Fasting

Quran informs us that the people observed Ramadan prior to the revelation of the verse:

[Quran 2:185] Ramadan is the month during which the Quran was revealed, providing guidance for the people, clear teachings, and the statute book. Those of you who witness this month shall fast therein. Those who are ill or traveling may substitute the same number of other days. GOD wishes for you convenience, not hardship, that you may fulfill your obligations, and to glorify GOD for guiding you, and to express your appreciation.

(١٨٥) شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِي أُنْزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ هُدًى لِلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَاتٍ مِنَ الْهُدَىٰ وَالْفُرْقَانِ فَمَنْ شَهِدَ مِنْكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ وَمَنْ كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ وَلِتُكْمِلُوا الْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُوا اللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَاكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ

[Quran 2:187] Permitted for you is sexual intercourse with your wives during the nights of fasting. They are the keepers of your secrets, and you are the keepers of their secrets. GOD knew that you used to betray your souls, and He has redeemed you, and has pardoned you. Henceforth, you may have intercourse with them, seeking what GOD has permitted for you. You may eat and drink until the white thread of light becomes distinguishable from the dark thread of night at dawn. Then, you shall fast until sunset. Sexual intercourse is prohibited if you decide to retreat to the masjid (during the last ten days of Ramadan). These are GOD's laws; you shall not transgress them. GOD thus clarifies His revelations for the people, that they may attain salvation.

(١٨٧) أُحِلَّ لَكُمْ لَيْلَةَ الصِّيَامِ الرَّفَثُ إِلَىٰ نِسَائِكُمْ هُنَّ لِبَاسٌ لَكُمْ وَأَنْتُمْ لِبَاسٌ لَهُنَّ عَلِمَ اللَّهُ أَنَّكُمْ كُنْتُمْ تَخْتَانُونَ أَنْفُسَكُمْ فَتَابَ عَلَيْكُمْ وَعَفَا عَنْكُمْ فَالْآنَ بَاشِرُوهُنَّ وَابْتَغُوا مَا كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ وَكُلُوا وَاشْرَبُوا حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكُمُ الْخَيْطُ الْأَبْيَضُ مِنَ الْخَيْطِ الْأَسْوَدِ مِنَ الْفَجْرِ ثُمَّ أَتِمُّوا الصِّيَامَ إِلَى الَّيْلِ وَلَا تُبَاشِرُوهُنَّ وَأَنْتُمْ عَاكِفُونَ فِي الْمَسَاجِدِ تِلْكَ حُدُودُ اللَّهِ فَلَا تَقْرَبُوهَا كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ اللَّهُ آيَاتِهِ لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَّقُونَ

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حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، قَالَ هِشَامٌ حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ قَالَتْ كَانَ عَاشُورَاءُ يَوْمًا تَصُومُهُ قُرَيْشٌ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ، وَكَانَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَصُومُهُ، فَلَمَّا قَدِمَ الْمَدِينَةَ صَامَهُ وَأَمَرَ بِصِيَامِهِ، فَلَمَّا نَزَلَ رَمَضَانُ كَانَ مَنْ شَاءَ صَامَهُ، وَمَنْ شَاءَ لاَ يَصُومُهُ‏.‏

Narrated `Aisha: 'Ashura' (i.e. the tenth of Muharram) was a day on which the tribe of Quraish used to fast in the prelslamic period of ignorance. The Prophet (ﷺ) also used to fast on this day. So when he migrated to Medina, he fasted on it and ordered (the Muslims) to fast on it. When the fasting of Ramadan was enjoined, it became optional for the people to fast or not to fast on the day of Ashura.

Sahih al-Bukhari 3831 https://sunnah.com/bukhari:3831

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Prohibting fasting days before Ramadan

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ نُمَيْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو خَالِدٍ الأَحْمَرُ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ قَيْسٍ، عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ، عَنْ صِلَةَ، قَالَ كُنَّا عِنْدَ عَمَّارٍ فِي الْيَوْمِ الَّذِي يُشَكُّ فِيهِ فَأُتِيَ بِشَاةٍ فَتَنَحَّى بَعْضُ الْقَوْمِ فَقَالَ عَمَّارٌ مَنْ صَامَ هَذَا الْيَوْمَ فَقَدْ عَصَى أَبَا الْقَاسِمِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏.‏

Narrated Ammar: AbuIshaq reported on the authority of Silah: We were with Ammar on the day when the appearance of the moon was doubtful. (The meat of) goat was brought to him. Some people kept aloof from (eating) it. Ammar said: He who keeps fast on this day disobeys AbulQasim (i.e. the Prophet) (ﷺ).

Sunan Abi Dawud 2334 https://sunnah.com/abudawud:2334

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حَدَّثَنَا مُسْلِمُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامٌ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ أَبِي كَثِيرٍ، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ لاَ يَتَقَدَّمَنَّ أَحَدُكُمْ رَمَضَانَ بِصَوْمِ يَوْمٍ أَوْ يَوْمَيْنِ، إِلاَّ أَنْ يَكُونَ رَجُلٌ كَانَ يَصُومُ صَوْمَهُ فَلْيَصُمْ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمَ ‏"‏‏.‏

Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "None of you should fast a day or two before the month of Ramadan unless he has the habit of fasting (Nawafil) (and if his fasting coincides with that day) then he can fast that day."

Sahih al-Bukhari 1914 https://sunnah.com/bukhari:1914

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حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ الْعَلاَءِ الزُّبَيْدِيُّ، مِنْ كِتَابِهِ حَدَّثَنَا الْوَلِيدُ بْنُ مُسْلِمٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الْعَلاَءِ، عَنْ أَبِي الأَزْهَرِ الْمُغِيرَةِ بْنِ فَرْوَةَ، قَالَ قَامَ مُعَاوِيَةُ فِي النَّاسِ بِدَيْرِ مِسْحَلٍ الَّذِي عَلَى بَابِ حِمْصَ فَقَالَ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّا قَدْ رَأَيْنَا الْهِلاَلَ يَوْمَ كَذَا وَكَذَا وَأَنَا مُتَقَدِّمٌ بِالصِّيَامِ فَمَنْ أَحَبَّ أَنْ يَفْعَلَهُ فَلْيَفْعَلْهُ ‏.‏ قَالَ فَقَامَ إِلَيْهِ مَالِكُ بْنُ هُبَيْرَةَ السَّبَئِيُّ فَقَالَ يَا مُعَاوِيَةُ أَشَىْءٌ سَمِعْتَهُ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَمْ شَىْءٌ مِنْ رَأْيِكَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ ‏ "‏ صُومُوا الشَّهْرَ وَسِرَّهُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

Narrated Mu'awiyah: AbulAzhar al-Mughirah ibn Farwah said: Mu'awiyah stood among the people at Dayr Mustahill lying at the gate of Hims. He said: O people, we sighted the moon on such-and-such day. We shall fast in advance. Anyone who likes to do so may do it. Malik ibn Hubayrah as-Saba'i stood up and asked: Mu'awiyah, did you hear the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say something (about this matter), or is this something on the basis of your opinion? He replied: I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) as saying: Fast the month (in the beginning) and in the last.

Sunan Abi Dawud 2329 (Al-Bani Daif / Hasan Darussalam) https://sunnah.com/abudawud:2329