| Answer:
By collecting and analyzing all the Ahādīth on this subject, what comes
to light is that this prohibition is not part of the Sharī‘ah. It was a
precautionary measure suggested by the Prophet (sws) to his companions. The
reason is that Friday has a religious sanctity of its own. If the companions of
the Prophet (sws) had started to regularly fast on this day, the later
generations would have thought that this has a religious sanctity in Islam and
that it was a special day to fast. This would have opened the door to bid‘ah
(innovation).
Today, in my opinion, one can
safely fast on Fridays since this never became a bid'ah after the Prophet
(sws), and therefore the reason for which this precaution was given is already
taken care of. Allah (swt), however, knows best. This is what Imām Malīk
is reported to have said in this regard:
I have not heard a single person
from among people of knowledge and learning, and those who are their followers
forbid people from fasting on Fridays. And [in my opinion] fasting on this day
is a good deed. I have seen certain men of erudition fast on this day and regard
it as desirable. (Mua‘ttā; Bāb Jami‘ al-Siyām) |