Muḥammad ibn ʿAbbād ibn Jaʿfar also narrated: “I asked Jābir ibn ʿAbd Allāh, while he was circling the House, ‘Did the Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—forbid fasting on Friday?’ He replied, ‘Yes, by the Lord of this House!’ ” (This is Muslim’s wording.)
Ibn ʿAbbās (may Allah be pleased with them both) likewise reported that the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—said, “Do not fast Friday by itself.” Imām Aḥmad recorded this ḥadīth.
In the same vein, the two Ṣaḥīḥs relate from Abū Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—said: “None of you should precede Ramadan by fasting a day or two before it begins, unless a man already fasts a particular day habitually; in that case, let him fast that day.” This wording is al-Bukhārī’s, i.e., if it coincides with his regular practice.
The intended inference is that, regarding fasting, the Lawgiver has divided the days into three categories:
• Days singled out for fasting by legislation—either obligatory, such as Ramadan, or recommended, such as the Day of ʿArafah and the day of ʿĀshūrāʾ.
• Days on which fasting is absolutely forbidden, such as the two Eids.