8/2. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 685 — Do Not Precede Ramadan by Fasting
What Has Been Related About: Do Not Precede The Month With Fasting
Hadith on Not Fasting One or Two Days Before Ramadan
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 685
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 685
حَدَّثَنَا هَنَّادٌ، حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْمُبَارَكِ، عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ أَبِي كَثِيرٍ، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لاَ تَقَدَّمُوا شَهْرَ رَمَضَانَ بِصِيَامٍ قَبْلَهُ بِيَوْمٍ أَوْ يَوْمَيْنِ إِلاَّ أَنْ يَكُونَ رَجُلٌ كَانَ يَصُومُ صَوْمًا فَلْيَصُمْهُ " . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Messenger Of Allah Said: "Do No Precede The Month Of Ramadan By Fasting A Day Or Two Before It, Unless It Is The Case Of A Man Who Normally Performs Some Fast, Then Let Him Fast It."
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 685In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 4English translation : Vol. 2, Book 3, Hadith 685
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 685
This hadith repeats an important Ramadan fasting rule in short words. The Messenger of Allah said not to precede Ramadan by fasting a day or two before it. Then he gave an exception: if a man normally performs some fast, he may fast it. This keeps the line between regular voluntary fasting and trying to start Ramadan early. The hadith about not fasting before Ramadan is practical. It stops people from adding to the month based on caution or personal choice, while still respecting a person’s normal fasting habit. The message is to follow the proper start of Ramadan and avoid making the religion harder than the text says.
What we learn from this hadith
- Ramadan should not be started before its proper time.
- A person’s usual voluntary fast is allowed if it naturally falls before Ramadan.
- The hadith teaches care in separating personal habits from the start of Ramadan.
