Bakrid Fasting: Do You Fast Before Eid al-Adha?

Bakrid fasting means the voluntary fasts many Muslims keep in the days before Eid al-Adha. None of them are obligatory, but they are some of the most rewarding fasts of the year.

Do you fast before Eid al-Adha?

You don’t have to, but it is strongly encouraged. The Prophet ﷺ said there are no days in which good deeds are more loved by Allah than the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah (Sahih al-Bukhari 969), and fasting is one of the best deeds. One of the Prophet’s wives reported that he used to fast the first nine days of Dhul Hijjah (Sunan Abu Dawud 2437). Of all those days, the Day of Arafah stands out.

The Day of Arafah fast

Abu Qatadah reported that the Prophet ﷺ was asked about fasting the Day of Arafah and said: “It expiates the sins of the year before and the year after” (Sahih Muslim 1162). That makes it one of the most valuable voluntary fasts there is.

• Who: anyone not on Hajj. Pilgrims at Arafah are advised not to fast, so they have strength for dua. See Eid ul Adha and Hajj.
• When: 9 Dhul Hijjah. In 2027 this is expected on Saturday, May 15 in the US and UK, and Sunday, May 16 in South Asia.
• Which date if your country differs from Saudi Arabia? Scholars differ. Most people fast on the 9th according to their own local calendar. Others fast on the day pilgrims are standing at Arafah. Follow your local scholars.

Dhul Hijjah fasting calendar

The Prophet ﷺ forbade fasting on the two Eids (Sahih al-Bukhari 1992). He called the days of Tashreeq “days of eating, drinking and remembering Allah” (Sahih Muslim 1141). The only exception, in some schools, is a pilgrim who can’t find a hady animal.

Eid morning is a delay, not a fast

On Eid al-Adha, the Sunnah is not to eat until after the Eid prayer, and then to eat from your Qurbani if you can (Jami’ at-Tirmidhi 542). This isn’t a fast. It’s just waiting a couple of hours to have your first meal.

Making up missed Ramadan fasts

If you owe fasts from Ramadan, you can make them up in the first nine days. Many scholars say you may also intend the reward of these days at the same time. If you are a woman who can’t fast during part of these days, you still get the reward of the other good deeds: dhikr, charity and dua.

Other Sunnahs of the first ten days

• Takbeer and dhikr. Say Allahu Akbar, La ilaha illallah and Alhamdulillah often. The words of the Eid takbeer are in Eid takbeer and dua.
• Hair and nails. If you are giving Qurbani, don’t cut your hair or nails from 1 Dhul Hijjah until your animal is sacrificed (Sahih Muslim 1977).
• Charity. Even a small daily sadaqah counts in the best days of the year.

Fasting and Qurbani

Fasting in Dhul Hijjah and Qurbani are separate acts. Missing the fasts doesn’t affect your Qurbani, and fasting doesn’t replace it. They do share a spirit, though: holding back from something you want, for Allah, ending in the sacrifice on Eid day. If you are giving Qurbani through a charity, arrange it before Dhul Hijjah begins, so all you have to do in these ten days is worship.

With us, your animal is slaughtered by hand in rural Bangladesh after the Eid prayer, with no stunning, and the meat goes to Rohingya refugees and poor families. We tell you when it’s done, so you know when you can cut your hair and nails again.

Quick questions

Is Bakrid fasting compulsory? No. All the fasts before Eid al-Adha are voluntary.

Can I fast only the Day of Arafah? Yes. That one fast on its own carries the reward mentioned in the hadith.

Can I fast on the 11th to make up a missed fast? No. Fasting is not allowed on Eid day or the days of Tashreeq.

For the full plan of the season, see the Eid al-Adha 2027 Qurbani guide. To arrange your sacrifice, read how our Qurbani donation works.