voluntary fast be continuous. There are ḥadīth in which it is stated that the Holy Prophet especially recommended for voluntary fasting the last days of Sha‘bān7 or the ayyām al-bidz, that is the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth of the lunar month8 or Monday and Thursday,9 or the ‘Arafah day, that is, one day before the ‘Īd al-Adzḥā,10 or the first six days of Shawwāl,11 or Muḥarram12 or the Tashrīq days, that is, eleventh, twelfth and thirteenth of Dhu-l-Ḥijja,13 or the ‘Ashūra’, that is, 10th Muḥarram;14 but his own practice was that he never specified any particular day or days for voluntary fasting, as the following ḥadīth shows: ‘Ā’ishah was asked, Did the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allāh be on him, specify any days (for fasting). She said No” (Bu. 30:64).

Restrictions on voluntary fasting

Voluntary fasting is particularly prohibited on the two ‘Ịd days (Bu. 30:66). It is also forbidden that Friday should be specially chosen for voluntary fasting (Bu. 30:63). Nor should a day or two before Ramadzān be specially selected (Bu. 30:14). Other restrictions are that it should not be resorted to if it is likely to interfere with other duties. There is no asceticism in Islām, and no one is allowed to go to the length of neglecting his worldly duties for the sake of religious exercises. Religion is meant to enable a man to live a better life, and voluntary fasting should be undertaken only if the aim is to enable a man to achieve this objective. This is made clear in the story of Abū Dardā’ and Salmān, between whom brotherhood had been established by the Holy Prophet. Salmān paid a visit to Abū Dardā’ and saw his wife in a neglected condition (mutabadh dhila). Being asked the reason she replied that Abū Dardā’ had become an ascetic. When Abū Dardā’ came home and the meals were served, Abū Dardā’ refused to eat because he was fasting. Salmān said that he would not take any food until Abū Dardā’ took it, so he ate (and broke the fast). When the night came Abū Dardā woke up after a little rest, Salmān asked him to remain sleeping, and when it was the latter part of the night, they both said their Tahajjud prayers. Then Salmān said to Abū Dardā’: “Verily thou owest a duty to thy Lord, and thou owest a duty to thyself, and thou owest a duty to thy wife and children.” When this