In this post I will show how the Lord Jesus condemns Muhammad as an inconsistent, lying hypocrite.
WARNING AGAINST FASTING LIKE THE HYPOCRITES
The Lord Jesus warned his followers from praying and fasting like the hypocrites, which in context refers to disbelieving Jews:
“When you fast, do not look sullen like the hypocrites, for they make their faces unattractive so that people will see them fasting. I tell you the truth, they have their reward!When you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,so that it will not be obvious to others when you are fasting, but only to your Father who is in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.” Matthew 6:16-18 New English Bible (NET)
There is historical evidence showing that the religious Jews would fast twice a week, specifically on Monday and Thursday, a practice which our Lord alluded to in his parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector:
“Jesus also told this parable to some who were confident that they were righteous and looked down on everyone else. ‘Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed about himself like this: “God, I thank you that I am not like other people: extortionists, unrighteous people, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice[ai] a week; I give a tenth of everything I get.” The tax collector, however, stood far off and would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, “God, be merciful[am] to me, sinner that I am!” I tell you that this man went down to his home justified rather than the Pharisee. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.’” Luke 18:9-14
ai. Luke 18:12 sn The law only required fasting on the Day of Atonement. Such voluntary fasting as this practiced twice a week by the Pharisee normally took place on Monday and Thursday. NET (Bold emphasis mine)
This is why a first century Christian manual warns believers from fasting on these particular days, exhorting them to fast on Wednesdays and Fridays instead:
Chapter 8. Concerning Fasting and Prayer (the Lord’s Prayer)
But let not your fasts be with the hypocrites; Matthew 6:16 for they fast on the second and fifth day of the week; but fast on the fourth day and the Preparation (Friday). Neither pray as the hypocrites; but as the Lord commanded in His Gospel, thus pray: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, as in heaven, so on earth. Give us today our daily (needful) bread, and forgive us our debt as we also forgive our debtors. And bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one (or, evil); for Yours is the power and the glory forever. Thrice in the day thus pray. (The Didache ; bold emphasis mine)
Here is where Muhammad comes in.
According to the allegedly sound hadiths, Muhammad’s practice was to fast on Mondays and Thursdays, obviously in imitation of the Jews whom he sought to appease and win over to his cause:
43 The Fasting Of Sayyidina Rasoolullah
‘A’isha said:
“The Prophet was devoutly committed to fasting every Monday and Thursday.”
Grade: Sahih Isnād (Zubair `Aliza’i)
Reference: Ash-Shama’il Al-Muhammadiyah 304
In-book reference: Book 43, Hadith 7 (sunnah.com https://sunnah.com/shamail:304; emphasis mine)
14 Fasting (Kitab Al-Siyam)
(827) Chapter: Regarding Fasting Monday And Thursday
Narrated Usamah ibn Zayd:
The client of Usamah ibn Zayd said that he went along with Usamah to Wadi al-Qura in pursuit of his camels. He would fast on Monday and Thursday. His client said to him: Why do you fast on Monday and Thursday, while you are an old man? He said: The Prophet of Allah used to fast on Monday and Thursday. When he was asked about it, he said: The works of the servants (of Allah) are presented (to Allah) on Monday and Thursday.
Grade: Sahih (Al-Albani)
Reference: Sunan Abi Dawud 2436
In-book reference: Book 14, Hadith 124
English translation: Book 13, Hadith 2430 (sunnah.com https://sunnah.com/abudawud:2436; emphasis mine)
8 The Book on Fasting
(44) Chapter: What Has Been Related About Fasting On Monday And Thursday
Aishah narrated: “The Prophet used to try to fast on Mondays and Thursdays.”
Grade: Sahih (Darussalam)
Reference: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 745
In-book reference: Book 8, Hadith 64
English translation: Vol. 2, Book 3, Hadith 745 (sunnah.com https://sunnah.com/tirmidhi:745; emphasis mine)
7 Fasting (42) Chapter: Fasting on Mondays and Thursdays
It was narrated from Rabi’ah bin Ghaz that he asked ‘Aishah about the fasting of the Messenger of Allah. She said:
“He used to make sure he fasted on Mondays and Thursdays.”
Grade: Sahih (Darussalam)
Reference: Sunan Ibn Majah 1739
In-book reference: Book 7, Hadith 102
English translation: Vol. 1, Book 7, Hadith 1739 (sunnah.com https://sunnah.com/ibnmajah:1739; emphasis mine)
22 The Book of Fasting
(70) Chapter: The fast of the Prophet
It was narrated that Hafsah said:
“When the Messenger of Allah would lie down, he would place his right hand under his right cheek, and he used to fast on Mondays and Thursday.”
Grade: Sahih (Darussalam)
Reference: Sunan an-Nasa’i 2367
In-book reference: Book 22, Hadith 278
English translation: Vol. 3, Book 22, Hadith 2369 (sunnah.com https://sunnah.com/nasai:2367; emphasis mine)
As such, Muhammad stands condemned as a hypocrite for adopting the fast of hypocrites whom the risen Lord of glory rebuked and warned against.
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