nasaa'i (2424).
This hadeeth was classed as hasan by al-Tirmidhi, and al-Albaani
agreed with him in Irwa' al-Ghaleel, 947.
Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-'Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on
him) was asked:
It was narrated in the hadeeth that the Prophet (peace and blessings
of Allaah be upon him) advised Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased
with him) to fast three days of each month. When should these fasts be
observed, and should they be one after the other?
He replied:
It is permissible to fast these days one after the other or
separately, and they may be at the beginning of the month, or in the
middle, or at the end. The matter is braod in scope, praise be to
Allaah, because the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah
be upon him) did not state any specific days. 'Aa'ishah (may Allaah be
pleased with her) was asked: Did the Messenger of Allaah (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) fast three days of each month? She
said: Yes. It was asked: In which part of the month did he fast? She
said: He would not bother in which part of the month he would fast.
Narrated by Muslim, (1160). But the 13th, 14thand 15th are better,
because these are al-ayyaam al-beed.
Majmoo' Fataawa al-Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen, 10/ question no. 376.
Thirdly: Perhaps the one who told you not to fast on those days in
this month (Sha'baan) said that because he knew that the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) forbade fastingin the
latter part of Sha'baan.
In the answer to question no. 49884 we have explained that this
prohibition applies to onewho is starting to fast in the latter part
of Sha'baanand does not have a prior habit of fasting.
But if a person starts to fast in the first half of Sha'baan and
continues tofast in the latter half, or he has a prior habit of
fasting, then there is nothing wrong with him fasting in the latter
half ofSha'baan, such as one who has the habit of fasting three days
each month, or fasting on Mondays and Thursdays.
Based on this, there is nothing wrong with you fasting three days in
Sha'baan, even if some of those happen to be in the latter half of the
month.
Fourthly: There is nothing wrong with fasting a great deal in
Sha'baan, indeed that is Sunnah. TheProphet (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) used to fast a great deal during this month.
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