Fatwa ID: 08520

 

 

Answered by Alimah Aisha Qureshi

 

Question:

 

I have been fasting almost every day for more than a month now, I have made vow to fast until I get married. I have heard of the hadith that said to fast if I can’t marry. Ramadan is in the corner, and I am still fasting. What should I do? Can I keep on fasting every day before Ramadan?

 

What is the way of fasting since I am not able to marry at the moment?

 

 

 

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

 

Answer:

 

It is commendable that you are trying to fast regularly and remain committed to your vow. The situation you’ve described involves both personal vows and the upcoming month of Ramadan, and it’s understandable that you are seeking clarity on how to approach this considering Islamic teachings. The hadith you mentioned where the prophet saw says:

 

 

O young people! Whoever among you can marry, let him marry, for that is more effective in lowering the gaze and guarding one’s chastity. And whoever is not able to marry, let him fast, for it will be a shield for him.” (Sahih al-Bukhari)

 

 

This hadith mentions fasting as a means of safeguarding one’s chastity when marriage is not possible that is the reason why fasting has been recommended as it suppresses one’s desires.

 

 

You should carry on fasting your vowed fasts and when Ramadhan arrives then you should intend the fasts of Ramadhan as fasting in Ramadhan is obligatory and vowed fasts can be continued after Ramadhan.

 

 

If you have vowed that you will fast continuously then you must fulfil your vow otherwise to fast one day and eat one day is recommended.

 

 

 

References:

 

خْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مَنْصُورٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ عُمَارَةَ بْنِ عُمَيْرٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ قَالَ لَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ “‏ يَا مَعْشَرَ الشَّبَابِ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ مِنْكُمُ الْبَاءَةَ فَلْيَنْكِحْ فَإِنَّهُ أَغَضُّ لِلْبَصَرِ وَأَحْصَنُ لِلْفَرْجِ وَمَنْ لاَ فَلْيَصُمْ فَإِنَّ الصَّوْمَ لَهُ وِجَاءٌ ‏”‏ ‏

Sunan an-Nasa’i 3209 Sunnah.com

 

أَخْبَرَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ دُرُسْتَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو إِسْمَاعِيلَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ أَبِي كَثِيرٍ، أَنَّ أَبَا سَلَمَةَ، حَدَّثَهُ أَنَّ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ قَالَ دَخَلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم حُجْرَتِي فَقَالَ ‏”‏ أَلَمْ أُخْبَرْ أَنَّكَ تَقُومُ اللَّيْلَ وَتَصُومُ النَّهَارَ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ بَلَى ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏”‏ فَلاَ تَفْعَلَنَّ نَمْ وَقُمْ وَصُمْ وَأَفْطِرْ فَإِنَّ لِعَيْنِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا وَإِنَّ لِجَسَدِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا وَإِنَّ لِزَوْجَتِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا وَإِنَّ لِضَيْفِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا وَإِنَّ لِصَدِيقِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا وَإِنَّهُ عَسَى أَنْ يَطُولَ بِكَ عُمُرٌ وَإِنَّهُ حَسْبُكَ أَنْ تَصُومَ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ ثَلاَثًا فَذَلِكَ صِيَامُ الدَّهْرِ كُلِّهِ وَالْحَسَنَةُ بِعَشْرِ أَمْثَالِهَا ‏”‏ ‏.‏ قُلْتُ إِنِّي أَجِدُ قُوَّةً فَشَدَّدْتُ فَشُدِّدَ عَلَىَّ ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏”‏ صُمْ مِنْ كُلِّ جُمُعَةٍ ثَلاَثَةَ أَيَّامٍ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ قُلْتُ إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ فَشَدَّدْتُ فَشُدِّدَ عَلَىَّ ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏”‏ صُمْ صَوْمَ نَبِيِّ اللَّهِ دَاوُدَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ قُلْتُ وَمَا كَانَ صَوْمُ دَاوُدَ قَالَ ‏”‏ نِصْفُ الدَّهْرِ ‏”‏ ‏.

Sunan an-Nasa’i 2391‏ Sunnah.com

 

 

 

 

Only Allah (عز و جل) knows best.

Written by Alimah Aisha Qureshi

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham