Why did the Prophet ﷺ fast Mondays and Thursdays?
The Prophet ﷺ said deeds are presented to Allah on Monday and Thursday, and he liked his deeds to be presented while he was fasting. A sunnah with a clear rationale.
4 passages from 1 book in the library
The Prophet ﷺ liked his deeds to be presented while he was fasting, and Monday and Thursday are named in that sunnah. Al-Ghazali's Book of Fasting treats fasting as training of the self, not hunger alone: guarding the tongue, the eyes, and the intention. The cited passages speak to the discipline and inner manners of the fast more than a numbered reward chart. Keep the weekly fast as a habit of presence, and for personal rulings ask a qualified teacher.
Drawn from the classical sources below — in the scholars' own words.
The classical approach.
These passages are drawn from 1 book by Imam al-Ghazali — part of the classical Sunni tradition that carries over a thousand years of reflection on the Qurʾān, the authentic Sunnah, and the consensus of the early community. Nothing below is a paraphrase. The words are the scholars' own, translated from the original Arabic manuscripts.
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
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""Fast one day and break the fast one day," and when Abdullah sought more, he said, "There is nothing better than this. It is also narrated that the Prophet never fasted an entire month except Ramadan; rather, he would sometimes fast and sometimes break his fast. For those unable to fast half the year, fasting a third is acceptable, which means fasting one day and breaking the fast for two."
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"If one intends to fast during the day, it does not suffice for Ramadan or obligatory fasting, except for voluntary ones. If one intends to fast in a general sense or for an unspecified obligation, it is not sufficient until he specifies the obligatory fast of God, i.e., fasting Ramadan. If one intends on the night of doubt to fast tomorrow if it is Ramadan, it is not valid because it is not decisive unless his intention relies on the testimony of one trustworthy witness."
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"The hadith "He never fasted a complete month except for Ramadan" is reported by both from Aisha. The hadith "He used to fast until it was said he did not break the fast" is reported by both from Aisha and Ibn Abbas, without mentioning prayer and sleep. Al-Bukhari also reports from Anas: "He would break the fast from the month until it was thought he would not fast from it, and fast until it was thought he would not break the fast from it."
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"unless it is swallowed after reaching the mouth, at which point it breaks the fast. Now, regarding the obligations resulting from breaking the fast, there are four: make-up fasting, expiation, fidyah (monetary compensation), and abstaining for the remainder of the day, similar to those who are fasting. Make-up fasting is obligatory for every sane adult Muslim who breaks the fast, whether with or without an excuse."
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