Non-obligatory Fasts of the Prophet

As Salaam Alaikum,

Thank you VERY much for all that information.  I will save all those links right now and look them over soon and mark the days to fast.

I have some questions on the meanings of words in your post, Nausheen.

What/when is:'Arafa, 'Ashura' and the ninth of Muharram ?

And also, what month of the Amerikan calender is Ramadhan?

Auzubillahi minash shaitan ir rajeem,

Bismillah ir rahman ir rahim,

Assalamualikum wa rahmatullah wa barkatuhu,

You can find many hadith on voluntary fasts in Sahih bukhari and other places.

Below are certain hadith Reported in Riyadul Saliheen by Imam Nawwawi

the excellence of fasting Muharram, Sha'ban and the sacred months

1246. Abu Hurayra reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "The best fast after Ramadan is the month of Allah, al-Muharram. The best prayer after the obligatory prayer is the night prayer." [Muslim]

1247. 'A'isha said, "The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, did not fast in any month more than Sha'ban. He used to fast all of Sha'ban." In one variant, "He used to fast Sha'ban except for a little." [Agreed upon]

1248. Mujiba al-Bahiliyya about her father or her uncle, "He went to the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and then went to him again a year later when his circumstances and appearance had changed. He said, 'Messenger of Allah, do you not recognise me?' He said, 'Who are you?' He said, 'I am the Bahili who came to you last year.' He said, 'What has changed you? You had a handsome appearance.' He said, 'I have only eaten at night since I left you.' The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, 'You have tortured yourself!.' Then he said, 'Fast the month of endurance [Ramadan] and one day every month.' He said, 'Let me do more. I have strength.' He said, 'Fast two days.' He said, 'Let me do more.' He said, 'Fast three days.' He said, 'Let me do more.' He said, 'Fast in the sacred months and stop. Fast in the sacred months and stop. Fast in the sacred months and stop.' He spoke with three fingers, putting them together and then releasing them.'" [Abu Dawud]

The excellence of fasting and other things in the first 10 days of Dhu'l-Hijja

1249. Ibn 'Abbas reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "No virtuous actions done during any ten days are better liked by Allah than the actions done on these days (the first ten days of Dhu'l-Hijja)." They said, "Messenger of Allah, not even jihad in the way of Allah?" He said, "Not even jihad in the way of Allah, except for a man who goes out putting his life and property in danger and returns with nothing." [al-Bukhari]

the excellence of fasting the Day of 'Arafa, 'Ashura' and the ninth of Muharram

1250. Abu Qatada said "The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was asked about fasting the Day of 'Arafat. He said, 'It expiates the past year and coming year.'" [Muslim]

1251. Ibn 'Abbas reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, fasted the Day of 'Ashura' and ordered it to be fasted. [Agreed upon]

1252. Abu Qatada reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was asked about fasting the Day of 'Ashura' and said, "It expiates the past year." [Muslim]

1253. Ibn 'Abbas reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "If I remain alive until next year, I will fast the ninth." [Muslim]

On the recommendation to fast six days of Shawwal

1254. Abu Ayyub reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Anyone who fasts Ramadan and then follows it with six from Shawwal, it is as he had fasted the entire year." [Muslim]

On the recommendation to fast Mondays and Thursdays

1255. Abu Qatada reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was asked about fasting Mondays and he said, "That is the day on which I was born and the day when I was sent - or when revelation descended on me." [Muslim]

1256. Abu Hurayra reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Actions are presented on Mondays and Thursdays, so I like my actions to be presented while I am fasting." (Muslim related it without mentioning fasting.) [at-Tirmidhi]

1257. 'A'isha said, "The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, used to take care to fast on Mondays and Thursdays." [at-Tirmidhi]

On the recommendation to fast three days of every month

It is best to fast the 'white days', which are the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth.

1258. Abu Hurayra said, "My friend, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, ordered me to do three things: to fast three days every month, to do the two rak'ats of Duha and to do the witr before sleeping." [Agreed upon]

1259. Abu'd-Darda' said, "My beloved, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, commanded me to do three things which I will not forego as long as I live: to fast three days of every month, to pray Duha, and not to sleep until after praying the witr." [Muslim]

1260. 'Abdullah ibn 'Amr ibn al-'As reported said that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Fasting three days every month is equivalent to fasting continuously." [Agreed upon]

1261. Mu'adha al-'Adawiyya asked 'A'isha , "Did the Messenger of Allah fast three days of every month?" She said, "Yes." "I said, 'What part of the month did he fast?' She said, 'He did not care what part of the month he fasted.'" [Muslim]

1262. Abu Dharr reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "If you fast three days of the month, then fast the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth." [at-Tirmidhi]

1263. Qatada ibn Milhan said, "The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, used to command us to fast the white days: the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth." [Abu Dawud]

1264. Ibn 'Abbas said, "The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, did not fail to fast the white days either when at home or on a journey." [an-Nasa'i]

As an advice, one shld first practice the obligatory duties, and then move on the the voluntary ones.

It is said in a hadith about voluntary duties that Allah loves small actions that are done with consistencey, which means holding fast to little portions on a regular basis is better than doing a lot in small burts, only to get weary and leave later.

If you are thinking of fasting every month, try doing it on the "white days" , as mentioned in the hadith above. If you can hold to it regularly then move on to mondays or thursdays, and then to mondays and thursdays ... this is how you can help yourself grow slowly and steadily to adherence, insha allah.

Success comes through Allah alone.

Maa salaama,

Nausheen

PS: Link to Riyadus saliheen: http://bewley.virtualave.net/riyad.html