7/37. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 1725 — The Prophet’s Frequent Friday Fasting
Fasting on a Friday
Hadith on the Prophet Fasting on Friday
Sunan Ibn Majah : 1725
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 1725
حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ مَنْصُورٍ، أَنْبَأَنَا أَبُو دَاوُدَ، حَدَّثَنَا شَيْبَانُ، عَنْ عَاصِمٍ، عَنْ زِرٍّ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ، قَالَ: قَلَّمَا رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ يُفْطِرُ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ .
'Abdullah bin Mas'ud Narrated from:
I rarely saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) not fasting on a Friday.”
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 1725In-book reference : Book 7, Hadith 88English translation : Vol. 1, Book 7, Hadith 1725
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 1725
This Hadith gives a different angle on fasting on Friday. ‘Abdullah bin Mas’ud says, “I rarely saw the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) not fasting on a Friday.” The text is a personal observation from a Companion. It does not say that Friday should always be singled out, and it does not mention whether another day was joined with it. So the safest explanation is to stay with what the wording says: Ibn Mas’ud observed the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) fasting on Fridays often. People searching for hadith about fasting on Friday should notice both sides of the reports: some narrations warn against singling out Friday, while this one records what Ibn Mas’ud saw from the Prophet’s practice.
What we learn from this hadith
- Ibn Mas’ud reported what he personally observed.
- The narration shows that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) was often seen fasting on Friday.
- The report does not state that Friday was fasted alone.
- Different reports on Friday fasting should be read with care.
