Wa-Alaikum Assalam Wa Rahmatullahi Wa-Barakatuhu,
I sometimes find out too late about a day when I could have been fasting. Is there a way to keep track? Maybe an app?
There are multiple ways to keep track of Hijri dates:
You can set both Hijri & Gregorian dates on your cell phone to keep track of Islamic dates.
You can download some apps such as Athan App which will show Hijri dates on the top left of your phone screen.
So far, I know of the following:
- Ramadan is the obvious one
- Any 6 days of shawwal in the month after Ramadan - as if you fasted a year
- The first 9 (or just the 9th) days of Dhul Hijr - forgiveness of past year of sins and following year of sins
- Every Monday and Thursday (although this might be a bit too much for me) - not sure what the reward is
Have I missed any?
Let me divide the subject into sub categories such as fasting on weekly basis, monthly basis, on specific recommended days & on specific recommended periods:
FASTING ON WEEKLY BASIS:
Prophet (peace be upon him) used to fast on Mondays & Thursdays.
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "
Deeds of people are presented (to Allah) on Mondays and Thursdays. So I like that my actions be presented while I am fasting."
[At-Tirmidhi].
وعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: " تعرض الأعمال يوم الاثنين والخميس، فأحب أن يعرض عملي وأنا صائم" ((رواه الترمذي وقال: حديث حسن، ورواه مسلم بغير ذكر الصوم)).
Sunnah.com reference: Book 8, Hadith 266
Arabic/English book reference: Book 8, Hadith 1256
https://sunnah.com/riyadussaliheen/8/266
FASTING ON MONTHLY BASIS:
If you are looking to fast on monthly basis, try to fast three days in a month. Preferably on the 13, 14 & 15 of the Islamic Calendar.
Narrated Qatadah Ibn Malhan al-Qaysi:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to command us to fast the days of the white (nights): thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth of the month. He said: This is like keeping perpetual fast.
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ كَثِيرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا هَمَّامٌ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، أَخِي مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ مِلْحَانَ الْقَيْسِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَأْمُرُنَا أَنْ نَصُومَ الْبِيضَ ثَلاَثَ عَشْرَةَ وَأَرْبَعَ عَشْرَةَ وَخَمْسَ عَشْرَةَ . قَالَ وَقَالَ " هُنَّ كَهَيْئَةِ الدَّهْرِ " .
Grade:
Sahih (Al-Albani)
Reference: Sunan Abi Dawud 2449
In-book reference: Book 14, Hadith 137
English translation: Book 13, Hadith 2443
https://sunnah.com/abudawud/14/137
FASTING ON SPECIFIC DAYS:
Besides whats is mentioned above, there are some
specific days in which fasting has a great reward. These are:
- 9th of Dhul-Hijja ( YOUMUL 'ARAFAH) -
Reward of fasting 9th of Dhul Hijja is expiation of sins of a year before and after, based on hadith below:
It was narrated from Abu Qatadah that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“Fasting on the Day of ‘Arafah, I hope from Allah, expiates for the sins of the year before and the year after.”
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عَبْدَةَ، أَنْبَأَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا غَيْلاَنُ بْنُ جَرِيرٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَعْبَدٍ الزِّمَّانِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي قَتَادَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ " صِيَامُ يَوْمِ عَرَفَةَ إِنِّي أَحْتَسِبُ عَلَى اللَّهِ أَنْ يُكَفِّرَ السَّنَةَ الَّتِي قَبْلَهُ وَالَّتِي بَعْدَهُ " .
Grade: Sahih (Darussalam)
English reference: Vol. 1, Book 7, Hadith 1730
Arabic reference: Book 7, Hadith 1802
https://sunnah.com/urn/1318030
- 10th of Muharram ( AASHOORA) - It is Sunnah to fast the day before or the day after along with ‘Aashoora’, in order to be different from the Jews.
Ibn Abbas was asked about observing of fast on the day of Ashura, whereupon he said:
I do not know Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) singling out any day's fast and considering it more excellent than another, except this day (the day of Ashura) and this month, meaning the month of Ramadan.
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَعَمْرٌو النَّاقِدُ، جَمِيعًا عَنْ سُفْيَانَ، - قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ، - عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي يَزِيدَ، سَمِعَ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ، - رضى الله عنهما - وَسُئِلَ عَنْ صِيَامِ، يَوْمِ عَاشُورَاءَ . فَقَالَ مَا عَلِمْتُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم صَامَ يَوْمًا يَطْلُبُ فَضْلَهُ عَلَى الأَيَّامِ إِلاَّ هَذَا الْيَوْمَ وَلاَ شَهْرًا إِلاَّ هَذَا الشَّهْرَ يَعْنِي رَمَضَانَ .
Reference: Sahih Muslim 1132 a
In-book reference: Book 13, Hadith 168
USC-MSA web (English) reference: Book 6, Hadith 2524
https://sunnah.com/muslim/13/168
Abu Qatadah narrated that :
the Prophet said: "
Fast the Day of Ashura, for indeed I anticipate that Allah will forgive (the sins of) the year before it."
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، وَأَحْمَدُ بْنُ عَبْدَةَ الضَّبِّيُّ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، عَنْ غَيْلاَنَ بْنِ جَرِيرٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَعْبَدٍ الزِّمَّانِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي قَتَادَةَ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " صِيَامُ يَوْمِ عَاشُورَاءَ إِنِّي أَحْتَسِبُ عَلَى اللَّهِ أَنْ يُكَفِّرَ السَّنَةَ الَّتِي قَبْلَهُ " . وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ عَلِيٍّ وَمُحَمَّدِ بْنِ صَيْفِيٍّ وَسَلَمَةَ بْنِ الأَكْوَعِ وَهِنْدِ بْنِ أَسْمَاءَ وَابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ وَالرُّبَيِّعِ بِنْتِ مُعَوِّذِ بْنِ عَفْرَاءَ وَعَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ سَلَمَةَ الْخُزَاعِيِّ عَنْ عَمِّهِ وَعَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ ذَكَرُوا عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَّهُ حَثَّ عَلَى صِيَامِ يَوْمِ عَاشُورَاءَ . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى لاَ نَعْلَمُ فِي شَيْءٍ مِنَ الرِّوَايَاتِ أَنَّهُ قَالَ " صِيَامُ يَوْمِ عَاشُورَاءَ كَفَّارَةُ سَنَةٍ " . إِلاَّ فِي حَدِيثِ أَبِي قَتَادَةَ . وَبِحَدِيثِ أَبِي قَتَادَةَ يَقُولُ أَحْمَدُ وَإِسْحَاقُ .
Grade:
Sahih (Darussalam)
Reference: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 752
In-book reference: Book 8, Hadith 71
English translation: Vol. 2, Book 3, Hadith 752
https://sunnah.com/tirmidhi/8/71
FASTING FOR A SPECIFIC PERIOD:
There are also specific periods in which is highly recommended to fast such as:
6 days in the month of Shawal because of the hadith below:
Narrated Abu Ayyub:
The Prophet (ﷺ) as saying: If anyone fasts during Ramadan, then follows it with six days in Shawwal, it will be like a perpetual fast.
حَدَّثَنَا النُّفَيْلِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ سُلَيْمٍ، وَسَعْدِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ ثَابِتٍ الأَنْصَارِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي أَيُّوبَ، صَاحِبِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " مَنْ صَامَ رَمَضَانَ ثُمَّ أَتْبَعَهُ بِسِتٍّ مِنْ شَوَّالٍ فَكَأَنَّمَا صَامَ الدَّهْرَ " .
Grade:
Sahih (Al-Albani)
Reference: Sunan Abi Dawud 2433
In-book reference: Book 14, Hadith 121
English translation: Book 13, Hadith 2427
https://sunnah.com/abudawud/14/121
9 Days of Dhul Hijja because of the hadiths below:
Narrated Ibn `Abbas:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "
No good deeds done on other days are superior to those done on these (first ten days of Dhul Hijja)."
Then some companions of the Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Not even Jihad?"
He replied, "Not even Jihad, except that of a man who does it by putting himself and his property in danger (for Allah's sake) and does not return with any of those things."
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَرْعَرَةَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ، عَنْ مُسْلِمٍ الْبَطِينِ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَّهُ قَالَ " مَا الْعَمَلُ فِي أَيَّامِ الْعَشْرِ أَفْضَلَ مِنَ الْعَمَلِ فِي هَذِهِ ". قَالُوا وَلاَ الْجِهَادُ قَالَ " وَلاَ الْجِهَادُ، إِلاَّ رَجُلٌ خَرَجَ يُخَاطِرُ بِنَفْسِهِ وَمَالِهِ فَلَمْ يَرْجِعْ بِشَىْءٍ ".
Reference:
Sahih al-Bukhari 969
In-book reference: Book 13, Hadith 18
USC-MSA web (English) reference: Vol. 2, Book 15, Hadith 86
https://sunnah.com/bukhari/13/18
It was narrated from Hunaidah bin Khalid, from his wife, from one of the wives of the Prophet, that:
The Messenger of Allah used to fast nine days of Dhul-Hijjah, the day of 'Ashura', and three days of each month: The first Monday of the month, and two Thursday.
أَخْبَرَنِي أَحْمَدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى، عَنْ أَبِي نُعَيْمٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَوَانَةَ، عَنِ الْحُرِّ بْنِ الصَّيَّاحِ، عَنْ هُنَيْدَةَ بْنِ خَالِدٍ، عَنِ امْرَأَتِهِ، عَنْ بَعْضِ، أَزْوَاجِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يَصُومُ تِسْعًا مِنْ ذِي الْحِجَّةِ وَيَوْمَ عَاشُورَاءَ وَثَلاَثَةَ أَيَّامٍ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ أَوَّلَ اثْنَيْنِ مِنَ الشَّهْرِ وَخَمِيسَيْنِ .
Grade:
Sahih (Darussalam)
Reference: Sunan an-Nasa'i 2417
In-book reference: Book 22, Hadith 328
English translation: Vol. 3, Book 22, Hadith 2419
https://sunnah.com/nasai/22/328
Month of Muharram because of the hadith below:
Abu Hurairah narrated that :
the Messenger of Allah said: "The most virtuous fasting after the month of Ramadan is Allah's month Al-Muharram."
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَوَانَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي بِشْرٍ، عَنْ حُمَيْدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الْحِمْيَرِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " أَفْضَلُ الصِّيَامِ بَعْدَ صِيَامِ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ شَهْرُ اللَّهِ الْمُحَرَّمُ " . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى حَدِيثُ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ .
Grade: Sahih (Darussalam)
Reference: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 740
In-book reference: Book 8, Hadith 59
English translation: Vol. 2, Book 3, Hadith 740
https://sunnah.com/tirmidhi/8/59
Month of Sha'baan because of the hadith below:
'Aayeshah Radiyallahu 'Anha reports:
"Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam did not fast in any month more than in the month of Sha'baan".
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُصْعَبٍ الْمَدِينِيُّ، عَنْ مَالِكِ بْنِ أَنَسٍ، عَنْ أَبِي النَّضْرِ، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ: مَا كَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَصُومُ فِي شَهْرٍ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ صِيَامِهِ فِي شَعْبَانَ.
Grade:
Sahih Isnād (Zubair Ali Za'i)
Reference: Ash-Shama'il Al-Muhammadiyah 305
In-book reference: Book 43, Hadith 10
https://sunnah.com/shamail/43/10
And Allah knows the best!
I hope that you find it helpful.
Ma'aSalaam