Question:
Is there a hadith stating that deeds are presented on Mondays and Thursdays?
Answer:
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
Allah SWT created humans with the purpose of devoting themselves to Allah SWT. Furthermore, Allah SWT also commanded His slaves to obey His commandments and avoid His prohibitions.
- Allah SWT states:
وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ
“And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.”
Surah al-Zariyat (56)
- In another verse, Allah SWT states:
مَّا يَلْفِظُ مِن قَوْلٍ إِلَّا لَدَيْهِ رَقِيبٌ عَتِيدٌ
“Man does not utter any word except that with him is an observer prepared [to record].”
Surah al-Qaf (18)
The above verse describes that for every act of a human, it will be recorded by the angels and presented in front of Allah SWT. While in regards to the question asked, there are several hadith that mentioned it. Some of them are:
- From Abu Hurairah RA, the prophet PBUH said:
تُعْرَضُ الأَعْمَالُ يَوْمَ الِاثْنَيْنِ وَالخَمِيسِ، فَأُحِبُّ أَنْ يُعْرَضَ عَمَلِي وَأَنَا صَائِمٌ
"Deeds are presented on Monday and Thursday, and I love that my deeds be presented while I am fasting."
Sunan al-Tirmizi (747) [Imam al-Tirmizi states the status of this hadith is hasan gharib]
- From Usamah bin Zaid, the Prophet PBUH said:
ذَانِكَ يَوْمَانِ تُعْرَضُ فِيهِمَا الْأَعْمَالُ عَلَى رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ، فَأُحِبُّ أَنْ يُعْرَضَ عَمَلِي وَأَنَا صَائِمٌ
“Those are two days in which deeds are shown to the Lord of the worlds, and I like my deeds to be shown (to Him) when I am fasting.”
Sunan al-Nasa’ie (2358)
This hadith does not refute the hadith of the Prophet PBUH, where he said the deeds at night is lifted before day and the deeds of the day are lifted before night. The reason is, there is a difference between the deeds being lifted and being presented. The reason is, all deeds are compiled for a week before presented on these two days (Mondays and Thursdays).
Ibn Hajar said, it also does not repudiate the fact that deeds are lifted in the month of Sya’ban as stated in the hadith of the Prophet PBUH, where the Prophet PBUH said: “It is a month in which the deeds are taken up to the Lord of the worlds, and I like that my deeds be taken up when I am fasting.” This shows that deeds that are taken up to Allah weekly are specific deeds, while the general deeds are lifted annually. (See Tuhfah al-Ahwazi, 375/3)
Among the lessons that we could take from this hadith is that all deeds are lifted and presented to Allah SWT, whether it be taken up once a year in the month of Sya’ban as stated by the Prophet PBUH or lifted weekly on Mondays and Thursdays. (See Hasyiah Ibn al-Qayyim of Sunan Abu Daud, 12:313)
Another wisdom from this hadith is the benefit of fasting on Mondays and Thursdays. Thus, it is sunnah (encouraged) for us to fast on these two days as stated in madhhab al-Syafie Rahimahullah, in accordance with the words of the beloved wife of the Prophet PBUH:
From Aisyah RA, she said:
كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَتَحَرَّى صَوْمَ الِاثْنَيْنِ وَالخَمِيسِ
“The Prophet PBUH used to try to fast on Mondays and Thursdays.”
Sunan al-Tirmizi (745)
Closing
As a conclusion. We are encouraged to fast on Mondays and Thursdays in accordance with the above stated hadith. Among the wisdoms we are asked to fast on these days is, our deeds are presented by the angels to Allah SWT on these two days. Lastly, may Allah SWT make us from among the believers who are consistent in their worship towards Him. Amin.
Wallahua’lam.