How is the fast of Dawood (peace be uponhim) observed, and howcan that be reconciled with the prohibition on fasting on Fridays?

I would like to know how to observe the fast of the Prophet of Allaah Dawood(peace be upon him). If hisfast – as is well known – means fasting one day and not the next, as the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) told us, but it is forbidden to single out Fridays for fasting, then how can we fast alternate days? Is it that singling out a Friday for fasting was not forbidden at the time of Dawood (peace be upon him)?.
Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly: It is narrated in al-Saheehayn from ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Amr (mayAllaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The best fasting is the fast of Dawood: he used to fast one day and not the next.” This statement does not contradict the fact that it is not allowed to fast on Fridays, becausethe prohibition on fasting on Fridays applies to one who singles out a Friday rather than any other day.But the one who observesthe fast of Dawood – fasting alternate days – is not singling out a Friday for fasting.
Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
The hadeeth of ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Amr (mayAllaah be pleased with him) indicates that if fasting on a Friday or Saturday coincides with a day one usually fasts, without intending to single that day out for fasting, then there is nothing wrong with it, because if he fasts alternate days, then that will coincide with some Fridays and Saturdays. Thus it becomes clear thatfasting on these days is not haraam. Otherwise the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) would have said: Fast one day and notthe next, so long as that (fasting) does not coincidewith a Friday or Saturday.
Al-Sharh al-Mumti’, 6/476.
Secondly: With regard to your question about the ruling on singling out Friday for fasting in the law of Dawood (peace be upon him):
We do not know anythingabout the practical rulingsof the law of Dawood (peace be upon him) with regard to whether it was forbidden to fast on Fridays or other days. What we do know is that every Prophet has a law and a way, but their beliefwas one and the same, although their laws differed.
Allaah says (interpretationof the meaning):
“To each among you, We have prescribed a law anda clear way”
[al-Maa'idah 5:48]
It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: I heard the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) say: “The Prophets are paternal brothers; their mothers are different, but their religion is the same.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 3259; Muslim, 2365.
What this hadeeth means is that the religion of the Prophets is one, which is Tawheed or belief in the Oneness of Allaah and that He alone is entitled to worship, even though their laws may differ. This is like brothers who have the same father but different mothers (which is what is meant by paternal brothers).
:-* key word:- Days on which it is forbidden to fast

Fasting on the day of doubt

On the night of the thirtieth of Sha’ban we went out to sight the crescent, but the weather was cloudy so we could not see it. Should we fast the thirtieth day of Sha’baan, because it is a day concerning which there is some doubt?.
Praise be to Allaah.
This is what is called the “day of doubt”, because there is doubt concerning it – is it the last day of Sha’baan or the first day of Ramadaan? Fasting on this day is haraam because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, “Fast when you see the new moon and break your fast when you see the new moon, and if you are not sure, then complete the number of Sha’baan as thirty days.” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1909).
‘Ammaar ibn Yaasir said: “Whoever fasts on the day concerning which there is doubt has disobeyed Abu’l-Qaasim (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).” Thiswas narrated by al-Tirmidhi and classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi, 553.
Al-Haafiz ibn Hajar said: “It was understood from this that it is haraam to fast the day of doubt, because the Sahaabah would not say such a thing based on personal opinion, so a report such as this has the same status as a marfoo’ hadeeth.
The scholars of the Standing Committee said concerning the day of doubt, “The Sunnah indicates that it is haraamto fast this day.” (Fataawaal-Lajnah, 10/117)
Shaykh Muhammad ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) said, after mentioning the difference of opinion concerning the ruling on fasting the day of doubt: “The most correct of theseviews is that it is haraam, but if it is proven to the ruler that it is obligatory to fast this day and he commands the people to fast, then no one should go against his opinion, and that means that no one should show that he is not fasting on that day, rather a person (who has a different opinion) may not fast, but he should do so secretly.”

:-* key word:- Days on which it is forbidden to fast

4a] He wants to continue fasting so that he can give up smoking

4a]
So look at what you are able to do and strive to do it; seek to do naafil acts of worship that are proven in reports from the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), with regard tofasting and other deeds.
With regard to giving up smoking, that is a good thing and we encourage you to go ahead with it; be determined and be firm with yourself concerning it. There is no doubt that fasting will help you to a great extentwith that. Try to keep yourself busy with acts of worship and find a good environment so that you will not be tempted to go back to this bad habit.

And Allah knows best.

:-* key word:- Days on which it is forbidden to fast

4] He wants to continue fasting so that he can give up smoking

4]
Is it permissible for me to carry on fasting so that Allah might help me to give up smoking, even though the Sunnah of the beloved Prophet is to fast on Mondays and Thursdays? I only want torepent from this sin and not to go against the wayof the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him)
Praise be to Allah.
If what is meant is fastingevery day, so that you continue fasting continuously without breaking the fast except on days when fasting is forbidden, such as the two Eids and the days of at-tashreeq (the three days following Eid al-Adha), then the more correct scholarly view is that it is makrooh and is not allowed.
For more information please see the answer to question no. 144592
But if what you meant is continuing to fast for part of the year, there is nothing wrong with that, as it is confirmed by the Sunnah. Al-Bukhaari (1806) and Muslim (1890) narrated from ‘Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) that Hamzah ibn‘Amr al-Aslami asked the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him): O Messenger of Allah, I am aman who fasts continuallyfor periods of time; can I fast when travelling? He said: “Fast if you wish anddo not fast if you wish.”
An-Nasaa’i (2319) narrated from Usaamah ibn Zayd that the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) used to fast continuously until it was said that he would not break the fast, and then he refrain from fasting until it was said that he would not fast.
Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh an-Nasaa’i.
Al-Bukhaari (1833) and Muslim (1956) narrated that ‘Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) used to fast until we said that he would not break the fast, and he used to refrain from fasting until we said that he would notfast. And I never saw the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) fast any month in full except Ramadan, and I never sawhim fast more than he didin Sha‘baan.
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allah havemercy on him) said:
With regard to fasting continuously for part of the year, this is somethingthat the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) used to do. He would fast until one would think that he would not break the fast, and he would refrain fromfasting until one would think that he would not fast. Similarly, he would spend some entire nights in prayer (qiyaam), such as the last ten nights of Ramadan, and he would spend other nights in prayer occasionally. This iswhat is mentioned in as-Sunan.
End quote from Majmoo‘ al-Fataawa, 22/304
Better than that is the fastof the Prophet of Allah Dawood (peace be upon him). He used to fast one day and not the next. Al-Bukhaari (1841) and Muslim (1962) narrated from ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr (may Allah be pleased with him): News reached the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) that I was fasting continually and spending every night in prayer. Either he sent for me or I met him and he said: “Have I not been informed that you fast and do not break the fast, and that you pray? Fast (some days) and do not fast (some other days), pray (qiyaam) for part of the night and sleep. For your eyes have a right over you and your soul has a right over you and your family has a right over you.” He said: I have the strength to do that. He said: “Then observe the fast of Dawood, peacebe upon him. He said: How (did he fast)? He said: “He used to fast one day and not fast one day, and he did not flee if he met (the enemy in battle).”
According to another report, “It is the proper way of fasting.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari (3165) andMuslim (1962)
According to another report, “There is nothing better than that.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari (1840) and Muslim (1962)
Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
It is proven in as-Saheehayn that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “The best kind of fast is the fast of Dawood.” According to another version: “There is nothing better than the fast of Dawood; he used to fast one day and not the next.” This clear saheeh text that dispels all doubt shows that fasting one day and not the next (i.e., fasting alternate days) is better than fasting continually.
End quote from Tahdheebas-Sunan, 7/71
But the best advice for each individual is that he should choose for himself the naafil acts of worship that he is able to do and persist in, and he should not take upon himself that which will prevent him from doing other kinds of good deeds.

:-* key word:- Days on which it is forbidden to fast
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