Fasting on Mondays and Thursdays: Sunnah Guide

Monday morning arrives and the week stretches ahead. Most of us plan tasks, meetings, and meals — but few of us think about a weekly spiritual rhythm. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ had one he maintained until the end of his life: fasting every Monday and Thursday. This simple practice is one of the most accessible yet profound Sunnahs available to any Muslim, requiring no special equipment, no travel, and no preparation beyond intention and a pre-dawn meal.

Fasting on Mondays and Thursdays is not an obligation. It falls into the category of voluntary worship — acts you are not required to do, but that carry enormous reward when performed with sincere niyyah. If you have wanted to grow closer to Allah without overhauling your entire lifestyle, this weekly Sunnah may be exactly what you are looking for.

The Islamic Foundation for Fasting on Mondays and Thursdays

The Prophet ﷺ did not fast on these two days without reason. He explained his practice in clear terms. Abu Hurairah reported that the Messenger of Allah was asked why he fasted on Mondays and Thursdays. He replied:

إِنَّ أَعْمَالَ الْعِبَادِ تُعْرَضُ يَوْمَ الِاثْنَيْنِ وَيَوْمَ الْخَمِيسِ فَأُحِبُّ أَنْ يُعْرَضَ عَمَلِي وَأَنَا صَائِمٌ

"The deeds of people are presented [to Allah] on Monday and Thursday. I love that my deeds be presented while I am fasting." — (Sunan al-Tirmidhi 747)

This reframes how we think about the ordinary workweek. Twice every week, your actions are reviewed — and the Prophet chose to be in a state of fasting when his were. That single insight is a compelling reason to consider this practice for yourself.

The Quran reminds us of the purpose behind all fasting:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ

"O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous." — (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:183)

The goal is taqwa — God-consciousness. Monday and Thursday fasting builds that consciousness at a weekly rhythm, not just once a year during Ramadan. To understand how voluntary fasting fits into the broader Islamic tradition, read our full guide on voluntary fasting in Islam.

Why the Prophet Chose These Two Specific Days

The Prophet gave an additional reason for fasting on Monday specifically. Aisha reported that he would seek to fast on Mondays, and when asked about it, he said:

"That is the day on which I was born and the day on which I received the Revelation." (Sahih Muslim 1162)

Monday holds a unique significance — it is the day the Messenger of Allah ﷺ came into the world and the day divine revelation began. Fasting on that day connects us, in a small but meaningful way, to those blessed moments in Islamic history.

Thursday completes the pair because both days are when deeds ascend to Allah. Together, they form weekly bookends of spiritual accountability. Scholars note that this rhythm reflects the nature of a believer's life: working through the week with awareness that actions are being recorded.

The spiritual meaning of fasting extends beyond hunger. It is a practice of remembering that our sustenance — physical and spiritual — comes entirely from Allah.

How to Start and Build This Habit

Starting this Sunnah does not require a dramatic commitment. Here is a practical approach to making it stick.

Set your intention the night before

Before sleeping on Sunday night (for Monday's fast) or Wednesday night (for Thursday's fast), make your niyyah:

نَوَيْتُ صَوْمَ سُنَّةِ يَوْمِ الِاثْنَيْنِ لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى

"I intend to fast the Sunnah fast of Monday for the sake of Allah the Exalted."

The importance of niyyah is central to all Islamic acts. A sincere, conscious intention transforms what would otherwise be ordinary hunger into an act of worship.

Eat a light suhoor

Waking before Fajr for suhoor is itself a Sunnah. A small nutritious meal — even just dates and water — prepares your body for the day ahead. The suhoor and iftar guide covers what to eat and how to make the most of the pre-dawn meal. Do not skip suhoor; the Prophet encouraged it even for voluntary fasts.

Start with one day

If fasting both days feels overwhelming at first, begin with just Monday. Spend two or three weeks establishing that pattern, then add Thursday. Sustainable consistency matters more than perfect adherence from the start.

Track your practice

Many Muslims find it useful to log their voluntary fasts alongside their daily prayers and dhikr. Seeing your pattern across weeks makes it easier to stay motivated and to notice your own growth.

Manage common challenges

Your schedule may need small adjustments in the early weeks. A few practical helps:

• Avoid scheduling heavy lunches on fast days until the habit is established
• Drink plenty of water on non-fast days to stay well hydrated
• Keep your iftar simple — a light meal to break the fast is more in the spirit of voluntary fasting than a large spread

Our guide on fasting six days of Shawwal covers additional practical strategies that apply to any voluntary fast during the year. For foundational fasting principles, see how to fast in Ramadan. For wider perspective on building consistent spiritual habits, Fajr Morning Routine on DeenBack and Patience Through Hardship on DemiManifest offer complementary insights on discipline and intention.

Signs You Are Growing in This Practice

After several weeks of consistent Monday and Thursday fasting, you may notice:

• Greater mindfulness — Fasting shifts your awareness away from habitual consumption and toward deliberate intention.
• Improved self-discipline — Voluntary fasting trains willpower that carries into other areas of your daily life.
• Deeper gratitude at iftar — Breaking a voluntary fast with a simple meal becomes a moment of genuine, felt thankfulness.
• Closer connection to the Prophet ﷺ — Knowing you are following a practice he loved and maintained all his life creates a real sense of spiritual closeness to him.

These are signs that taqwa is taking root. For research on Islamic practice and wellbeing, Yaqeen Institute publishes in-depth scholarship that connects these traditions to modern understanding.

Common Questions About Fasting on Mondays and Thursdays

Can I combine Monday fasting with other voluntary fasts?

Yes. If Monday falls during the three white days (the 13th, 14th, and 15th of the Islamic month) or another recommended fasting day, the fasts can coincide and both intentions can be honored in one act of worship.

Does the fast break if I forget and eat something?

According to the majority scholarly view, accidentally eating or drinking does not invalidate a voluntary fast. Once you remember, continue your fast. Your intention was sincere and the slip was unintentional.

Is there a specific dua for breaking the voluntary fast?

The Prophet ﷺ taught this dua for breaking any fast:

ذَهَبَ الظَّمَأُ وَابْتَلَّتِ الْعُرُوقُ وَثَبَتَ الأَجْرُ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ

"The thirst is gone, the veins are moist, and the reward is confirmed, if Allah wills." — (Abu Dawud 2357)

See our complete collection of duas for breaking the fast for more supplications to use at iftar time.

What if I travel on a Monday or Thursday?

The traveler's concession applies to voluntary fasts as much as obligatory ones. If travel makes fasting genuinely difficult, there is no requirement to maintain it. Resume when you are settled again.

Bringing This Sunnah Into Your Week

The Prophet ﷺ said: "The most beloved deeds to Allah are those done consistently, even if they are small." (Sahih Bukhari 6464) Monday and Thursday fasting is this principle made tangible — a small, sustainable act of worship repeated week after week, year after year.

You do not need a perfect record to begin. One Monday fast per month is better than an ambitious two-day plan abandoned after a week. Set a small, achievable target and build from there. The point is not to be perfect; it is to keep showing up.