What are the types of fasting?
ما أنواع الصيام؟
Fasting is obligatory, and it can be voluntary. Obligatory fasting is:
الصيام قد يكون واجبً وقد يكون تطوعًاالصوم الواجب هو:
Types of Obligatory Fasting | أنواع الصيام الواجب
1. Fasting the Month of Ramadan
Fasting of Ramadan. (This is the fourth pillar of Islam, universally mandated for every capable adult. Allah says: "The month of Ramadan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur'an... So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it." Al-Baqarah 2:185)
1. صيام شهر رمضان
صوم رمضان. (وهو الركن الرابع من أركان الإسلام، والمفروض على كل بالغ قادر. قال تعالى: "شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِي أُنزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ... فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ" البقرة 2: 185)
2. Fasting for Expiation
Fasting of atonement. (This is required to expiate certain specific sins or broken oaths, serving as a purification for the believer's soul when other means of expiation are unavailable).
2. صيام التكفير
صوم الكفارة. (ويجب لتكفير ذنوب معينة أو أيمان حنث فيها، ويعتبر طهرة لروح المؤمن عندما لا تتوفر وسائل الكفارة الأخرى).
3. Making Up Missed Days
Fasting to make up for days that someone broke his fast in Ramadan. (If a person breaks their fast due to a valid excuse like travel or illness, they are strictly obligated to fast an equal number of days later. Allah states: "But whoever is ill or on a journey, then an equal number of other days." Al-Baqarah 2:185)
3. قضاء الأيام الفائتة
صوم قضاء رمضان. (إذا أفطر المسلم بعذر شرعي كالسفر أو المرض، فيجب عليه صيام عدد مماثل من الأيام لاحقاً. قال تعالى: "وَمَن كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ" البقرة 2: 185)
4. Fulfilling Vows
Fasting after making a vow. (If a Muslim promises Allah to fast a certain number of days, fulfilling that vow becomes a binding religious obligation. The Prophet ﷺ said: "Whoever vows to obey Allah, let him obey Him." Sahih Al-Bukhari 6696)
4. الوفاء بالنذور
صوم النذر. (إذا عاهد المسلم ربه على صيام أيام معينة، يصبح الوفاء بهذا النذر فريضة ملزمة. قال النبي ﷺ: "مَنْ نَذَرَ أَنْ يُطِيعَ اللَّهَ فَلْيُطِعْهُ" صحيح البخاري 6696)
Types of Voluntary Fasting | أنواع الصيام المستحب
5. Fasting on Mondays and Thursdays
Desirable Fasting: fasting on Mondays and Thursdays. (The Prophet ﷺ regularly fasted on these two days, explaining: "Deeds are presented on Monday and Thursday, and I love that my deeds be presented while I am fasting." Sunan at-Tirmidhi 747)
5. صيام الإثنين والخميس
الصوم المستحب: صيام الإثنين والخميس. (كان النبي ﷺ يداوم على صيامهما، موضحاً: "تُعْرَضُ الأَعْمَالُ يَوْمَ الاِثْنَيْنِ وَالْخَمِيسِ فَأُحِبُّ أَنْ يُعْرَضَ عَمَلِي وَأَنَا صَائِمٌ" سنن الترمذي 747)
6. Fasting Six Days of Shawwal
fasting six days of Shawwal. (Following Ramadan with six days of Shawwal holds immense reward. The Prophet ﷺ declared: "Whoever fasts Ramadan, then follows it with six days of Shawwal, it is as if he fasted for a lifetime." Sahih Muslim 1164)
6. صيام ستة أيام من شوال
صيام ست من شوال. (إتباع رمضان بستة أيام من شوال له أجر عظيم. قال النبي ﷺ: "مَنْ صَامَ رَمَضَانَ ثُمَّ أَتْبَعَهُ سِتًّا مِنْ شَوَّالٍ كَانَ كَصِيَامِ الدَّهْرِ" صحيح مسلم 1164)
7. Fasting the White Days
fasting the white days. (Three days of every months which are the 13, 14, 15 of the lunar months). (Fasting these three days consistently is equivalent to fasting the entire month, cultivating continuous piety throughout the lunar year).
7. صيام الأيام البيض
صيام الأيام البيض. (صيام هذه الأيام الثلاثة بانتظام يعادل صيام الشهر كله، مما يزرع التقوى المستمرة طوال العام الهجري).
Frequently Asked Questions | الأسئلة الشائعة
What are the obligatory types of fasting in Islam?
Obligatory fasting includes fasting the month of Ramadan, fasting for atonement (expiation), fasting to make up for missed days of Ramadan, and fasting to fulfill a specific vow made to Allah.
What are some examples of desirable or voluntary fasting?
Desirable voluntary fasts include fasting on Mondays and Thursdays, fasting six days during the month of Shawwal, and fasting the White Days, which are the 13th, 14th, and 15th of every lunar month.
Why do Muslims fast six days in Shawwal?
Fasting six days of Shawwal after completing the obligatory fasts of Ramadan holds immense reward. The Prophet ﷺ stated that whoever does this will be rewarded as if they had fasted for an entire lifetime.