Is Fasting on Friday Haram?
It is not haram (forbidden) to fast on Fridays in Islam, but it is discouraged to only fast on Fridays. The prohibition is against singling out Friday for fasting.
Several hadith (sayings and traditions of the Prophet Muhammad) and scholarly interpretations clarify this point. It's permissible to fast on a Friday as part of a continuous fast, or if it coincides with another planned fast such as making up missed Ramadan fasts, or observing the six days of Shawwal. However, intentionally choosing only Friday to fast is discouraged. As Abdullah ibn 'Amr ibn al-'As reported that the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "Verily, Friday is an eid (holiday) for you, so do not fast on it unless you fast the day before or after it." (Source: Multiple Hadith Collections). This highlights the importance of not isolating Friday from other days for fasting.
Many Islamic scholars emphasize that Friday is a special day of prayer and congregation, and isolating it for fasting might detract from these important activities. (Source: IslamQA, Source: IslamWeb). Fasting on Friday is permitted within the context of a longer fast or as part of fulfilling religious obligations, such as making up missed Ramadan fasts. (Source: Asma Bint Shameem)
Therefore, the key distinction is the intention. Fasting on Friday as a standalone practice is not encouraged, while fasting on Friday as part of a larger religious observance or routine is acceptable.
Examples
- Permissible: Fasting on Friday as part of a three-day consecutive fast.
- Permissible: Fasting on Friday to make up a missed Ramadan fast.
- Discouraged: Intentionally selecting Friday solely for the purpose of fasting.
