Some people ‘fast to death’ for political or other reasons. This is not what Islam requires. Voluntary fasts, under the broad rules described in previous pages, may be observed at any time of the year. We quote following traditions.

1. Mujiba Bahiliyyah relates on the authority of her father or uncle that he visited the Holy Prophet and returned and visited him again after the interval of a year. In the meantime his appearance and condition had changed. When he came to him the second time, he asked him, Messenger of Allah, do you recognise me? The Holy Prophet inquired: Who are you? He answered: I am the Bahili who visited you last year. The Holy Prophet said: You were quite handsome, what has altered you so much? He answered: Since I parted from you, I have not eaten except at night. The Holy Prophet observed: You have tormented yourself needlessly. You should observe the fast during Ramadhan and on one day in every month. He urged: Permit me to do more for I am strong. The Holy Prophet said: Then observe the fast during two days in every month. He said: Permit me to do more. The Holy Prophet said: Then observe the fast during three days in every month. He pleaded for more. The Holy Prophet said: During the four sacred months fast for three days and abstain from fasting for three days alternately. (Abu Daud).
2. Ibn Abbas relates that the Holy Prophet said: There are no days during which righteous action is so pleasing to Allah as righteous action in the first ten days of Zil Hajj. He was asked: Messenger of Allah, not even striving in the cause of Allah? He answered: Not even striving in the cause of Allah except in the case of one who goes forth with his life and his property and does not come back with either. (Bukhari).
3. Abu Qatadah relates in two separate traditions that the Holy Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, was asked about observing the fast on the day of Arafat and on the tenth day of Muharram. He said for each: It atones for the sins of the preceding year. For the day of Arafat it also atones for the sins of the subsequent year. (Muslim).
4. Abu Ayub relates that the Holy Prophet said: He who ob­serves the fast throughout Ramadhan and then follows it up with observing the fast on the first six days of Shawal is as if he had observed the fast throughout the year. (Muslim).
5. Abu Qatadah relates that the Holy Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, was asked about observing the fast on Monday and answered: That is the day on which I was born and the day on which I received the call (or revela­tion). (Muslim).
6. Abu Huraira relates that the Holy Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: A man’s deeds are reported on Mondays and Thursdays and I prefer that I should be observing the fast when my deeds are reported. (Tirmidhi). Ayesha relates that the Holy Prophet was diligent in observing the fast on Mondays and Thursdays. (Tirmidhi).
7. Mu’azah Adawiah relates that she asked Ayesha: Did the Holy Prophet observe fast on three days during every month? And she said: Yes. I asked her: During which part of the month did he fast. She answered: He did not mind which part it was. (Muslim). Abu Dharr relates that the Holy Prophet said: If you observe fast on three days in a month, then make them the days of the 13th, 14th and 15th nights of the moon. (Tirmidhi).
8. Ibn Umar relates that the Holy Prophet forbade the continua­tion of a fast beyond one day. It was said to him: But you do it. He answered: I am not like you. I am given to eat and to drink. (Bukhari and Muslim).
9. Abu Hurairah relates that the Holy Prophet said: Do not select the night previous to Friday specially for voluntary prayers nor select Friday specially for observing a fast unless it should happen to be one of the days on which one normally observes a fast (Muslim). Juwairiah bint Harith relates that the Holy Prophet visited her on Friday and she was fasting. He asked her: Did you observe the fast yesterday? She said: No. He asked: Do you intend to observe the fast tomorrow. She said: No. He said: In that case give up your fast today. (Bukhari).
10. Abu Hurairah relates that the Holy Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: It is not permissible for a woman to observe a voluntary fast when her husband is at home, except with his permission. Nor should she permit anyone to enter his house without his leave. (Bukhari and Muslim).