Hadith Text & Reference

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "The day of Arafah, the day of sacrifice, the days of tashriq are (the days of) our festival, O people of Islam. These are the days of eating and drinking."

Source: Sunan Abi Dawud 2419 | Book: Fasting (Kitab Al-Siyam)

Commentary on the Days Mentioned

Day of Arafah: The 9th of Dhul-Hijjah when pilgrims stand at Mount Arafat. Fasting on this day expiates sins of two years for non-pilgrims, while pilgrims do not fast to maintain strength for worship.

Day of Sacrifice (Eid al-Adha): The 10th of Dhul-Hijjah when Muslims offer Qurbani. Fasting is strictly prohibited on this day of celebration and sacrifice.

Days of Tashriq: The 11th, 12th, and 13th of Dhul-Hijjah. These are days following Eid when pilgrims complete Hajj rites. Fasting is forbidden during these days as they are designated for eating, drinking, and remembering Allah.

Legal Rulings & Scholarly Consensus

The prohibition of fasting during these five days (9th-13th Dhul-Hijjah) is established by consensus among the four schools of jurisprudence. These are days of ritual celebration where physical nourishment supports spiritual devotion.

Imam Nawawi states in Sharh Sahih Muslim: "The wisdom behind prohibiting fasting on these days is that they are days of eating, drinking, joy, and remembrance of Allah's blessings."

Ibn Qudamah in Al-Mughni emphasizes: "It is haram to fast on these days, and any fast observed during them is invalid and must be made up."

Spiritual Significance

These designated days teach balance in worship - while fasting is generally praiseworthy, there are times when refraining from fasting becomes an act of obedience itself.

The declaration "our festival" establishes these as specifically Islamic celebrations, distinguishing them from other religious observances and emphasizing communal unity.

The permission for eating and drinking during these sacred days demonstrates that Islamic worship encompasses both spiritual devotion and lawful physical enjoyment as acts pleasing to Allah.