“`🌹Ruling on Women Fasting Voluntary Fast“`
In the name of Allaah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.
🎙️The ḥadīth states that “a woman should not fast while her husband is present without his permission, except in Ramaḍān.”
وقله صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ (لَا تَصُمِ الْمَرْأَةُ وَبَعْلُهَا شَاهِدٌ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِ)
This is specifically referring to voluntary fasts and recommended ones that are not tied to a specific time.
هَذَا مَحْمُولٌ عَلَى صَوْمِ التَّطَوُّعِ وَالْمَنْدُوبِ الَّذِي لَيْسَ لَهُ زَمَنٌ مُعَيَّنٌ
This prohibition signifies a prohibition of the ḥarām type, as explained by our companions.
وَهَذَا النَّهْيُ لِلتَّحْرِيمِ صَرَّحَ بِهِ أَصْحَابُنَا
The reason is that the husband has the right to conjugal relations on any day,
وَسَبَبُهُ أَنَّ الزَّوْجَ لَهُ حَقُّ الِاسْتِمْتَاعِ بِهَا فِي كُلِّ الْأَيَّامِ
and his right is wājib (ie: an obligation upon her) and must not be obstructed by voluntary acts or obligations that can be deferred.
وَحَقُّهُ فِيهِ وَاجِبٌ عَلَى الْفَوْرِ فَلَا يَفُوتُهُ بِتَطَوُّعٍ وَلَا بِوَاجِبٍ عَلَى التَّرَاخِي
If it is argued that she should be allowed to fast without his permission because if he wishes to have conjugal relations, he can do so, and her fast would be invalidated,
فَإِنْ قِيلَ فَيَنْبَغِي أَنْ يَجُوزَ لَهَا الصَّوْمُ بِغَيْرِ إِذْنِهِ فَإِنْ أَرَادَ الِاسْتِمْتَاعَ بِهَا كَانَ لَهُ ذَلِكَ وَيُفْسِدُ صَوْمُهَا
the response is that her fasting by custom prevents him from conjugal relations because he would hesitate to violate the fast by causing it to be invalidated.
فَالْجَوَابُ أَنَّ صَوْمَهَا يَمْنَعُهُ مِنْ الِاسْتِمْتَاعِ فِي الْعَادَةِ لِأَنَّهُ يَهَابُ انْتَهَاكَ الصَّوْمِ بِالْإِفْسَادِ
The statement of the Prophet ﷺ: “And her husband is present,”
وَقَوْلُهُ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَزَوْجُهَا شَاهِدٌ
refers to him being resident in the town.
أَيْ مُقِيمٌ فِي الْبَلَدِ
However, if he is a musāfir (ie: traveling), then it is permissible for her to fast because he cannot engage in conjugal relations if he is not with her.
أَمَّا إِذَا كَانَ مُسَافِرًا فَلَهَا الصَّوْمُ لِأَنَّهُ لَا يَتَأَتَّى مِنْهُ الِاسْتِمْتَاعُ إِذَا لَمْ تَكُنْ مَعَهُ
📚 al-Nawawī, al-Minhāj bi Sharḥ Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 7/115
النووي، المنهاج شرح صحيح مسلم ٧/١١٥
May Allaah accept our ibaadat and forgive our shortcomings.
