Voluntary fasting beyond Ramadan
Allah says: every deed of the son of Adam is for him, except fasting; it is for Me and I will reward for it. The fasts beyond the obligation, and what they unlock.
Outline
- 1
The fast that is for Allah alone
Eating and drinking happen in private. No one can verify you fasted. The Prophet ﷺ said Allah called it His own deed in the hadith qudsi. The reward Allah keeps with Himself is not a number; it is His.
- 2
Mondays and Thursdays
The Prophet ﷺ would fast both, saying deeds are presented on those days, and he wanted to be fasting when his were (Tirmidhi 747). Two days a week, a small habit, hidden completely.
- 3
Ashura and the day before
Fasting Ashura (10 Muharram) expiates the previous year (Muslim 1162). The Prophet ﷺ added the 9th to distinguish from the Jewish fast. Arafah (9 Dhul Hijjah) expiates two years for the non-pilgrim.
Closing line
Choose one day next week to fast voluntarily. Begin small, build steady. The reward is named where you cannot see it.
Aisha (RA) reported: the Prophet's ﷺ khutbahs were of moderate length and his prayers were short (Sahih Muslim 869). Aim for fifteen to twenty minutes. Two sections separated by a brief sitting is the Sunnah pattern.