Fasting on the days of Tashreeq?

by Asma bint Shameem

🌿 ANSWER🌿

The days of at-Tashreeq are the 11th, 12th and 13th of Dhu’l-Hijjah.

It is not allowed to fast on these days because these are the days of celebrating, eating and drinking and remembering Allaah.

🍃The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said:

“The days of al-Tashreeq are the days of eating, drinking and remembering Allaah.” [Muslim (1141)]

🍃Hamzah ibn ‘Amr al-Aslami said that he saw a man on a camel following the people in Mina, and the Prophet of Allaah Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam was present, and the man was saying,

“Do not fast on these days for they are the days of eating and drinking.”

[Ahmad (16081); saheeh by

al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’, 7355]

🍃Abu Murrah the freed slave of Umm Haani’ said that he entered with ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Amr upon his father ‘Amr ibn al-‘Aas.

He offered them food and said, “Eat.”

He said: “I am fasting.”

Amr said: “Eat, for these are the days on which the Messenger of Allaah Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam

commanded us NOT to fast, and he FORBADE fasting on these days.”

Maalik said: “Those are the days of al-Tashreeq.”

[Ahmad (17314), Abu Dawood (2418); saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood]

So it’s is not allowed to fast on the Days of Tashreeq, even if you’re used to fasting the three white days of every month (al-Ayyaam al-Beedh) or every Monday and Thursday.

The only exception to fasting these days is for a Hajji who does not have a sacrificial animal.

🍃 Aa’ishah and Ibn ‘Umar radhi Allaahu anhum said:

“No concession was granted allowing anyone to fast on the days of al-Tashreeq, except for the (pilgrim) who could not find a sacrificial animal.”

[Al-Bukhaari (1998)]

🍃 Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said:

“The days of al-Tashreeq are the three days after Eid al-Adhaa.

The Messenger of Allaah Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam said concerning these three days: “The days of al-Tashreeq are the days of eating, drinking and remembering Allaah.”

As that is the case, i.e., their prescribed purpose in sharee’ah is for eating and drinking and remembering Allaah, then this is NOT a time for fasting.

Hence Ibn ‘Umar and ‘Aa’ishah radhi Allaahu anhum said: “No concession was granted allowing anyone to fast on the days of al-Tashreeq, except for the (pilgrim) who could not find a sacrificial animal”

Apart from that, it is NOT permissible to fast on these days.

Even if a person is obliged to fast two consecutive months, he must break his fast on the day of Eid and the three days after that, then he must resume his fast.”

(Majmoo’ Fataawa Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, 20/question no. 419)

🔺 So that means I cannot fast Ayyaam al-Beedh this month?

Although generally speaking, it is recommended to fast the three ‘white days’ of every month, the month of Dhul Hijjah is an exception

because the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam forbade fasting on the 13th (one of the days of Tashreeq).

So the ‘Sunnah’ would be to NOT FAST on the 13th of Dhul Hijjah.

Instead of fasting the 13th, 14th and 15th of this month, you can fast the 14th, 15th and “16th” of this month.

Or you could fast any other days.

As long as it’s any three days, you would fulfill the Sunnah of fasting three days of the month.

🍃 Mu’aadhah al-‘Adawiyyah radhi Allaahu anhaa asked Aaishah radhi Allaahu anhaa:

“Did the Messenger of Allaah Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam fast three days of each month?

She said: Yes.

She asked: “In which part of the month did he fast?”

She said:

“He would not bother in which part of the month he would fast.” (Muslim)

🍃Shaikh Ibn Baaz said:

“Your mother, or anyone else, should not fast on the 13th of Dhul-Hijjah, because the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam forbade fasting on the days of Tashreeq.

She should fast the 14th and 15th. If she wishes, she can fast the 16th or any other day from the days of Dhul-Hijjah until she completes the three days.

That is because the Prophet

Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam

advised a group of companions to fast three days of every month. Whether they are the three white days or not.

However, it is best for a Muslim to fast on the three white days (generally).”

(Majmoo’ Fataawaa 379/15)

And Allaah knows best.