Fasting

كتاب الصوم

Chapter 12: Keeping the Fast free from Imperfection - Section 3

Thabit al-Bunani said that when Anas b. Malik was asked whether they disapproved of cupping for one who was fasting in the time of God’s messenger he replied, “No, except if it had a weakening effect.”Bukhari transmitted it.

Bukhari said without a complete isnad that Ibn ‘Umar used to have himself cupped whan he was fasting. Then he abandoned it and had himself cupped at night.

‘Ata’ said, “If one rinses his mouth and ejects the water in it, swallowing his saliva and anything that remains in it does him no harm; but one should not chew gum, for although I do not say that he breaks his fast [if] he swallows the saliva produced by the gum, he is nevertheless prohibited from doing it.” Bukhari transmitted it in a chapter heading.

Chapter 13: A Traveller’s Fast - Section 1

‘A'isha said that Hamza b. ‘Amr al-Aslami who was greatly devoted to fasting asked the Prophet whether he should fast when on a journey, and received the reply, “Fast if you like, or break your fast if you like.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri said that when they went out on an expedition with God’s messenger on the sixteenth of Ramadan some fasted and some broke their fast, but neither party found fault with the other. Muslim transmitted it.

Jabir said that in the course of a journey God’s messenger saw a crowd and a man who had been put in the shade. On asking the reason and being told that he was fasting he said, “Fasting while on a journey is not a part of righteousness.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Anas said that in the course of a journey with the Prophet when some of them were fasting and others broke their fast, they alighted at a stage on a hot day, and while those who fasted collapsed those who had broken their fast rose and set up the tents and watered the riding-beasts, whereupon God's messenger said, “Those who broke their fast have earned all the reward today.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Ibn ‘Abbas said God's messenger left Medina to go to Mecca and fasted till he reached ‘Usfan. He then called for water, and raising it aloft so that the people might see it, he broke his fast and did not resume it till he reached Mecca, and that was in Ramadan. Ibn ‘Abbas used to say, “God’s messenger has fasted and has broken his fast, so he who wishes may fast and he who wishes may break his fast.” (Bukhari and Muslim.) In a version by Muslim from Jabir it says that he drank after the afternoon prayer.

Chapter 14: A Traveller’s Fast - Section 2

Anas b. Malik al-Ka‘bi reported God’s messenger as saying, “God has remitted half the prayer to the traveller, and fasting to the traveller, the woman who is suckling an infant and the woman who is pregnant.” Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Nasa’i and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Salama b. al-Muhabbiq reported God’s messenger as saying, “If anyone has a riding-beast which carries him to where he can get sufficient food he should observe the fast of Ramadan wherever he is when it comes.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Chapter 15: A Traveller’s Fast - Section 3

Jabir said that God’s messenger went off to Mecca in Ramadan in the year of the Conquest, and he and the people fasted till he came to Kura' al-Ghamim.* He then called for a cup of water which he raised till the people looked at it, and then he drank. He was told afterwards that some of the people had continued to fast, and said, “Those are the disobedient ones; those are the disobedient ones.” *A wadi two stages from Mecca on the way to Medina.Muslim transmitted it.

‘Abd ar-Rahman b. ‘Auf reported God’s messenger as saying, “One who fasts in Ramadan while travelling is like one who breaks his fast when not travelling.” Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Hamza b. ‘Amr al-Aslami told God’s messenger that he found himself strong enough to fast while travelling and asked whether it would be wrong for him to do so. He was told that licence had been given by God who is great and glorious, so that if anyone acted upon this he did well, but if anyone wished to fast he would not be guilty of sin. Muslim transmitted it.

Chapter 16: Completing what has been neglected - Section 1

‘A'isha said that when she had some part of the fast of Ramadan to make up she would be able to do so only in Sha'ban. Yahya b. Sa'id said she meant this was due to her being kept from it by her duty to the Prophet. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “It is not allowable for a woman to fast when her husband is present without his permission,* and she may not allow anyone to enter his house without his permission.” *This refers not to Ramadan, but to a supererogatory fast.Muslim transmitted it.

Mu'adha al-‘Adawiya said that when she asked ‘A'isha why one who has been menstruating must make up for her fast but not for her prayer, she replied, “That happened to us, and we were ordered to make up for the fast, but were not ordered to make up for the prayer.” Muslim transmitted it.

‘A'isha reported God’s messenger as saying, “If anyone dies when some fast due from him has been unfulfilled, his heir must fast on his behalf.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Chapter 17: Completing what has been neglected - Section 2

Nafi‘, on Ibn ‘Umar’s authority, reported the Prophet as saying, “If anyone dies when fasting in the month of Ramadan has been unfulfilled by him, a poor man should be fed on his behalf in place of every day.” Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying that correctly this goes no farther back than Ibn ‘Umar.

Chapter 18: Completing what has been neglected - Section 3

Malik said he heard that Ibn ‘Umar used to be asked whether one might fast or pray on behalf of another, and reply, “One may neither fast nor pray on behalf of another.” He transmitted it in al-Muwatta’.

Chapter 19: Voluntary Fasting - Section 1

‘A'isha said, "God’s messenger used to fast to such an extent that we thought he would never break his fast, and he would go without fasting to such an extent that we thought he would never fast. I never saw God’s messenger fast a complete month except in Ramadan, and I never saw him fast more in any month than in Sha'ban." In a version she said he used to fast the whole of Sha'ban, i.e. he would fast all but a little of Sha'ban. (Bukhari and Muslim.)