Riyad as-Salihin, 1224
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Do not observe Saum (fasting) for a day or two days preceding Ramadan. However, if a person is in the habit of observing Saum on a particular day (which may fall on these dates), he may fast on that day." <b>[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]</b>.
عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال:
لا يتقدمن أحدكم رمضان بصوم يوم أو يومين، إلا أن يكون رجل كان يصوم صومه، فليصم ذلك اليوم
. ((متفق عليه))
References1 variant
- In-Book Reference
- Book 8, Hadith 234
Sharh · explanationclick to expand
<b>Guidance from the Hadiths:</b><br>
1) There is a stern prohibition to observe fast shortly before Ramadan, like when a person decides to fast one or two days before Ramadan as a precaution. The right thing to do is to abide by the Prophet’s guidance in this regard and begin the fast upon seeing the new moon.<br>
2) The legitimate fasting begins when we can verify the advent of Ramadan by sighting the new moon. We may not fast before it.<br>
3) The Shariah takes people’s conditions into consideration and removes difficulties from them. So, it prohibits us from observing fasting shortly before Ramadan, so that we can enter this month vigorous and active.