415. Can I Fast On A Friday By Itself?

By Asma bint Shameem 

Generally speaking it is *disliked* to fast Friday by itself because Friday is a day of ibaadah, a day of duaas and dhikr as well as a day of ‘celebration’ for the Muslims and is kind of like an Eid for the week. 

However, if we have to fast on a Friday for a *specific reason*, we may do so.

But it’s better to combine that with fasting a day before or after it. 

*Proof*:

The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said:

‘None of you should fast on a Friday *unless* he fasts the day before or the day after.’” 

(Bukhaari, 1849, Muslim, 1929)

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said: 

“As for Friday, it is not Sunnah to fast on this day, and it is makrooh to single it out for fasting.” (al-Sharh al-Mumti’, vol. 6, p. 465) 

What if I can only fast on Friday?

Sometimes it so happens that Friday is the ONLY day when we can fast and it’s not possible to combine this with fasting the day earlier (Thursday) or a day later (Saturday). 

In that situation it’s *allowed* to fast just Friday by itself because there’s a ‘*need*’ for it. 

Similarly, it’s allowed to fast on Fridays for someone who usually fasts alternate days and the fast falls on a Friday, or if Friday is one of the Sunnah days of fasting the 13th, 14th and 15th of every month (Ayyaam al-Beedh or the ‘white’ days)

or if Arafah or Aashooraa falls on a Friday, or if you’re making up your fardh fasts, etc.

 Proof

The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said:

“ Do not single out Friday from among other days for fasting, *unless it is a fast that one of you regularly observes*.” (Saheeh Muslim1930) 

So the prohibition to ‘not fast on a Friday’ will not apply in situations such as these because there’s a *‘reason’* or *‘need’* to fast this day. 

In such cases, the INTENTION is not to fast the ‘day’ of ‘Friday’ itself, but to either make up a fardh fast or fast Aashhoraa or Arafah, or one of the days of Shawwaal or fast for a specific reason. 

The scholars of the Standing Committee said:

“It is permissible for a Muslim to fast on a Friday to make up a day from Ramadhaan, even if he fasts the Friday on its own.” 

(Fatwa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah, vol. 10, p. 347) 

So go ahead and fast on a Friday if you have leftover fasts to make up, or if the day of Arafah or Aashooraa falls on a Friday, or there’s some other valid reason but do add a day to this by fasting on either Thursday or Saturday. 

And if you can fast only Friday and there’s no way you can fast any other day or combine it with another day, then it’s also allowed to fast Friday just by itself as well. 

And Allaah knows best.