Fasting on Fridays

Imam Malik elucidates his position in the Muwatta’ :

“I have not heard anyone of the people of knowledge and understanding (Fiqh) or those who are followed prohibit fasting Friday. Fasting it is good, and I have seen some of the people of knowledge fast it, and it appears to me that they used to seek it out.”

Imam al-Baji, the Maliki mujtahid said in his commentary on the Muwatta’, al-Muntaqa Sharh al-Muwatta’, 2.86, Dar al-Kitab al-Islami ed., that,

“This is that position (Madhhab) of Malik (Allah have mercy on him), namely that fasting Fridays is not interdicted, and that it is permitted to fast it for one who wishes to do so, like any other day of the week, whether on its own or with other days. However, he disliked that it or other days be specifically sought out for fasts…”

Imam Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Dasuqi explained in his commentary (Hashiya) on Imam Dardir al-Maliki’s Sharh al-Kabir 1.534, that,

“As for fasting Fridays specifically, despite the prohibition that has been transmitted – which is the Prophet’ saying (Allah bless him & give him peace), ‘Let none of you fast Friday, unless they fast a day before it or after it,’ – this is because the prohibition is understood to be out of the fear that it become obligatory. This possibility has ended after the passing away of the Prophet (Allah bless him & give him peace).”