(Worksheet) Don’t Fast During The Second Half Of Sha’bān

(Worksheet) Don’t Fast During The Second Half Of Sha’bān

On the authority of Abu Hurairah (radi Allahu ‘anhu), the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

“When Sha’bān is half over, do not fast.”

[Collected by Abu Dawud, al-Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah, and classed as sahih by al-Albani in Sahih al-Tirmidhi]

This Hadith indicates that it is not allowed to start fasting from the sixteenth day on of the month of Shabān for those who have not fasted up until that point.

Shaikh Bin Bāz (rahimahullah) when asked about this Hadith mentioned,

“This is an authentic Hadith as Shaikh Nasir al-Din al-Albani (rahimahullah) has stated. What is meant, is that it is not allowed to start fasting after halfway through the month. But if a person fasts most or all of the month, then he is following the Sunnah.” [Majmu’ Fatawa Ash-Shaikh Ibn Bāz]

Some scholars understand that it is Harām (forbidden) to fast during the second half of Sha’bān for the one who did not fast during the first half of Sha’bān based on this Hadith, while others consider it to be Makrūh (disliked). Shaikh ‘Uthaymin (rahimahullah) said,

“Even if the Hadith is authentic, the prohibition in it does not mean that it is Harām, rather it is simply Makrūh, as some of the scholars have understood it to mean. However, whoever fasts regularly (throughout the year) should fast, even if it is after halfway through Sha’ban.” [Explanation of Riyad al-Salihin]

Thus, anyone who had not fasted during the first half of Sha’bān or who does not fasts regularly throughout the year, then is not allowed to fast during the second half of the month of Sha’bān because it is either Harām or Makrūh based on the aforementioned Hadith. With that being said, consider this: with regards to the one who has not fasted during the first half of Sha’bān, it is undisputedly safe to forgo fasting during the second half of the month, and Allah knows best.

Reading Comprehension Questions

1. What is the main message of the Hadith regarding fasting during the second half of Sha’bān?

2. Who reported this Hadith, and who classified it as authentic?

3. What distinction does Shaikh Bin Bāz make concerning fasting during the second half of Sha’bān?

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