Theme
الصيام
Fasting
as-Siyam
Beyond Ramadan, the Companions kept voluntary fasts that fitted their circumstances: Mondays and Thursdays, the three white days of each lunar month, six days of Shawwal, the day of Arafah. Some fasted often, and the Prophet ﷺ guided them towards a rhythm they could sustain for life.
Fasting appears here alongside the habits around it: eating suhur late, making up missed days before the next Ramadan, and inviting others to break the fast together.
قَالَ سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " مَنْ صَامَ يَوْمًا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ بَعَّدَ اللَّهُ وَجْهَهُ عَنِ النَّارِ سَبْعِينَ خَرِيفًا".
“anyone who fasts for one day for Allah's Pleasure, Allah will keep his face away from the (Hell) fire”
23 practices from 16 companions
Open any practice to read it in full on the Companion's page, with the Arabic and English text of every source.
Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-Asعبد الله بن عمرو بن العاص
Fasting like David: alternate days
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If you want a strong voluntary fasting routine, build it on a rhythm you can keep.
Sit with this What voluntary fast could you actually keep for a year, not just a week?
Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-Asعبد الله بن عمرو بن العاص
Fasting three days a month
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Even a small, consistent fast is a strong practice.
Sit with this Could three days a month be your floor rather than your ceiling?
Fasting and prayer with balance
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Keep worship regular but never at the cost of your health or family.
Sit with this Is your worship steady enough to last, or intense enough to burn out?
Never abandoning three habits
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Choose three small deeds you will keep for life and protect them.
Sit with this Which three small deeds would you choose to keep for the rest of your life?
Fasting in extreme heat
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When able, take on voluntary worship in hard conditions and report it with humility.
Sit with this What act of worship feels hard right now, and could you offer it anyway?
Abu Ayyub al-Ansariأبو أيوب الأنصاري
Fasting six days of Shawwal after Ramadan
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After Eid, fast six days of Shawwal as a way to keep the Ramadan habit alive.
Sit with this How could you carry something of Ramadan into the weeks after Eid?
Abu Dharr al-Ghifariأبو ذر الغفاري
Fasting the white days
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Fast the three white days each month.
Sit with this Have you marked the 13th, 14th and 15th of this lunar month?
Fasting three days each month
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Fast the three white days (13th-15th) this month.
Sit with this Have you marked the white days of this month?
Hosting in Ramadan
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Invite someone for iftar this week and share something you have learned.
Sit with this Whom could you invite for iftar, and what could you share with them after?
Abu Qatadah al-Ansariأبو قتادة الأنصاري
Fasting Arafah and Ashura
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Mark Arafah (9 Dhul Hijjah) and Ashura (10 Muharram) with a voluntary fast.
Sit with this Have you marked Arafah and Ashura on your calendar for this year?
Abu Qatadah al-Ansariأبو قتادة الأنصاري
Fasting Mondays and Thursdays
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Pick Monday as a weekly fasting day.
Sit with this Which day of your week could become a day of fasting?
Abu Sa'id al-Khudriأبو سعيد الخدري
Voluntary fasting for Allah's sake
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Add one voluntary fast, such as Monday or Thursday.
Sit with this Which single voluntary fast could you add this month for Allah alone?
Abu Sa'id al-Khudriأبو سعيد الخدري
Ease and non-judgement while travelling in Ramadan
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Do not judge others' valid choices in matters where the religion offers latitude.
Sit with this Where do you judge others for a choice the religion allows?
Abu Sa'id al-Khudriأبو سعيد الخدري
Giving zakat al-fitr as food
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Pay zakat al-fitr early, in the measure and form of the sunnah.
Sit with this Who will receive your zakat al-fitr this year, and when will you give it?
Abu Talhah al-Ansariأبو طلحة الأنصاري
Fasting after the Prophet's death
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Keep a regular voluntary fast, for example Mondays and Thursdays.
Sit with this What good deed could you take up now that an old excuse no longer applies?
Aisha bint Abi Bakrعائشة بنت أبي بكر
Making up missed Ramadan fasts in Shaban
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Do not leave missed fasts open; set a date and complete them.
Sit with this Are there missed fasts you have not yet set a date to make up?
Holding to the sunnah on the day of doubt
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Follow the sunnah where it is clear, and say it kindly.
Sit with this How do you hold to the Sunnah kindly when others do differently?
Learning the sunnah of fasting and keeping it
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Plan your voluntary fast the night before, and make Monday and Thursday your regular days.
Sit with this Will you make the intention tonight for a fast this week?
Juwayriyyah bint al-Harithجويرية بنت الحارث
Not singling out Friday for fasting
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Learn the limits of voluntary worship and follow the sunnah rather than your own preference.
Sit with this Do your voluntary acts follow the Sunnah, or your own preference?
Night prayer and voluntary fasting
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Add one small voluntary deed to the obligatory: a fast day, a charity, or two rak'ahs at night.
Sit with this Which voluntary deed could you add to your obligatory ones this week?
Fasting Mondays and Thursdays, even in old age
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Fast Monday and Thursday so that your deeds are presented while fasting.
Sit with this Which of Monday and Thursday could you fast this week?
Uthman ibn Madh'unعثمان بن مظعون
Balance between worship and rights
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Keep worship sustainable; do not neglect your family or health for it.
Sit with this Is your worship sustainable for you and fair to those around you?
Taking suhoor late, with the Prophet
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Keep suhoor a part of every fasting day, eaten late rather than skipped.
Sit with this Do you eat suhoor late, or skip it?
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