Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Mustahabb to fast the first 8 days of Dzul-Hijjah

Mustahabb to fast the first eight days of Dzul-Hijjah


What is the ruling on fasting on the first eight days of Dzul-Hijjah for the pilgrims? I know that it is makruh for them to fast on the Day of ‘Arafah.
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful,
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, May blessings and peace of Allah be and be upon His Messenger.

“There are no days in which good deeds are more beloved to Allāh than these ten days.” 

Fasting on the first eight days of Dzul-Hijjah is mustahabb for pilgrims and others. It is because the Prophet (May blessings and peace of Allāh be upon him) said:  

“There are no days in which good deeds are more beloved to Allāh than these ten days.” They said: O Messenger of Allāh, not even jihad for the sake of Allāh? The Messenger of Allāh (May blessings and peace of Allāh be upon him) said: “Not even jihad for the sake of Allāh, unless a man goes out with his self and his wealth and comes back with neither.”
 
[Narrated by al-Bukhāri (969) and al-Tirmidzi (757), from the hadīth of Ibn ‘Abbās (May Allāh be pleased with him) ]

In al-Mawsū’ah al-Fiqhiyyah it says:

The fuqaha’ are unanimously agreed that it is mustahabb to fast during the first eight days of Dzu’l-Hijjah, before the day of ‘Arafah. The Mālikis and Shāfi’is stated that it is Sunnah to fast on these days for the pilgrim too.” 

[Al-Mawsū’ah al-Fiqhiyyah (28/91)]  

In Nihāyat al-Muhtāj it says: 

It is Sunnah to fast the eight days before the day of ‘Arafah, as is stated in al-Rawdah, and that applies equally to pilgrims and others, but it is not Sunnah for the pilgrim to fast on the day of ‘Arafah, rather it is mustahabb for him not to fast then, even if he is able for it, following the example of the Messenger (May blessings and peace of Allāh be upon him), and so that he will have more strength for duā’” 

[Nihāyat al-Muhtāj (3/207)]  

And Allaah knows best.

[Via Islam QA (Fatwa No: 84271)]

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