Bismillâh, wal-hamdullillâh
Apart from the month of Ramadân, there are many days on which it is encouraged to fast. Among them are:
1. `Âshûrâ' (10th Day of Muharram), as well as Tâsû`â' (9th Day of Muharram)
The evidence for fasting on `Âshûrâ' is the the hadîth in which Ibn `Abbâs says: "When the Prophet came to Madînah, he found (the Jews) fasting on the day of `Âshûrâ' (i.e. 10th of Muharram). They used to say: 'This is a great day on which Allâh saved Mûsâ and drowned the folk of Pharaoh. Mûsâ observed the fast on this day, as a sign of gratitude to Allâh.' The Prophet said, 'I am closer to Mûsâ than they.' So, he observed the fast (on that day) and ordered the Muslims to fast on it." [Narrated by al-Bukhâriyy, 4/609]
The evidence for fasting on Tâsû`â' is in the hadîth related by Ibn `Abbâs, who reported the following: "[When] the Messenger of Allâh fasted on the day of `Âshûrâ' and commanded that it should he observed as a fast, they (his Companions) said to him: 'Messenger of Allâh, it is a day which the Jews and Christians hold in high esteem.' Thereupon the Messenger of Allâh said: 'When the next year comes, Inshâ'allâh, we would observe fast on the 9th.' But the Messenger of Allâh died before the advent of the next year." [Narrated by Muslim, 2528]
In another hadîth, the Prophet said: "...and I seek from Allâh that fasting on the day of `Âshûrâ' may atone for the sins of the preceding year." [Narrated by Muslim, 2602; Abî Dâwûd, 2419]
2. The Day of `Arafah (9th Day of Dhu-l-Hijjah)
The evidence for this is the saying of the Prophet reported by Abû Qatâdah: "I seek from Allâh that fasting on the day of `Arafah may atone for the sins of the preceding and the coming years. [Narrated by Muslim, 2602; Abî Dâwûd, 2419]
Fasting the day of `Arafah is only mustahabb for those not standing on `Arafah. This is proven by the following hadîth reported by Abî Hurayrah: "Ikrimah said: 'We were with Abû Hurayrah in his house when he narrated to us: "The Apostle of Allâh prohibited fasting on the day of `Arafah at `Arafah."'" [Narrated by Abî Dâwûd, 2434]
3. The Month of Muharram
During the month of Muharram, the Muslim is encouraged to fast as many days as he can. This is proven by the Hadîth reported by Abû Hurayrah that the Prophet said: "The most excellent fast after Ramadân is Allâh's month, al-Muharram, and the most excellent prayer after what is prescribed is prayer during the night." [Narrated by Muslim, 2611]
4. The Month of Sha`bân
It is also encouraged to fast as much as one can from the month of Sha`bân, as proven from the following Hadîth reported from `Â'ishah: "The Messenger of Allâh did not observe fast in any month of the year more than in the month of Sha`bân, and used to say: Do as many deeds as you are capable of doing, for Allâh will not become weary (of giving you reward), but you would be tired (of doing good deeds); and he also said: The deed liked most by Allâh is one to which the doer adheres constantly even if it is small." [Narrated by Muslim, 2582]
5. Six Days of Shawwâl
The one who follows up the fast of Ramadân by fasting six days of Shawwâl gains the reward of fasting the whole year, and in some narrations, fasting for one's whole life.
Abû Ayyûb al-Ansâri (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allâh's Messenger as saying: He who observed the fast of Ramadan and then followed it with six (fasts) of Shawwal. it would be as if he fasted perpetually. [Narrated by Muslim, 2614]
Thawban (Allâh be pleased with him) relates that the Messenger of Allâh (blessings and peace be upon him, his family, and companions) said, “Whoever fasts Ramadân, and then six days after Eid, it is [like fasting] an entire year. Whoever does a good deed shall have ten times its reward.” [Narrated by Ibn Mâjah, Muntaqa]
6. Fasting Three Days of Each Month
In a hadîth, Abû Hurayrah reports: My friend (the Prophet) advised me to observe three things: to fast three days a month, to pray two Rak`ât of Duhâ prayer (forenoon prayer), and to pray Witr before sleeping. [Narrated by al-Bukhâriyy, 3/202; Muslim, 1558]
It was also reported by Hafsah, Mother of the Believers that: "The apostle of Allâh used to fast three days every month: Monday, Thursday and Monday in the next week." [Narrated by Abî Dâwûd, 2445]
It was reported from Qatâdah Ibn Malhan al-Qaysi that: The Apostle of Allâh 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. [Narrated by Abî Dâwûd, 2443]
Mu'adha al-'Adawiyya reported that she asked `Â'ishah, the wife of the Apostle of Allâh, whether the Messenger of Allâh observed fasts for three days during every month. She said: "Yes." I said to her: "Which were (the particular) days of the month on which he observed fast?" She said: "He was not particular about the days of the month on which to observe fast." [Narrated by Muslim, 2600]
7. Fasting on Mondays & Thursdays
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allâh be upon him) was asked about fasting on Mondays and Thursdays, and he said: “Those are two days on which people’s deeds are shown to the Lord of the Worlds, and I want my deeds to be shown to Him when I am fasting.” [Narrated by an-Nasâ’iyy, 2358; Ibn Mâjah, 1740; Ahmad, 8161]
It was reported that `Â'ishah said: “The Messenger of Allâh (peace and blessings of Allâh be upon him) was keen to fast on Mondays and Thursdays.” [Narrated by an-Nasâ’iyy, 2320; at-Tirmidhiyy, 287]
8. Fasting Alternate Days (The Fast of Dâwûd)
This is the best type of fasting apart from the month of Ramadân.
It was reported from `Abdullâh ibn 'Amr ibn al-`Âs that the Messenger of Allâh said: "The most beloved prayer to Allâh is that of Dâwûd and the most beloved fasts to Allâh are those of Dâwûd. He used to sleep for half of the night and then pray for one third of the night and again sleep for its sixth part and used to fast on alternate days." [Narrated by al-Bukhâriyy, 2/231] A similar hadîth was narrated in Sahîh Muslim [2595]
Wallâhu A`lam wa Ahkam
Apart from the month of Ramadân, there are many days on which it is encouraged to fast. Among them are:
1. `Âshûrâ' (10th Day of Muharram), as well as Tâsû`â' (9th Day of Muharram)
The evidence for fasting on `Âshûrâ' is the the hadîth in which Ibn `Abbâs says: "When the Prophet came to Madînah, he found (the Jews) fasting on the day of `Âshûrâ' (i.e. 10th of Muharram). They used to say: 'This is a great day on which Allâh saved Mûsâ and drowned the folk of Pharaoh. Mûsâ observed the fast on this day, as a sign of gratitude to Allâh.' The Prophet said, 'I am closer to Mûsâ than they.' So, he observed the fast (on that day) and ordered the Muslims to fast on it." [Narrated by al-Bukhâriyy, 4/609]
The evidence for fasting on Tâsû`â' is in the hadîth related by Ibn `Abbâs, who reported the following: "[When] the Messenger of Allâh fasted on the day of `Âshûrâ' and commanded that it should he observed as a fast, they (his Companions) said to him: 'Messenger of Allâh, it is a day which the Jews and Christians hold in high esteem.' Thereupon the Messenger of Allâh said: 'When the next year comes, Inshâ'allâh, we would observe fast on the 9th.' But the Messenger of Allâh died before the advent of the next year." [Narrated by Muslim, 2528]
In another hadîth, the Prophet said: "...and I seek from Allâh that fasting on the day of `Âshûrâ' may atone for the sins of the preceding year." [Narrated by Muslim, 2602; Abî Dâwûd, 2419]
2. The Day of `Arafah (9th Day of Dhu-l-Hijjah)
The evidence for this is the saying of the Prophet reported by Abû Qatâdah: "I seek from Allâh that fasting on the day of `Arafah may atone for the sins of the preceding and the coming years. [Narrated by Muslim, 2602; Abî Dâwûd, 2419]
Fasting the day of `Arafah is only mustahabb for those not standing on `Arafah. This is proven by the following hadîth reported by Abî Hurayrah: "Ikrimah said: 'We were with Abû Hurayrah in his house when he narrated to us: "The Apostle of Allâh prohibited fasting on the day of `Arafah at `Arafah."'" [Narrated by Abî Dâwûd, 2434]
3. The Month of Muharram
During the month of Muharram, the Muslim is encouraged to fast as many days as he can. This is proven by the Hadîth reported by Abû Hurayrah that the Prophet said: "The most excellent fast after Ramadân is Allâh's month, al-Muharram, and the most excellent prayer after what is prescribed is prayer during the night." [Narrated by Muslim, 2611]
4. The Month of Sha`bân
It is also encouraged to fast as much as one can from the month of Sha`bân, as proven from the following Hadîth reported from `Â'ishah: "The Messenger of Allâh did not observe fast in any month of the year more than in the month of Sha`bân, and used to say: Do as many deeds as you are capable of doing, for Allâh will not become weary (of giving you reward), but you would be tired (of doing good deeds); and he also said: The deed liked most by Allâh is one to which the doer adheres constantly even if it is small." [Narrated by Muslim, 2582]
5. Six Days of Shawwâl
The one who follows up the fast of Ramadân by fasting six days of Shawwâl gains the reward of fasting the whole year, and in some narrations, fasting for one's whole life.
Abû Ayyûb al-Ansâri (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allâh's Messenger as saying: He who observed the fast of Ramadan and then followed it with six (fasts) of Shawwal. it would be as if he fasted perpetually. [Narrated by Muslim, 2614]
Thawban (Allâh be pleased with him) relates that the Messenger of Allâh (blessings and peace be upon him, his family, and companions) said, “Whoever fasts Ramadân, and then six days after Eid, it is [like fasting] an entire year. Whoever does a good deed shall have ten times its reward.” [Narrated by Ibn Mâjah, Muntaqa]
6. Fasting Three Days of Each Month
In a hadîth, Abû Hurayrah reports: My friend (the Prophet) advised me to observe three things: to fast three days a month, to pray two Rak`ât of Duhâ prayer (forenoon prayer), and to pray Witr before sleeping. [Narrated by al-Bukhâriyy, 3/202; Muslim, 1558]
It was also reported by Hafsah, Mother of the Believers that: "The apostle of Allâh used to fast three days every month: Monday, Thursday and Monday in the next week." [Narrated by Abî Dâwûd, 2445]
It was reported from Qatâdah Ibn Malhan al-Qaysi that: The Apostle of Allâh 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. [Narrated by Abî Dâwûd, 2443]
Mu'adha al-'Adawiyya reported that she asked `Â'ishah, the wife of the Apostle of Allâh, whether the Messenger of Allâh observed fasts for three days during every month. She said: "Yes." I said to her: "Which were (the particular) days of the month on which he observed fast?" She said: "He was not particular about the days of the month on which to observe fast." [Narrated by Muslim, 2600]
7. Fasting on Mondays & Thursdays
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allâh be upon him) was asked about fasting on Mondays and Thursdays, and he said: “Those are two days on which people’s deeds are shown to the Lord of the Worlds, and I want my deeds to be shown to Him when I am fasting.” [Narrated by an-Nasâ’iyy, 2358; Ibn Mâjah, 1740; Ahmad, 8161]
It was reported that `Â'ishah said: “The Messenger of Allâh (peace and blessings of Allâh be upon him) was keen to fast on Mondays and Thursdays.” [Narrated by an-Nasâ’iyy, 2320; at-Tirmidhiyy, 287]
8. Fasting Alternate Days (The Fast of Dâwûd)
This is the best type of fasting apart from the month of Ramadân.
It was reported from `Abdullâh ibn 'Amr ibn al-`Âs that the Messenger of Allâh said: "The most beloved prayer to Allâh is that of Dâwûd and the most beloved fasts to Allâh are those of Dâwûd. He used to sleep for half of the night and then pray for one third of the night and again sleep for its sixth part and used to fast on alternate days." [Narrated by al-Bukhâriyy, 2/231] A similar hadîth was narrated in Sahîh Muslim [2595]
Wallâhu A`lam wa Ahkam
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