How often should we perform nafilah fasting? Should we perform fasting three days every month like Hz. Ibrahim or every other day like Hz. Dawud?

Dear Brother / Sister,

A person is free about performing nafilah fasting. That is, there is no definite time for it. One can perform it whenever he wishes. There are some days on which it is makruh to perform fasting. It is possible to perform fasting on any days except those days.

Fasting that is makruh is divided into two: fasting that is makruh tanzihi (close to halal), fasting that is makruh tahrimi (close to haram). It is makruh tanzihi to perform on only the tenth of the month of Muharram and on the beginning day of the spring called Nawruz.  

It is makruh tanzihi to perform fasting only on Friday. The reason why it is makruh is the fact that Friday is a kind of feast day. It is stated in a hadith that Friday is the day of eating, drinking and dhikr. It is also makruh tanzihi to perform fasting only on Saturday. When a person performs fasting on Friday or Saturday, he needs to perform fasting also one day before or after it.

It is makruh tahrimi to perform fasting on the first day of Eid al-Fitr and all four days of Eid al-Adha. Some scholars regard it haram to perform fasting on those days. Therefore, they can also be called haram fasting. God Almighty declared those days feast days for His slaves. It is necessary to eat drink and thank Allah on those days. To spend those days fasting means to turn one's face away from Allah's boons and feast; therefore, it is regarded haram or makruh tahrimi to perform fasting on those days.

It is also makruh to perform fasting two or three days on end without eating anything in the evening (which is called sawm al-wisal). Sawm al-wisal was permissible for the Messenger of Allah (pbuh). It is not permissible for his ummah since it is hard. It is also makruh to perform fasting during the whole year including feast (eid) days. It is called sawm ad-dahr.

It is permissible to perform fasting during the whole year if feast (eid) days are excluded. It is makruh for a woman to perform nafilah fasting without the permission of her husband. If her husband wishes, he can make her break her fasting. A worker or servant who works based on a salary or wages can perform nafilah fasting if they do not harm their work and service. If fasting hinders his work, it is necessary to get permission from the employer. If the employer permits, he can perform nafilah fasting; if not, he cannot fast.

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