Month of Ramadan

Fasting in the month of Ramadan is considered Fard (obligatory).

Days For Voluntary Fasting

Islam also prescribed certain days for non-obligatory, voluntary fasting, such as:

• each Monday and Thursday of a week
• the 13th, 14th, and 15th day of each lunar month
• six days in the month of Shawwal (the month following Ramadan)
• the Day of Arafat (9th of Dhu al-Hijjah in the Islamic (Hijri) calendar)
• the Day of Ashura (10th of Muharram in the Hijri calendar), with one more day of fasting before or after it (For Sunni Muslims only. It is prohibited in Shia Islam)
• As often as possible in the months of Rajab and Shaban before Ramadhan
• First ten days of Dhu al-Hijjah in the Islamic calendar

Days When Fasting Is Forbidden

Although fasting is considered a pious act in Islam, there are times when fasting is prohibited. There are certain days on which fasts are prohibited:

• Eid ul-Adha
• Eid ul-Fitr
• Day of Ashura [10th of Muharrum] (For Shia Muslims only - however they can do a faqa, which is a fast from morning to mid day prayers)
• Ayyam at-Tashriq (the 11th, 12th and 13th of the month of Dhu al-Hijjah).