Is it permissible to fast on Nisfu Syaban when you still have Ramadan fasting debts? This is the Ulema’s explanation

As the night of Nisfu Syaban approaches, many Muslims are starting to prepare themselves to increase their sunnah practices. One of the most widely practiced practices is the Nisfu Syaban fast, which falls on the 15th of Shaban. This year, the night of Nisfu Syaban 2026 will take place on Monday, February 2 2026, until just before dawn, Tuesday, February 3, 2026.

However, entering the month of Shaban which is known to be full of virtues, one question arises which is often in the spotlight: is it permissible to fast on Nisfu Shaban if you still have Ramadan fasting debts? Or should Muslims prioritize qadha fasting which is mandatory?

The Nisfu Syaban fast is a sunnah worship carried out on the 15th of Shaban. Even though it is not an obligation, this fasting has a clear basis in the Shari’a.

The caretaker of the Cirebon Al-Bahjah Islamic Boarding School, Buya Yahya, emphasized that fasting on the 15th of Shaban is not a forbidden practice or heresy. As long as it is done within the corridors of sunnah fasting taught by Rasulullah SAW, the law is still recommended.

The month of Shaban is a month that is recommended to increase sunnah fasting. Rasulullah SAW is known to fast more often this month in preparation for welcoming Ramadan.

The 13th, 14th and 15th of each month are Ayyamul Bidh, the white days on which it is sunnah to fast, including when they fall in the month of Shaban.

Thus, fasting on the 15th of Shaban has a strong basis without being believed to be a special obligatory worship.

In view of the jurisprudence, people who still have Ramadan fasting debts are still allowed to observe sunnah fasts, including the Nisfu Syaban fast. There is no valid argument that prohibits them from fasting sunnah.

However, scholars agree that qadha fasting is more important because of its mandatory status. In fact, the month of Shaban is the recommended time to replace Ramadan fasting, as confirmed in the hadith of Aisyah RA:

“I have a debt for fasting during Ramadan, so I cannot repay it except in the month of Shaban.” (HR. Bukhari and Muslim)

The next question is whether the intention to fast Qadha Ramadan can be combined with the intention to fast Nisfu Syaban. Scholars have different opinions regarding this matter.

According to Wahbah az-Zuhaili, combining intentions is permissible if both acts of worship are sunnah.

Abu Yusuf explained that if you combine obligatory fasting and sunnah, then what is valid is the obligatory worship, while the sunnah reward does not stand alone.

In the Shafi’i school of thought, some scholars recommend separating intentions to make them more perfect, but Ibn Hajar al-Haitami and Sheikh Ar-Ramli allow combining intentions, as long as fasting is done at a time that has priority.

Nisfu Syaban fasting can still be done even if someone still has Ramadan fasting debts. However, scholars emphasize that prioritizing qadha fasting is the more important choice.

Combining the intention of qadha and Nisfu Syaban fasting is also considered valid according to some opinions, although it is more careful if done separately. ***