By Asma bint Shameem
Fasting the day of Arafah is a *confirmed Sunnah* of the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam and his Sahaabah.
Abu Qataadah radhi Allaahu anhu that the Messenger of Allaah Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam was asked about fasting on the day of ‘Arafah and he said:
“It expiates for the past and coming years.”
[Muslim (1162)]
However it is also true that it is *disliked* to fast on a Friday or Saturday by itself according to the Saheeh hadeeth of the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam.
BUT it’s *ALLOWED* to fast on this day by itself if there’s a *REASON* to do so.
And the reason is that fasting on the day of *Arafah* is a *confirmed Sunnah.*
So there’s *nothing wrong* with fasting on Friday for Arafah because you’re not fasting on this day just because it’s “Friday”.
Rather the reason you’re fasting is because it’s the *”Day of Arafah”*.
And it is *prescribed* to fast on this day.
Shaikh Ibn Uthaymeen said:
“If it happens to be one of the days when it is prescribed to fast, such as Ayyaam al-Beed (the 13th, 14th and 15th of each hijri month), ‘Arafah, ‘Ashoora’, six days of Shawwaal for one who has fasted Ramadaan, and the ninth of Dhu’l-Hijjah.
There is nothing wrong with that, because he is not fasting because it is Saturday, rather it is because it is one of the days when it is *prescribed* to fast.”
[Majmoo’ Fataawa wa Rasaa’il (20/57)]
Shaikh Ibn Baaz said:
“As for singling out Friday with fasting due to the virtue of Friday, then that is not permitted because the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam forbade that.
*However*, if he fasts it on its own because it is the *Day of ʿArafah*, then we hope that there is no issue with that, but being prudent by fasting Thursday along with it is safer.” (Noor ala ad-Darb)
So it would be better to fast Thursday as well if someone can do that.
Otherwise, fasting Friday by itself is *also perfectly fine.*
In any case, think about it this way.
Don’t we fast on Fridays when we fast like the fasting of Dawood Alayhis Salaam?
He would fast one day and skip fast the next day.
So it would so happen that sometimes the day of fasting would fall on a Friday by itself.
YET that fasting is the *most beloved* to Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala.
Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Amr Radhi Allaahu anhu reported that the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam said:
“The *best* fasting is the fast of Dawood: he used to fast one day and not the next.” (al-Bukhaari, Muslim)
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said:
“The hadeeth of ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Amr Radhi Allaahu anhu indicates that if fasting on a Friday or Saturday coincides with a day one usually fasts, *without intending to single that day out for fasting*, then there is nothing wrong with it, because if he fasts alternate days, then that will coincide with some Fridays and Saturdays.
Thus it becomes clear that fasting on these days is *not haraam*. Otherwise the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam would have said: Fast one day and not the next, so long as that (fasting) does not coincide with a Friday or Saturday.”
(Al-Sharh al-Mumti’, 6/476)
Ibn Qudaamah said:
“A man fasts one day and withholds the next day (and carries on in that manner). So his withholding coincides with a Thursday and his fasting coincides with a Friday, and then his withholding coincides with Saturday.
So does he fast Friday on its own?
This person did not *deliberately* single out Friday for his fast.
*It is only hated if he deliberately intends Friday on its own*.“
(al-Mughnī)
So go ahead and take advantage of this beautiful day of Arafah and fast even if it’s falling on a Friday.
And Allaah knows best
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