Canceling the Voluntary Fast when Offered Foods and Drinks

Question:

If someone who was performing the Monday and Thursday fast, or the Daud fast, i.e. fasting for a day and breaking the fast for a day alternately, was offered some foods and drinks, might he break his fasting? Is there any hadith about it?

Answer:

The indication regarding the Monday and Thursday fast, is a hadith narrated by ‘Aisha -may Allah be pleased with her-:

“The Prophet -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- kept fasting on Monday and Thursday.” (Narrated by At Tirmidhi)

As for the indication regarding the Daud fast, is a hadith of the Messenger of Allah -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him-,

“The dearest prayer to Allah is the prayer of Prophet Daud (David) and the dearest fasting to Allah is the fasting of Prophet Daud. He used to sleep about half of the night and pray in one third of the night, and back to sleep about one sixth of it, and he used to fast for a day and break his fast for a day, alternately.” [1]

These fasting are among the suggested voluntary fasting. One who was performing the voluntary fasting, but was offered some foods and drinks, is allowed to break his fast if he saw a benefit in it. The Messenger of Allah -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- ever did it, as narrated in a hadith, narrated by Imam Muslim -may Allah have mercy on him- :

‘Aisha, mother of the believers -may Allah be pleased with her- said: One day, the Messenger of Allah -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him told me:

“O ‘Aisha, do you have something?” I replied, “O Messenger of Allah, I don’t have anything.” Then he -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- said, “Then I am fasting.” The Messenger of Allah be upon him- then went out and we got gifts or there was a visitor. ‘Aisha -may Allah be pleased with her- said, “When the Messenger of Allah -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him-, we got some gifts”, or “someone visited us, and I’ve prepared something for you.” He asked, “What is that?” I replied, “The hais.” He -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- said, “Bring it here!” Then I brought the food to him and the Messenger of Allah -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- ate it, and said, “I was fasting.” (Narrated by Muslim)

Hopefully this article benefits us.

Footnote:

[1] Narrated by al-Bukhâri, no. 1981 and Muslim,no. 721.