Can I fast even in the last half of Sha’baan?

by Asma bint Shameem

ANSWER

Generally speaking, it is disliked to fast in the second half of Sha’baan.

🍃The Prophet ﷺ said:

“When Sha’baan is halfway through, do not fast.”

(Abu Dawood, at-Tirmidhi ; saheeh by al-Albaani)

But the scholars say that’s a GENERAL prohibition and it’s disliked to fast in the second half of Sha’baan for a person who’s not used to fasting, in case he becomes weak before Ramadhaan starts.

However, there are EXCEPTIONS to this prohibition such as:

A- if a person is in the HABIT of fasting regularly like Mondays and Thursdays or who fasts alternate days throughout the year, etc

B- if a person has to MAKE UP his previous missed fasts, then he or she is allowed to fast even in the second half of Sha’baan.

In fact, he or she SHOULD fast so that he can quickly make up any obligatory fasts that he may owe before the next Ramadhaan comes up.

C- If someone is making up his expiation fasts and he must fast continuously for sixty days, then he can continue to fast up until the day Ramadhaan begins.

In situations such as these, where there’s is a NEED, it is permissible to fast even after the fifteenth of Sha’baan.

📌 Proof:

🍃 The Prophet ﷺ said:

“Do not anticipate Ramadhaan by fasting one or two days before it begins, but if a man habitually fasts, then let him fast.”

(al-Bukhaari 1914 and Muslim 1082)

🍃 And Hamzah ibn ‘Amr al-Aslami Radhi Allaahu anhu asked the Prophet ﷺ:

“O Messenger of Allaah, I am a man who fasts continually for periods of time; can I fast when traveling?”

He said: “Fast if you wish and do not fast if you wish.”

(Al-Bukhaari 1806 and Muslim 1890)

This shows that fasting throughout Sha’baan, even after the second half of the month is permissible for someone who’s used to fasting.

In fact the Prophet ﷺ himself used to fast a lot continuously for a number of days in the month of Sha’baan.

🍃 Aa’ishah Radhi Allaahu anhaa said:

“The Messenger of Allaah ﷺ

used to fast until we said that he would not break the fast, and he used to refrain from fasting until we said that he would not fast.

And I never saw the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ fast any month in full except Ramadhaan, and I never saw him fast more than he did in Sha‘baan.”

(Al-Bukhaari 1833 and Muslim 1956)

🍃And Aa’ishah radhi Allaahu anhaa also said:

“The Messenger of Allaah ﷺ used to fast all of Sha’baan, he used to fast Sha’baan except a few days.”

(Saheeh Muslim 1156)

🍃 Imaam al-Nawawi said:

“In the words, “He used to fast all of Sha’baan, he used to fast Sha’baan except a few days” the second phrase explains the first, and indicates that the word “all” means “most of”. 

🍃 Shaykh Ibn Baaz said:

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’ Fataawa al-Shaykh Ibn Baz, 15/385). 

🍃And Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said:

“Even if the Hadeeth is Saheeh, the prohibition in it does not mean that this is haraam (to fast in the second half of Sha’baan), rather it is simply makrooh, as some of the scholars have understood it to mean.

But whoever has the habit of fasting regularly should fast, even if it is after halfway through Sha’baan.” 

(Sharh’ Riyaadh al-Saliheen 3/394)

🔺Why is it makrooh to fast after the fifteenth of Sha’baan?

It is better NOT to fast after the fifteenth of Sha’baan because

if someone is NOT used to fasting regularly, that could make them weak and thus jeopardize their ability to fast Ramadhaan.

That’s why it’s better for them NOT to fast the last half of Sha’baan to preserve their energy for the obligatory fasting.

🍃 Al-Qari said:

“The prohibition here means that it is disliked, as a mercy to this ummah lest they become too weak to fulfil their duty of fasting during Ramadhaan in an energetic fashion. But those who fast all of Sha’baan will become used to fasting so it will not be difficult for them.”

And Allaah knows best.