Sahl b. Sa’d (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah’s Messenger sallallahu ‘alayhi wa salam as saying: “In Paradise there is a gate which is called ar-Rayyan through which only the observers of fast would enter on the Day on Resurrection. None else would enter along with them. It would be proclaimed: ‘Where are the observers of fast that they should be admitted into it?’ -and when the last of them would enter, it would be closed and no one would enter it.”
Fasting for six days in the month of Shawwal:
It is narrated on the authority of Abu Ayoub al-Ansari (may Allah be pleased with him) who said that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu ‘alayhi wa salam said: “He that observed fasting in Ramadan then he follows it with six days of Shawwal, this is equal to the fasting of the whole year” [Bukhari: 2758]
Observing fast for three days every month:
It is mustahabb to observe this fast in the middle of the hijri month, on the days called Ayaam al-Beed. It was narrated that Abu Dharr said: “The Messenger of Allaah sallahu alayhi wa salam said to me, ‘If you fast any part of the month then fast on the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth.’” (al-Nasaa’i, 2424; Ibn Maajah, 1707; Ahmad, 210; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’ al-Sagheer, 673).
Fasting Mondays & Thursdays:
It was narrated that ‘Aa’ishah said: “The Messenger of Allaah sallahu alayhi wa salam was keen to fast on Mondays and Thursdays.” (al-Nasaa’i, 2320; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’ al-Sagheer, 4827).
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah 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.” (al-Nasaa’i, 2358; Ibn Maajah, 1740; Ahmad, 8161; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’, 1583).
Observing fast on the day of Arafah:
It is narrated on the authority of Abu Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him) who said that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu ‘alayhi wa salam said: “Fasting on the day of ‘Arafah is an expiation for two years, the year preceding it and the year following it.” [Muslim: 3746]
Observing fast on the day of Ashurah:
It is narrated on the authority of Abu Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him) who said that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu ‘alayhi wa salam said: “Fasting the day of ‘Ashurah is an expiation for the year preceding it.” [Muslim: 3746]
the Prophet sallallahu ‘alayhi wa salam told us that his Lord said: “My slave does not draw near to Me with anything more beloved to Me than the religious duties I have enjoined upon him, and My slave continues to draw near to Me with supererogatory works so that I will love him, When I love him, I am his hearing with which he hears, he seeing with which he sees, his hand with which he strikes and his foot with which he walks. Were he to ask [something] of Me, I would surely give it to him, and were he to ask Me for refuge, I would surely grant him it.”
useful links:
Days on which it is prescribed to observe naafil (supererogatory) fasts
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