Muharram 07,1423 Thursday 21st March,02 Naafil(Voluntary)Fasting In Islam Part I. Fasting on certain days of the year apart from Ramadan has been recommended by Prophet Muhammed(on Whom be the Peace and Blessing of Allah) and observed by himself and his devoted Companions(May the peace and Blessing of Allah upon them all).This is voluntary fasting and some companions(Sahaba) exerted themselves so strenously with it that they were told to reduce their exertions. Because of the Importance of voluntary fasting,please find below some of the recommended days and the methods of observing it. Fasting is recommended on: 1.The Day of Ashuraa(in the Month of Muharram). 2.Six Days of Shawwal. 3.On the Day of Arafat. 4.Most Days During the Month of Shaban. 5.Fasting During the Sacred Months. 6. Mondays And Thursdays. 7.Three Days of every Month. 8. Alternate Days. Now lets us explain each of the above with supporting evidence(hadith) from the Books of Alhadith. Fasting The Day Of Ashuraa(During the Month of Muharram) As pointed out last week,we have just entered the Month of Muharram which as you all aware is the beginning of the Higri Year.It is also one of the four months that have a special significance in Islam because it is one of the four sacred months mentioned in the Holy Quran together with Dhul Qada,Dhul-Hijjah,and Rajab.The Holy Quran has this to say about these sacred months:" verily,the number of months with Allah is twelve months (in a year),so it was ordained by Allah on the Day when He created the heavens and the earth;of them,four are sacred.That is the right religion,so wrong not yourselves therein...."(Surah Al- Tawbah 9:36). Abu Bakrah(May Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet(PBUH) said:The year is twelve months of which four are sacred,the three consecutive months of Dhul-Qada,Dhul-Hijjah and Muharram,and Rajab which comes between Jumaada and Shaban.(Reported by Al-Bukhari in his Sahih). Even before Islam,Arabs observed these months as sacrosanct and showed uncharacteristic discipline during these months.They use to fast and perform pilgrimage on the tenth day of Al-Muharram and adorn the Kaaba with a new Kiswa (covering).As is reported on the authority of Abdullah Ibn Omar and Syedina Aisha who related that Rasul-Allah(PBUH) fasted on the tenth of Muharram before he became a Prophet acknowledging that it is a good thing to fast as a form of devotion.There is no record that I am aware of that he questioned this practice of the Qureish at the time.They fasted on that day and so did he.When he migrated to Al -Medina and found that the Jews fasted on that day,he made enquiries as to why they were fasting.When he was told that they observed the fast out of gratitude for the deliverance of Syedina Musa (Moses) and his followers from the persecution of Firaoun (Pharoah) and because Syedina Musa fasted on that day out of gratitude they too were fasting.Rasul-Allah(PBUH) then said " Truly we are closer to Musa than you. We are better followers of Musa than you." Ever since then it has become an established tradition for Muslims to fast as a sign of gratitude and rendering thanks to Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'Ala. The Jewes started taunting the Muslims,claiming that the day would come when Muslims would follow the Jews in others matters.This taunt greatly hurt the feelings of the Muslims and they went to Rasul-Allah(PBUH) and complain about this.He said in reply: " You should distinguish yourselves from them by fasting on the 9th,the 10th,and the 11th Day,that is three days.Not only the tenth,but a day before and a day after,if you can.If you can't then the 9th and the 10th." He also said: " If I survive next year I will fast the ninth day in addition but the month after he died. It is now regarded Sunnah to do the same thing.The perfect and complete way is to fast three days.The ninth,the tenth and the eleventh day.If not,try to fast on the 9th and 10th,even if this is not possible you fast on the 10th day only.As mentioned before this Month is a Sacred Month according to the Holy Quran.Being a Sacred Month,means that doing good will be doubly rewarded.Here I would like to add that we take our religion only from Muhammed Ibn Abdullah(PBUH).What he did in Al-Muharram we have to copy.Bidah (or Innovations) that has crept into the religion like not conducting Marriage during this month,or people mourning during this month is unfounded in Sunni Islam. Hadith Pertaining to Fasting on the Day of Ashuraa 1.Hazrat Ibn Abbas(RA) says that the Holy Prophet(SAW) himself observed the fast on the Day of Ashuraa(tenth day of Muharram), and he encouraged others to fast on that day.(Bukhari and Muslim). 2.Hazrat Abu Qatadah(RA) relates that the Holy Prophet(SAW) was asked about Fasting on the Day Of Ashuraa(10th of Muharram).He (SAW) answered: " It atones for the sins of the Preceding Year. " (Muslim) 3.Hazrat Ibn Abbas (RA) relates that the Holy Prophet(SAW) said " If I survive till the next year I shall fast on the ninth day of Muharram." (Muslim). To be Continued in Part II. With Fasting six days of Shawwal and others next Week. With the very best of good wishes, Musa Amadu Pembo Glasgow, Scotland UK. [log in to unmask] Da’wah is to convey the message with wisdom and with good words. We should give the noble and positive message of Islam. We should try to emphasize more commonalities and explain the difference without getting into theological arguments and without claiming the superiority of one position over the other. There is a great interest among the people to know about Islam and we should do our best to give the right message. May Allah,Subhana Wa Ta'Ala,guide us all to His Sirat Al-Mustaqim (Righteous Path).May He protect us from the evils of this life and the hereafter.May Allah,Subhana Wa Ta'Ala,grant us entrance to paradise . We ask Allaah the Most High, the All-Powerful, to teach us that which will benefit us, and to benefit us by that which we learn. May Allaah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala grant blessings and peace to our Prophet Muhammad and his family and companions..Amen. _________________________________________________________________ Join the world’s largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail. http://www.hotmail.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to: [log in to unmask] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~