2.  Fasting:

The rabbis of the Jews enjoined on the followers of Judaism a sort of fasting during the days of the Babylonian captivity. They prescribed for them fasting in memory of the burning of Jerusalem and its siege. They also prescribed for them the fasting of “Gedaliah” and made it obligatory on them. It is known that the Prophet Moses (peace be upon him) fasted for forty days and forty nights on Mount Sinai in order to receive the words of Allah Almighty. The term “fasting” does not occur in the five Books of Moses, but there was one specific day for fasting, i.e. “Yom Kippur” (the Day of Atonement) that is mentioned.[1] There are other kinds of imposed fasts, such as fasting in memory of the siege of Jerusalem and its downfall and the destruction of the Temple and the killing of Gedaliah and those who accompanied him.[2]

These obligations of fasting were not enjoined on them by Moses (peace be upon him) nor were they included in the Books. Al-Sumaw’al Ibn Yahya al-Maghribi says that this fasting is innovated: “As to fasting in memory of the burning of Jerusalem and that in memory of its siege and the fasting of Gedaliah that you made obligatory, did Moses (peace be upon him) fast on these occasions or impose them, he or his successor Joshua? Or the fasting in memory of the crucifixion of Haman? Does the Torah enjoin these things? Or are they additions made because of certain causes that necessitated them during these ages?”[3]

Ibn Kathir in his commentary sees that “Their fasting lasts from twilight to dust and that if anyone of them performs his prayer and sleeps he will abstain from eating, drinking and women.”[4]