Monday Thursday Fasting

One of the recommended fasts is Monday Thursday fasting. This fast is done every week on those two days. Its virtue is that it can erase mistakes and elevate one’s status, and indeed those two days are when deeds are raised before Allah so it is very good to fast at that time.

Evidence for Fasting on Mondays and Thursdays

From ‘Aisyah radhiyallahu ‘anha, she said,

إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- كَانَ يَتَحَرَّى صِيَامَ الاِثْنَيْنِ وَالْخَمِيسِ.

“The Messenger of Allah sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam used to choose to fast on Mondays and Thursdays.” (HR. An Nasai no. 2362 and Ibnu Majah no. 1739. Al Hafizh Abu Thohir said that this hadith is hasan. Sheikh Al Albani said that this hadith is authentic)

Usamah bin Zaid said,

قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّكَ تَصُومُ حَتَّى لاَ تَكَادَ تُفْطِرُ وَتُفْطِرُ حَتَّى لاَ تَكَادَ أَنْ تَصُومَ إِلاَّ يَوْمَيْنِ إِنْ دَخَلاَ فِى صِيَامِكَ وَإِلاَّ صُمْتَهُمَا. قَالَ « أَىُّ يَوْمَيْنِ ». قُلْتُ يَوْمَ الاِثْنَيْنِ وَيَوْمَ الْخَمِيسِ. قَالَ « ذَانِكَ يَوْمَانِ تُعْرَضُ فِيهِمَا الأَعْمَالُ عَلَى رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ فَأُحِبُّ أَنْ يُعْرَضَ عَمَلِى وَأَنَا صَائِمٌ »

“I said to the Messenger – peace be upon him -, “O Messenger of Allah, you appear to be fasting to the point where it is thought that there is no time for you not to fast. You also look like you are not fasting, to the point where it is thought that you never fast. Except for the two days you met him and fasted at that time.” The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam asked, “What are these two days?” Usamah answered, “Monday and Thursday.” Then he said, “These two days are the time when the deeds are presented to the Rabb of the worlds (to Allah). I really like it when my deeds are presented while I am fasting.” (HR. An Nasai no. 2360 and Ahmad 5: 201. Al Hafizh Abu Thohir said that the sanad of this hadith is hasan).

From Abu Hurairah radhiyallahu ‘anhu, Rasulullah sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said,

تُعْرَضُ الأَعْمَالُ يَوْمَ الاِثْنَيْنِ وَالْخَمِيسِ فَأُحِبُّ أَنْ يُعْرَضَ عَمَلِى وَأَنَا صَائِمٌ

“Various practices are confronted (on Allah) on Monday and Thursday, then I like it if my deeds are presented while I am fasting.” (Narrated by Tirmidhi no. 747. At Tirmidhi said that this hadith is hasan ghorib. Al Hafizh Abu Thohir said that the sanad of this hadith is hasan. Sheikh Al Albani said that this hadith is sahih lighoirihi, which is sahih when viewed from other routes). From Abu Qotadah Al Anshori radhiyallahu ‘anhu, the Messenger of Allah sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam was once asked about fasting on Monday, then he replied,

ذَاكَ يَوْمٌ وُلِدْتُ فِيهِ وَيَوْمٌ بُعِثْتُ أَوْ أُنْزِلَ عَلَىَّ فِيهِ

“That day is the day I was born, the day I was sent or the revelation was revealed to me.” (HR. Muslim no. 1162)

The priority of Monday and Thursday is generally explained in the following hadith of Abu Hurairah, Rasulullah sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said,

تُفْتَحُ أَبْوَابُ الْجَنَّةِ يَوْمَ الاِثْنَيْنِ وَيَوْمَ الْخَمِيسِ فَيُغْفَرُ لِكُلِّ عَبْدٍ لاَ يُشْرِكُ بِاللَّهِ شَيْئًا إِلاَّ رَجُلاً كَانَتْ بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ أَخِيهِ شَحْنَاءُ فَيُقَالُ أَنْظِرُوا هَذَيْنِ حَتَّى يَصْطَلِحَا أَنْظِرُوا هَذَيْنِ حَتَّى يَصْطَلِحَا أَنْظِرُوا هَذَيْنِ حَتَّى يَصْطَلِحَا

“The gates of Paradise are opened on Monday and Thursday. Every servant who does not associate anything with Allah will be forgiven (on that day) except a man who has a quarrel between himself and his brother. Later it will be said to them, end their affairs until they both reconcile, end their affairs until they both reconcile.” (HR. Muslim no. 2565).

Hopefully the arguments above will encourage you to do good deeds and only Allah will give taufik.

Source: muslim.or.id