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Other than the obligatory fast of Ramadan, the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, observed voluntary fasts. Lady Ayesha, may Allah be pleased with her, said that after the migration to Medina the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, did not fast an entire month except for the month of Ramadan. She also says in another Prophetic quotation (Ahadith) that he would fast most of the month of Shabaan.
We are also told that he would fast some days of a month and none at all in another. Of the days he is known to have fasted Monday and Thursday received his special attention. Lady Ayesha, may Allah be pleased with her, reported the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, saying: "I was born on a Monday, and the sending down of the Koran commenced on a Monday." Abu Hurayrah, may Allah have mercy on him, said: "Deeds are presented (to Allah, the Most High) on Mondays and Thursday. I desire that my deeds be presented whilst I am fasting."
Lady Ayesha, may Allah be pleased with her, said: "Some months he would fast on Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays, whereas in other months he would fast on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays." She also said that he did not fast on specific days, but whenever suitable. Abdullah the son of Masood reported that he seldom fasted on a Friday.
He would also fast on the 13th, 14th and 15th day of the Islamic month, also on the tenth of Muharram and the 10th of Dhul Hijjah. After the Prophet's migration he observed some Jews observing the fast on the tenth of Muharram, which is the fast of Ashura. He asked them why they were fasting and was told that it was the day on which Allah, the Most High, saved Prophet Moses, peace be upon him, from Pharaoh, and that it was also the day on which Allah, the Most High, drowned Pharaoh. They told the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, that Prophet Moses, peace be upon him, would fast that day out of gratitude and happiness whereupon our beloved Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, said: "We are more entitled than you to follow Moses, peace be upon him." Thereafter the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, ordered his followers to fast on that day. This fast was obligatory until the command came to fast the month of Ramadan, thereafter the Prophet said it was voluntary. To distance the Islamic fast of Ashura from that of the Jews, the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, would fast either the day before Ashura or the day after.
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