Fasting on Saturday and Sunday
أمِّ سلمة رضي الله عنها قالت: «كَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَصُومُ يَوْمَ السَّبْتِ وَيَوْمَ الأَحَدِ أَكْثَرَ مِمَّا يَصُومُ مِنَ الأَيَّامِ، وَيَقُولُ: «إِنَّهُمَا يَوْمَا عِيدِ المُشْرِكِينَ، فَأَنَا أُحِبُّ أَنْ أُخَالِفَهُمْ
Umm Salaamah (Radi Allahu anha) reported the Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu alayhi wa salam) used to fast on Saturday and Sunday than on any other days. He said, ” These days are the Eed for the Polytheists and I love to do the opposite of what they do.”
Collected by Ahmed(6/323) Hakim (1593) Ibn Hibban (3646)
Scholarly remarks for this subject:
- There is a difference of opinion about the authenticity of this hadeeth, while the majority hold it to be Hasan. Among these scholars who have graded it authentic are; Al-Hakim, Ath-Thahabbi, Ibn Hibban, Ibn Khuzaymah, Ibn Taymiyah ,Al-Arna-ut and Al-Albani.
- This hadeeth shows the Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wa salam) used to fast Saturday and Sunday. He did this to contradict the Jews and Christians. Saturday is the off day for the Jews and Sunday is the day off for the Christians. Friday is the Eid for the Muslims. Allah the Most High, led these nations astray from Friday. The jews took Saturday. They say, ” On this day all of creation concluded. Allah says , ” Indeed your Lord is Allah, Who created the heavens and the earth in Six Days…(Al-A’raf 54). According to the Jews ,creation began on Sunday and finished on Saturday. Also, the Jews claim Allah rested on Saturday after creating creation. Allah is free from such claims.
- Sunday is the weekend for the Christians. They chose this day saying, creation began on Sunday. The six days it took Allah to create the heavens, the earth and everything between them began on Sunday. Therefore, they have made the day creation began to be the day of their Eid. This is from their desires. Allah didn’t legislate such a thing.
- Muhammad (sallAlahu alayhi wa salam) chose to fast on this day in order to contradict the people of the books’ actions. He always loved doing the opposite of what they do in their worship and so forth. Furthermore, he prohibited us from resembling the Jews and Christians. Therefore, it’s not allowed for the Muslims to take part in the holidays of the Kuffar or eat their food, which they prepare for these festivities. Moreover, it’s not permissible to greet them on their Eid or attend their Eid gatherings.
- Abu Dawud held that this hadeeth specifies how fasting on Saturday is to be done or it abrogated the impermissibility to fast on Saturday.(Explanation of Bulugh al-Maram by Shaykh Salih Al-Fawzan)
- Shaykh Al-Uthaymeen (May Allah have mercy on him) said: Fasting Saturday and Sunday together is fine. Additionally, there is no problem to fast Friday and Saturday together as well.
- The Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wa salam) mentioned the reason why he fasted on Saturday and Sunday. Reason being, these are days of Edi for the Polytheists. So, based on this, if we are aware of other days for the Eid of the Polytheists is it recommended for us to fast?
We say: The Messenger (sallAllahu alayhi wa salam) only knew about these two days , so he fasted on them. (Al-Uthaymeen’s explanation for Bulugh Al-Maram)
Translated and compiled by Abu Aaliyah Abdullah ibn Dwight Battle
Doha, Qatar-The Blessed Arabian Gulf 1434©
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