7/37. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 1723 — Do Not Fast Friday Alone
Fasting on a Friday
Hadith About Fasting on Friday With Another Day
Sunan Ibn Majah : 1723
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 1723
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، وَحَفْصُ بْنُ غِيَاثٍ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ: نَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ عَنْ صَوْمِ يَوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ إِلاَّ بِيَوْمٍ قَبْلَهُ، أَوْ يَوْمٍ بَعْدَهُ .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) forbade fasting on a Friday unless it (is joined to) the day before or the day after.”
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 1723In-book reference : Book 7, Hadith 86English translation : Vol. 1, Book 7, Hadith 1723
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 1723
This Hadith is often searched as hadith about fasting on Friday alone. Abu Hurairah narrates that the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) forbade fasting on a Friday unless it is joined with the day before it or the day after it. The wording is specific. It does not say that every Friday fast is forbidden. It says Friday should not be singled out by itself in this case. If a person fasts Thursday with it, or Saturday with it, the condition mentioned in the Hadith is met. The teaching is simple: voluntary fasting has guidance, and a Muslim should not choose special patterns without following the way the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) taught.
What we learn from this hadith
- Friday should not be singled out for fasting by itself in this report.
- A Friday fast may be joined with the day before or the day after.
- The Hadith gives a clear exception, so the wording should be read carefully.
- Voluntary worship should follow the Prophet’s guidance.
