There are types of fasts other than the compulsory fasts of Ramadan. Today, we will focus on these other types of fasts. The other types of fasts include Qadhaa, Fidyah, Kaffaarah, Voluntary, and Prohibited Fasts.

Other Types of Fasting

Qadhaa and Fidyah

Qadhaa means to compensate or fulfill. It is among the different types of fasting that act as compensation for the compulsory forms of fasting, which could not be executed for some reason.

"(Fasting) for a fixed number of days; but if any of you is ill or on a journey, the prescribed number (should be made up) from days later." (Al Quran 2:184)

Fidyah is the compensation for a fast which could not be kept due to some permanent disability or some disease. The compensation is made by feeding a poor person for every fast missed.

Kaffaarah

The word Kaffaarah is derived from the word 'Kufr,' which means to conceal, to hide, to cover. In the context of fasting, Kaffaarah is one of the types of fasting and is required when a person willfully breaks the Fardh fast, i.e., during Ramadhaan, by having sexual intercourse with one's wife.

In this scenario, one has to first compensate the fast as early as possible after Ramadhaan. Second, one should give a Kaffaarah by either one of the three options:

• Free a slave.
• Fast for 60 consecutive days.
• Feed 60 poor people.

Categories of Fasting

The types of fasting are:

• Compulsory fasting is one of the types of fasting. Only fasting during Ramadan is compulsory fasting.
• Highly Recommended fasting is also among the types of fasting in which it is Muhtasab to fast on the particular days that include the 9^th of Muharram, six days of Shawwal, and the month of Sha'ban, etc.
• Discouraged fasting is one of the different kinds of fasting, including fasting exclusively on Friday and Saturday. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: "Do not fast on a Friday unless you fast a day before or after it." (Sunan Abu Dawood – Vol 3 Hadeeth 2420)

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: "Do not fast on a Saturday, except what has been made obligatory on you. If one of you cannot find anything but a skin of a grape, or a piece of wood from a tree, then let him chew it." (Sunan Abu Dawood – Vol 3 Hadeeth 2421)

• Prohibited fasts are one of the different forms of fasting that include fasting on the days like Eid ul Fitr, Eid ul Adha, fasting every day of the year etc. There are some other prohibited fasts, too, such as a married woman fasting without her husband's permission and fasting continuously day and night.

Difference Between Voluntary and Compulsory Fasts

There are certain differences between voluntary and compulsory fasts. One of the differences between voluntary and compulsory fasts is that you have to make the intention of a compulsory fast before Fajr. In the case of voluntary types of fasting, you can make the intention after Fajr too.

We will discuss all the differences and types of fasting in detail with Dr. Zakir Naik in our sessions. Enroll in our course to learn more.