Fasting

كتاب الصوم

Chapter 20: Voluntary Fasting - Section 2

Umm Salama said that God’s messenger used to command her to fast three days every month beginning with Monday or Thursday. Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it.

Abu Umama reported God’s messenger as saying, "If anyone fasts for a day while on jihad,* God will put between him and hell a ditch as wide as the distance between heaven and earth." *Mirqat gives this meaning, but says it may refer to the hajj, the 'umra, seeking knowledge, or desiring to please God. The Arabic is 'in God’s way.'Tirmidhi transmitted it.

The tradition of Abu Huraira, “No days are dearer to God”, has been mentioned in the chapter on the sacrifices.**Reference to the first ten days of the month of Dhul Hijjah.

Chapter 21: Voluntary Fasting - Section 3

Ibn ‘Abbas said that God’s messenger came to Medina and found the Jews observing the fast on the day of ‘Ashura’, so he asked them what was the significance of that day which they were observing and they replied, “It is a great day on which God delivered Moses and his people and drowned Pharaoh and his people; so Moses observed it as a fast out of gratitude, and we do so also.” He said, “We have more right, and we have a closer connection with Moses than you have,” so God’s messenger observed it as a fast himself and gave orders that it should be observed. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Hafsa said there were four things the Prophet never omitted

fasting on ‘Ashura’, the first ten days of Dhul Hijja* and three days every month, and praying two rak'as before dawn. *The Arabic has simply 'the ten', to be understood as translated above.Nasa’i transmitted it.

Chapter 22: Section 1

‘A'isha said

The Prophet came to visit me one day and asked if I had anything [to eat]. When I said I had nothing he replied, “Then I shall observe a fast.” When he came to me another day and I told him I had been given a present of some hais* he said, “Show me it, for I began the day fasting.” Then he ate. *A mixture of dates and clarified butter.Muslim transmitted it.

Chapter 23: Section 2

Umm ‘Umara, daughter of Ka‘b, said that once when the Prophet visited her and she called for food for him, he told her that she must eat also; but when she replied that she was fasting he said, “When people eat beside one who is fasting the angels invoke blessings on him till they finish eating.” Ahmad, Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it.

Chapter 26: Lailat al-Qadr - Section 2

‘A'isha said she asked God’s messenger to tell her what prayers to say on lailat al-qadr if she knew which night it was, and he told her to say, “O God, Thou art forgiving and lovest forgiveness, so forgive me.” Ahmad, Ibn Majah, and Tirmidhi transmitted it, and Tirmidhi declared it to be sound.

Chapter 28: Private Devotional Exercises in a Mosque - Section 1

Ibn ‘Abbas said that God’s messenger was the most generous of men, and he was as generous as possible in Ramadan. Gabriel used to meet him every night in Ramadan and the Prophet would go over the Qur’an to him. When Gabriel met him he was more generous than the wind which blows freely. (Bukhari and Muslim.)