It is recommended to fast on this day even if one does not fast a day before or after it, because it is one of the virtuous days, and honoring it by fasting is desirable, as mentioned in Badā'i al-Ṣanā'i' 2: 79, and Al-Baḥr Al-Rā'iq 2: 278. This is supported by the general hadiths regarding the virtue of fasting, such as the saying of the Prophet (peace be upon him): "There is no servant who fasts a day in the cause of Allah except that Allah distances his face from the Fire by seventy autumns for that day," in Sahih Muslim 2: 808, Al-Musnad Al-Mustakhraj 2: 229, Sunan Al-Nasa'i 2: 97, and Sunan Al-Darimi 2: 267. Also, the hadith of Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him): "The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to fast three days from the beginning of every month, and he rarely broke his fast on Friday," in Sahih Ibn Hibban 8: 406, Al-Jami' Al-Tirmidhi 3: 118, which he deemed good, Sunan Al-Nasa'i 2: 122, Al-Mujtabā 4: 204, Al-Musnad Al-Shāshi 2: 112, Al-Musnad Ahmad 1: 406, and Al-Musnad Abu Ya'la 9: 206. The hadith is to be taken at face value, and its authority is not undermined by the possibility arising from no evidence that it might not be intentional to break the fast if it falls on the days he used to fast. See: 'Umdat Al-Qari Sharh Sahih Al-Bukhari 11: 105. Malik said in Al-Muwatta 1: 311: "I have not heard anyone from the people of knowledge and jurisprudence, whom one can follow, prohibiting fasting on Friday, and fasting on it is good."