Question:
Is it permissible to observe continuous fasting?
Answer:
In Sahih al-Bukhari, in Hadith number 1967, it is reported that the Messengerﷺ of Allahﷻ said: “Do not observe continuous fasting. If any one of you wishes to fast continuously, then let him continue only until the time of suhoor (pre-dawn meal).”
The companions then asked the Messengerﷺ of Allahﷻ : “O Messengerﷺ of Allahﷻ , you yourself observe continuous fasting!”
The Prophetﷺ replied: “I am not like you. I spend the night in a state where my Lord feeds me and gives me drink.”
Based on this hadith, the question arises: Does this mean that fasting continuously for just one full day is allowed? And what exactly is the explanation of Hadith number 7299 in Sahih al-Bukhari? In that narration, it appears that the Prophetﷺ and the people fasted continuously for two days. Was this done to make people understand that continuous fasting would be difficult for them?
First, we must understand what is meant by “continuous fasting” (wisāl).
Ordinarily, when the time to break the fast arrives — when the sun sets — we break our fast immediately. But in wisāl, one does not break the fast at sunset. Instead, the fast continues through the night, and even into the next day. One does not eat even at suhoor. Thus the fasting continues for two days, three days, or even longer without interruption. This type of fasting is what is known as wisāl, or continuous fasting.
When we examine the final ruling regarding this matter, we find that the Prophetﷺ ultimately prohibited it completely for us.
However, when we look at certain hadiths, they may appear to give a limited permission for a small form of continuous fasting. It is precisely because of such narrations that this question arises.
For example, the Messengerﷺ of Allahﷻ said: “Do not perform continuous fasting.” This appears in Hadith 1967, and also in Hadith 1963 of Sahih al-Bukhari.
Then he added: “If any one of you wishes to continue fasting, let him continue until the time of suhoor.”
Thus the Prophetﷺ first states clearly: Do not observe continuous fasting. Yet he says that if someone insists on doing it, then he may extend his fasting only until suhoor.
At that point, the companions asked: “O Messengerﷺ of Allahﷻ , you yourself fast continuously for several days!”
The Prophetﷺ replied: “I am not like you. During my fasting, Allahﷻ provides me with food and drink.”
In other words, the Prophetﷺ explained that Allahﷻ grants him strength and sustenance in a way that prevents him from becoming weak, whereas ordinary people would be affected by it. Therefore he instructed them not to fast continuously for two or three days.
But if someone were to insist, the maximum concession given in that narration is extending the fast until suhoor.
If we read this wording literally, it might seem to imply something like this: when Maghrib arrives, instead of breaking the fast immediately, a person remains in a state of fasting until the next suhoor. Then he eats suhoor and continues fasting again. That would amount to a 24-hour fast. The wording appears to allow such an interpretation.
However, another narration clarifies the matter.In Hadith 7299 of Sahih al-Bukhari, the Prophetﷺ again said: “Do not perform continuous fasting.”
The companions asked: “But you do it, O Messengerﷺ of Allahﷻ !”
He replied again: “I am not like you. My Lord provides me with food and drink.”
Yet an important detail follows. Even after the Prophetﷺ forbade it, the companions did not withdraw from practicing wisāl. The Prophetﷺ had given the command not to do it, but the companions — due to their intense eagerness to perform acts of worship — continued to do so. Out of their zeal for righteous deeds, they did not step away from continuous fasting.
So, what did the Messengerﷺ of Allahﷻ do? He joined them. The Prophetﷺ fasted continuously for two days along with them. This occurred near the end of the month of Shaʿbān. After those two days, the new moon was sighted — meaning the month of Ramadan had begun.
Once the crescent was sighted, the Prophetﷺ declared that the fasts of Ramadan do not include wisāl. Why? Because Allahﷻ Himself has laid down a clear command regarding the fasting of Ramadan. In the Qur’an, in Surah Al-Baqarah (2:187), Allahﷻ says: “Complete the fast until the night.” The night begins at Maghrib — when the sun sets. Therefore, the fast must be completed until sunset, and then it must be broken.
Thus, in the fasts of Ramadan, it is absolutely forbidden to combine two fasts into one continuous fast. When Maghrib arrives, the fast must be broken.
The Prophetﷺ also said in another narration that when the night approaches from the east and the day departs from the west and the sun has set, the fasting person must break his fast.
This ruling is mentioned in several hadiths, including Hadith 1941, and also in narrations numbered 1954, 1955, 1956, 1958, and 5297.
Another narration states: “People will remain upon goodness so long as they hasten to break the fast.”
Thus delaying the breaking of the fast until suhoor — stretching it unnecessarily — is not permitted.
Therefore the first thing we must clearly understand is this: Continuous fasting does not apply to Ramadan, nor is it allowed for the general Muslim community. Even the Prophetﷺ himself did not combine two Ramadan fasts into one.
If someone wishes to fast voluntarily — for example, three voluntary fasts — and he attempts to fast continuously for three days without eating, that will amount to 72 hours without food, breaking the fast only after three days. This is precisely the form of wisāl that has been prohibited.
That prohibition applies to everyone except the Prophetﷺ. The Prophetﷺ had told the people: “Do not fast continuously like I do.”
This happened near the end of Shaʿbān, around the 28th day. The Prophetﷺ fasted on the 28th and the 29th. Seeing this, the companions followed him and continued fasting without breaking it.
They did not withdraw from the practice of wisāl.
So the Prophetﷺ fasted two days continuously along with them. Both the companions and the Prophetﷺ fasted those two days.
Initially he had permitted continuing only until suhoor, which would amount to a single extended fast. But here they fasted for two days continuously.
After those two days, the new crescent was sighted. When the crescent appeared, the Prophetﷺ said something remarkable: “If the crescent had not appeared, I would have continued fasting even longer.”
In other words, if Ramadan had not begun, he would have continued the continuous fast — perhaps even ten days — to demonstrate that others would not be able to bear it. Because now that Ramadan had begun, the fast must be broken at sunset. Continuous fasting of 24 hours or 48 hours would no longer apply.
Thus, the Prophetﷺ said that if the crescent had not appeared, he would have continued further, showing them the difficulty of the practice.
Another narration gives the decisive explanation. In Hadith 7241 of Sahih al-Bukhari, the Prophetﷺ said: “If the month had been extended for me, I would have continued the continuous fasting.”
Why? So that those people who were overly eager would realize their limitations.
If they could manage two days, could they manage ten days? Certainly not. The Prophetﷺ could continue because Allahﷻ provided him sustenance, but others could not.
Thus, he said that if the month had been extended, he would have continued fasting until they themselves realized they could not keep up.
Therefore, the Prophetﷺ did not like the practice of continuous fasting for the community. His statements about continuing until suhoor were only meant as a way of explaining the matter gradually to those who were overly enthusiastic.
First he allowed it until suhoor. Then he demonstrated two days. Finally he made it clear that if it continued longer, people would not be able to bear it.
So the final conclusion is this: Wisāl — continuous fasting — is not allowed for ordinary Muslims. It was a special allowance only for the Prophetﷺ.
For everyone else, the correct practice is to break the fast at sunset.
That is the final ruling that we must understand.