Can Muslims fast on a Friday only?
No, Muslims shouldn't single out Friday alone for a voluntary fast. The Prophet ﷺ discouraged it unless you also fast the day before or the day after. But if Friday happens to be a special fast day, like Arafah, or you are making up a Ramadan day, fasting it alone is fine.
What the hadith says
The Prophet ﷺ said: "None of you should fast on Friday unless he fasts a day before it or after it" (Sahih al-Bukhari 1985). In another narration he said not to single out Friday night for prayer or Friday's day for fasting, unless it falls within a fast someone already keeps (Sahih Muslim 1144).
Once he visited his wife Juwayriyah on a Friday while she was fasting. He asked if she had fasted the day before or planned to fast the next day. When she said no, he told her to break her fast (Sahih al-Bukhari 1986).
Why not Friday on its own?
Friday is the weekly Eid of the Muslims, a day for worship, Jumu'ah, dhikr and good food with family. Scholars mention that fasting can make it harder to do these well, and that singling it out could make people treat it like a special fasting day, which it isn't. See What are the sunnahs of Friday?
When a Friday fast is fine
- With Thursday or Saturday: fast two days together and there is no problem.
- A special day: if Arafah or Ashura falls on a Friday, fast it. See Should I fast on the Day of Arafah?
- Part of a routine: if you fast every other day, or the white days (13th–15th) land on Friday, that's fine.
- Making up Ramadan: a missed Ramadan day can be made up on Friday. Many people only have Fridays off, and scholars allow it.
- A vow or expiation: obligatory fasts are not affected.
Is it haram or just disliked?
Most scholars (Shafi'i and Hanbali, and many Hanafis) say singling out Friday is makruh, disliked rather than haram, and the fast is still valid. Some Maliki scholars saw no problem with it, since Imam Malik did not hold the dislike. The safe and simple path is to pair it with Thursday or Saturday.
- Don't fast Friday alone as a voluntary fast (Sahih al-Bukhari 1985).
- Add Thursday or Saturday and it's fine.
- Arafah, Ashura, make-up days and routine fasts on Friday are allowed.
- Most scholars call it disliked, not forbidden.
People also ask
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