Fasting on Yawm Assabt only (Saturday)

Question:

The Questioner says: What is the ruling of fasting on Yawm Assabt only (Saturday)?

Answer:

The scholars have differed upon this based upon the hadith [1] and whether it is authentic or not.

Imam Malik (may Allah have mercy upon him) said it is a fabrication. Likewise, our Shaykh (Muqbil) may Allah have mercy upon him also viewed the hadith that contains the prohibition of fasting on Yawm Assabt to be weak.

Based upon this, it is OK to fast on Yawm Assabt as there is nothing (authentic) that prohibits it according to the correct scholarly view. It is also permitted because the Prophet ﷺ entered upon one of his wives who was fasting on Yawm Al Jumm’ah and said ﷺ :

[2] ” تُرِيدِينَ أَنْ تَصُومِينَ غَدًا ؟ “

Do you wish to fast tomorrow? (Yawm Assabt)

Fasting is therefore permitted on Yawm Assabt especially if it is preceded or succeeded by a fast the day before or the day after.

If it is preceded or succeeded by a fast, the prohibition is lifted (by those who prohibit it).

The correct view is that this is also the case if it is fasted alone.

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[1] أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ : ” لَا تَصُومُوا يَوْمَ السَّبْتِ إِلَّا فِي مَا افْتُرِضَ عَلَيْكُمْ، وَإِنْ لَمْ يَجِدْ أَحَدُكُمْ إِلَّا لِحَاءَ عِنَبَةٍ أَوْ عُودَ شَجَرَةٍ فَلْيَمْضَغْهُ “

The Prophet ﷺ said: ‘Do not fast on Yawm Assabt except what has be obligated upon you (i.e. Ramadan); and if one of you finds nothing except grape skin or piece of wood; then let him chew it

[ Narrated by Assaamaa the sister of Abdu Allah ibn Busr Assolamee in Abu Daawood: Hadith Number 2421 ]

[2] أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ دَخَلَ عَلَيْهَا يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ وَهِيَ صَائِمَةٌ، فَقَالَ : ” أَصُمْتِ أَمْسِ ؟ “. قَالَتْ : لَا.  قَالَ : ” تُرِيدِينَ أَنْ تَصُومِينَ غَدًا ؟ “. قَالَتْ : لَا. قَالَ : ” فَأَفْطِرِي “.

The Prophet ﷺ entered upon her on Yawm Al Jum’ah whilst she was fasting. He said ﷺ : ‘Did you fast yesterday?’. She said: ‘No’. He said ﷺ : ‘Do you wish to fast tomorrow (‘Yawm Assabt’)?. She said: ‘No’. He said ﷺ : ‘Then break your fast’

[ Narrated by Juwayriya bint AlHaarith in AlBukhaari: Hadith Number 1986 ]

Answered by: Shaykh Abu Bilaal Al-Hadhramy – may Allah preserve him

Source: https://t.me/abubilalhami/2911

Answered on: 5th Rabbi Al-Awal 1441 (2nd November 2019)

Translated by: Abu Sufian Saami ibn Daniel Al-Ghaani