Comment: Ok. Now I am confused and Imaam you have not cleared up the matter. *rolling eyes* if Friday is a day of festivities then can we fast on this day or not. Noorudin what is your point? What about me if I am fasting my kafarah fast?  (Personal email)

A: Hadith in reference:

Sayidinah Jabir bin Abdullah (RA) reportet that Rasuluallah (SAW) said: Do not single out Jumuah night amongst the nights for nightly prayer nor single out Friday for fasting unless it happens to coincide with fasting that you are accustomed to. (Muslim)

Sayidinah Abu Hurayrah that Rasualullah (SAW) said, none of you should fast on Friday unless he (they) fasts on either one day before it or one day after it. (Mutafiq alay).

Sayidinah Juwayriyah (RA) said that the Rasuluallah (SAW) visited her on a Friday whilst she was fasting. He (SAW) inquired, Did you fast yesterday? She said, no. He (SAW) asked, do you intend to fast tomorrow? She said, no. He (SAW) then said, in such a case give up your fast today. (Bukhari).

The hadith that prohibited the Friday fasting was a hadith that was made mention of at the onset of Islam. Later on, other ahadith had come to clarify the matter. We learn that just as one should not single out Saturday alone for fasting, one should not single out Friday as well.  Yes, to make up fast every Saturday is not a problem due to one being at school, work, etc., but to single out Saturday or any other day of the week, month or year would also be incorrect, merely based on some superstition, etc.

Should one choose to fast on a Friday as part of the optional (nafl) fast, it would also be good for them to fast a day prior and/or a day after. To fast alone on Friday is not in ones best interest, just as prohibiting individuals from doing so without genuine knowledge remains incorrect. WE can say that such a fast is Haram (prohibited in absolute terms.)

For those that are doing the kaffara (compensation) due to intentionally breaking a fast without a valid reason and thus are doing the continual fasting, for such people, Friday could not be used as an excuse to avoid fasting. As far as the Eids go, that would interrupt the Kafara process, causing for a fresh start of the fasting for them.

Thus the prohibition is conditional. It should be viewed as such based on understanding of Hadith.

May Allah bless you all for requesting clarification. May Allah also accept each of our fasting and praying efforts, Ameen.

Allah Certainly Knows Best.

p.s. To be fair to Noorudin who i think means very well, we agree on the following: Friday is like Eid in someways, but different in others. In America we should take pride in our Fridays so as to create more of a flavor for it. Have a better meal if Allah has blessed you, groom yourself nicer, cut your nails prior, wear nicer clothing, smell nice for your family, give the kids a special something as you depart the musjid (ice cream), etc.