When Should We Start Fasting for Ramadan?
When should I start to fast before Ramadan? Can I welcome Ramadan by fasting three days before?
Fast of the month of Ramadan must start three days before (and more) or must start on time
Prophet (pbuh) said while he was giving sermon before Ramadan that:
“Ramadan will start on such and such day. We start fasting before (Ramadan), whoever wishes can start (fasting) before or can postpone fasting (till Ramadan starts).” (Kutub al-Sittah)
To start fasting the day and two days before Ramadan is not convenient
Narrated Abdullah ibn Abbas:
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Do not fast one day or two days just before Ramadan except in the case of a man who has been in the habit or observing a fast (on that day). (Dawud, Book 13, Hadith 2320)
Abu Huraira (ra) narrated:
Prophet (pbuh) has forbidden fasting one or two days before seeing Ramadan Hilal (crescent moon). (Kutub al-Sittah)
On the previous hadith, Beloved Prophet (pbuh) has forbidden fasting one day before Ramadan. There is also another narration which forbids fasting two days before. Last (hadith) narration gives permission to fast before Ramadan, it even encourages fasting (three days) before.
In that case, to start fasting three or more days before is permissible. (Kutub al-Sittah)
These fasts which are fasted with the intention of welcoming Ramadan are called as Yawmul Shak.
While making intention (niyyah) for yawmul shak, intention should be for nawafil fasts
If a man has habits of fasting and his fasting coincides with that day, this fast is mandub* (recommended).
If yawmul shak and habitual fastings don’t coincide with, fasting on that still doesn’t have disadvantage or inconvenience.
Mandub (recommended): is an action and deed which is recommended when performed, besides it is not a sin when it is failure. Actions that Prophet (pbuh) sometimes performed and sometimes not.
Fasts for Yawmul shak, one can say “I made the intention to fast for the sake of Allah (swt).” But it is wrong saying that: “If the next day is Ramadan I intend to fast if it is not I intend not to fast.”