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Virtues of Voluntary Fasts: Dhul-Hijjah, Arafah, Ashura & Shaban
📥 Download MP3 FileEvery year, as the Islamic calendar quietly turns its pages, there arrive certain days that carry a weight far beyond their twenty-four hours. For a Muslim woman balancing home, family, and her own spiritual life, it is easy to let these days pass unnoticed among the routine of daily chores. Yet the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his progeny) drew our attention again and again to a handful of blessed occasions on which Voluntary Fasting (Sawm-e-Nafl) carries rewards that are difficult to measure by ordinary standards. This article gathers those occasions together: the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah, the Fast of Arafah, the Fast of Ashura, and the fast of the fifteenth night of Shaban, along with the authentic guidance that surrounds each one. If you have also wondered what the rulings are when a woman is unable to complete her Ramadan fasts, the same spirit of sincerity and care applies here too.
A visual guide to the blessed voluntary fasts of the Islamic calendar.
Quick Answer: The most rewarding voluntary fasts in Islam are the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah, the Fast of Arafah (9th Dhul-Hijjah), the Fast of Ashura (10th Muharram, ideally paired with the 9th), and the fast of the 15th of Shaban. Authentic Hadith describe these as days of extraordinary forgiveness, reward equal to a full year of worship, and closeness to Allah Almighty.
Virtues of the First Ten Days of Dhul-Hijjah
Long before the actual day of sacrifice arrives, the first ten days of the month of Dhul-Hijjah quietly open as one of the richest windows for worship in the entire Islamic year, second only to the blessed month of Ramadan. A woman who is tired from the demands of daily life may feel she has little extra to give, yet these ten days are designed precisely so that even a small effort within them is multiplied far beyond what the same effort would earn on an ordinary day.
"There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah Almighty than these ten days. The fasting of every day among them is equivalent to fasting for a whole year, and the standing in Voluntary Night Prayer (Nawafil) of every night among them is equivalent to the standing on the Night of Decree (Laylat-ul-Qadr)."
(Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah)
What makes this Hadith remarkable is not only the scale of the reward but the accessibility of it. A woman does not need extraordinary means to benefit from these ten days; a fast kept between household duties, or a few extra units of Voluntary Prayer (Nawafil) said quietly at night, is enough to place her among those earning a full year's worth of reward.
Virtues of the Fast of Arafah (9th Dhul-Hijjah)
Among these first ten days, one single day stands taller than the rest. The 9th of Dhul-Hijjah, known as the Day of Arafah, is widely regarded by scholars as the most superior day of the entire year, and its fast carries a promise that few other acts of worship can match.
According to a Sound (Sahih) Hadith, the Fast of Arafah carries a reward equivalent to a thousand fasts, and it is a means of forgiveness for two complete years of sins: the year that has passed and the year that is still to come.
(Sahih Muslim)
For a woman who is not performing the Pilgrimage (Hajj) that year, this single day offers a rare opportunity to receive forgiveness on a scale that reaches both backward and forward in time. It is worth remembering, however, that this virtue is specific to those not standing on the plain of Arafah as pilgrims; those actually performing Hajj are instructed not to fast on this day, since they need their strength for the day's rites.
Virtues of the Fast of Ashura (10th Muharram)
If Arafah is the peak of Dhul-Hijjah, then Ashura, the 10th of Muharram, holds a similarly elevated place within the month that follows it. Its virtue is narrated with equal strength in the most trusted collections of Hadith.
The Fast of Ashura serves as an expiation for the sins of the one year that has already passed.
(Sahih Muslim)
The Reason Muslims Fast on the Day of Ashura
There is a story behind this fast that many women find genuinely moving once they hear it in full. It is narrated that when the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his progeny) arrived in Madinah, he found the Jewish community observing a fast on this very day. He asked them, "What is this day that you are fasting?" They replied that it was the day on which Allah Almighty had saved Prophet Musa (peace be upon him) and his people from Pharaoh, drowning Pharaoh and his army instead, and that Prophet Musa had fasted on this day out of gratitude, so they fasted too, in the same tradition.
The Holy Prophet's response captures the entire spirit of the occasion: "We have more right to Musa, and are closer to him, than you are." He then fasted himself and instructed the believers to do the same.
(Sahih Bukhari, Sahih Muslim)
There is a quiet lesson hidden in this narration for every believer, and especially for a woman raising a household on the values of gratitude. On the day Allah Almighty grants a nation a particular blessing, marking that day is not an innovation but is, in fact, encouraged in the Sacred Law (Shariah), because it keeps the memory of that blessing alive on the tongue, and gratitude follows naturally from memory.
وَذَكِّرْهُم بِأَيَّامِ اللَّهِ
"And remind them of the Days of Allah."
(Surah Ibrahim, 14:5)
The "Days of Allah" referred to here are those occasions on which great favors were granted to different nations across history, whether that favor was authority, deliverance from an enemy, or relief from hardship, as well as the days on which great trials befell a people, such as famine or subjugation. Seen in this light, it becomes clear why Muslims are encouraged to hold in special regard the greatest of all such days for this Ummah: the blessed birth (Mawlid) of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), through whose mediation every worldly and spiritual blessing reaches us in the first place.
Should the 9th of Muharram Be Fasted Along With the 10th?
A practical question that often comes up in classes and gatherings is whether it is enough to fast only on the 10th, or whether a woman should add the 9th as well. The guidance on this point is fairly direct.
"Observe the fast of Ashura, and oppose the Jewish community in it, by fasting a day before it or a day after it."
(Mirqat)
Ruling: It is recommended (Mustahabb) to fast on the 9th of Muharram together with the 10th, so that the practice of the believing community remains visibly distinct from the practice of others, as the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) directed.
Prophets Honored by Allah on the Day of Ashura
Scholars and spiritual teachers have written that Ashura is a day on which a whole line of Prophets (peace be upon them all) were granted particular dignity and relief by Allah Almighty. Reflecting on this list slowly is itself a form of remembrance.
Virtues and Rewards of Fasting on Ashura
Beyond the fast itself, Ashura is described in the traditions as a day on which small acts of kindness are met with unusually large reward. A woman managing a busy household will find that many of these acts fit naturally into an ordinary day.
The Prophet of Mercy (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Whoever today spends open-heartedly and generously on his family, Allah Almighty will grant him abundance for the whole year."
(Bayhaqi)
Hazrat Sufyan bin Uyaynah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "We tested this ourselves for fifty years, and we found abundance every single year."
(Zajaja, and other books of Islamic narrations)
A Necessary Word of Caution: This is the true and complete basis of the Ashura fast, the same practice Muslims have carried on to this day, so that organizing gatherings in celebration of the Prophet's blessed birth (Mawlid) is also, alongside it, a great and important purpose behind commemorating such days. In this connection, the Wahhabi movement has been known to create obstacles and devise schemes aimed at misleading Muslims regarding these blessed commemorations, and we seek Allah's protection from such misguidance. Similarly, in some circles, voices are occasionally heard claiming that the fast of Ashura was once kept by the mother of Yazid, and that the fast should therefore be avoided today. This claim, and every claim of its kind, is entirely baseless, a fabricated notion spread among Muslims by the Rafidhis. Muslim sisters should never pay heed to such talk, since it only leads to the loss of good deeds and makes a person liable to sin.
Life carries no guarantee of tomorrow, and none of us can know in advance when our own final day will arrive. What can be prepared in advance, however, is the record of good deeds we carry with us. A grave that holds a life spent in sincerity tends to be a bright one, and a resurrection built on such a foundation tends to be a hopeful one.
The Meaning of "Days of Allah" (Ayyam-Allah) in Islam
The reasoning behind Ashura, that a day of great favor deserves to be remembered and marked, is not limited to this one occasion. It reflects a broader principle found throughout the Quran and Hadith, and it is worth carrying this principle into how a woman views the entire Islamic calendar rather than treating each blessed day as an isolated event.
وَاذْكُرُوا أَيَّامَ اللَّهِ
"And remind them of the Days of Allah."
(Surah Ibrahim, 14:5)
Read alongside one another, these two commands make clear that the "Days of Allah" are not confined to one story or one nation. They include, on one side, the days on which great favors were granted to different nations by Allah Almighty, such as governance and authority, dominance and strength, deliverance and safety from enemies, or relief from calamities that had befallen them. On the other side, they also include the days of great trials that different nations faced by the decree of Allah, such as plague, famine, enslavement, or destruction. In short, these are the historic days and events that are remembered whenever the "Days of Allah" are mentioned. Understood this way, the calendar of voluntary fasts is not simply a list of dates to memorize, but a yearly rhythm of remembrance that keeps gratitude alive in the heart.
Virtues of Fasting on the 15th of Shaban (Shab-e-Baraat)
As the year moves toward Ramadan, the month of Shaban brings its own quiet virtue, one that Hazrat Aisha Siddiqa (may Allah be pleased with her) described from her own close observation of the Holy Prophet's habits. This is also a fitting time to start looking ahead toward Ramadan's end, and you may find it useful to review the rulings on moon sighting, Eid, and Sadaqah al-Fitr well in advance.
She narrated that she never saw the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) fast more in any month than he did in Shaban, and that his attention to fasting was especially noticeable around the middle of the month.
"When the fifteenth night of Shaban arrives, stand in Voluntary Prayer (Nawafil) during the night and fast during the following day. Indeed, Allah Almighty descends, in a manner befitting His majesty, to the lowest heaven at sunset and says: 'Is there anyone seeking forgiveness, that I may forgive him? Is there anyone seeking provision, that I may provide for him? Is there anyone in affliction, that I may grant him relief?' And He continues saying this until the break of dawn."
For a woman who finds it difficult to stay awake for long stretches of the night, even a portion of this night spent in sincere Supplication (Dua) before sleeping, followed by the fast the next day, allows her to share in this virtue without needing to overextend herself.
None of these voluntary fasts require wealth, strength, or special circumstance; they simply ask for a sincere intention and a little consistency. Mark these dates in your calendar this year, share this reminder with the women around you, and let each one of these blessed days find you a little closer to Allah Almighty than the day before.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to Hadith, no days are more beloved to Allah for righteous deeds than these ten days. Fasting on each of these days is equivalent to fasting for a whole year, and standing in Voluntary Night Prayer (Nawafil) each night is equivalent to standing on the Night of Decree (Laylat-ul-Qadr).
The Fast of Arafah, observed on the 9th of Dhul-Hijjah, is a means of forgiveness for two complete years of sins, the year that has passed and the year still to come.
It is recommended (Mustahabb) to fast the 9th of Muharram along with the 10th, since the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) instructed distinguishing the Muslim practice from that of the Jewish community by fasting an additional day before or after Ashura.
She is encouraged to spend part of the night in Voluntary Prayer (Nawafil) and remembrance of Allah, and to fast during the following day, following the practice narrated by Hazrat Aisha Siddiqa (may Allah be pleased with her).
Voluntary fasts like Arafah and Ashura are tied to their specific dates, so their particular virtue cannot be recreated on another day. A woman who misses them due to menstruation, illness, or travel is not sinful, and she may still gain reward by fasting other voluntary days throughout the year. You may also find it helpful to review the conditions that keep a Ramadan fast valid and complete, since similar principles guide voluntary fasting as well.
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