Question:
- What is a continuous fast? Is it legislated in Islam?
Answer:
- The continuous fast is to not break it for a period of two days, where as to connect two days of continual fasting. The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) forbade the people from doing this. He said, “who ever wants to continue his fast then he should continue it until the early part of the morning” (narrated by al Bukhari). Doing that until this time is permissible, but it is not legislated because the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) used to advise the people to rush to break their fasts. He said, “The people will not cease to be upon good al long as the rush to break fast” (narrated by al Bukhari and Muslim). But it is permissible for them to continue until the time of early morning only. So when they said, “Oh Messenger of Allah verily you continue your fast”, he replied, “I am not like you all” (narrated by al Bukhari and Muslim).
[Taken from Fatawah Arkan al Islam by Sheikh Uthaimeen]
[Translated by Abu Abdillah Abdul Lateef]
