The Book of Fasting

كتاب الصيام

Chapter 18: It is recommended for the person performing Hajj in 'Arafat not to fast on the day of 'Arafah.

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Abu Nadr with the same chain of transmitters, but he did not mention that he was mounting (riding on) his camel.

This hadith has been narrated by Abu Nadr on the authority of Umair, the freed slave of Umm al-Fadl, through the same chain of transmitters.

Chapter 19: Fasting on the day of Ashura'

'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported. In the pre-Islamic days fast was observed on the day of Ashura, but with the advent of Islam (its position was ascertained as that of a voluntary fast). Then he who wished to fast fasted, and he who liked to abandon it abandoned it.

'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had ordered to observe fast (on 'Ashura) before the fasting in Ramadan was made obligatory. But when it became obligatory, then he who wished fasted on the day of Ashura, and he who wished did not observe it (on that day).

Abdullah b. 'Umar (Allah be pleased with them) reported that (the Arabs of) pre-Islamic days used to observe fast on the day of Ashura and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) observed it and the Muslims too (observed it) before fasting in Ramadan became obligatory. But when it became obligatory, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said

'Ashura is one of the days of Allah, so he who wished should observe fast and he who wished otherwise should abandon it.

Abd al-Rahman b. Yazid said

When al-Ash'ath b. Qais entered the house of 'Abdullah he was having his breakfast. He ('Abdullah b. Umar) said: Abd Muhammad (al-Asha'th), come near to the breakfast. Thereupon he said: Is not today the day of 'Ashura? He ('Abd al-Rahman) said: Do you know what the day of 'Ashura is? He said: What is it? He said: It is a day on which the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to observe fast before the (fasting) in the month of Ramadan (became) obligatory. But when it became obligatory the (fasting of 'Ashura) was abandoned (as compulsory). Abu Kuraib said: He (the Holy Prophet) abandoned it.

This hadith has been narrated from Jarir on the authority of A'mash with the same chain of transmitters and he said (these words with a little bit of variation from the previous hadith)

When (fasting) in Ramadan was (made) obligatory, he abandoned it (the practice of observing fast on Ashura).

Qais b Sakan reported that al-Ash'ath b. Qais went to 'Abdullah on the day of 'Ashura while he was eating. He said

Abu Muhammad, come near and dine. Upon this he said: I am fasting. Thereupon he said: We used to observe fast and then (this practice) was abandoned.

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Zuhri with the same chain of transmitters that be heard Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) as saying on a similar day

I am fasting today, so he who wishes to observe fast should do so; but he did not make mention of the rest of the hadith.

Ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with both of them) reported that when Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) came to Medina, he found the Jews observing the fast on the day of Ashura. They (the Jews) were asked about it and they said

It is the day on which Allah granted victory to Moses and (his people) Bani Isra'il over the Pharaoh and we observe fast out of gratitude to Him. Upon this the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: We have a closer connection with Moses than you have, and he commanded to observe fast on this day.

This hadith has been narrated by Ibn Bishr with the same chain of transmitters (but with a slight variation) that he (the Holy Prophet) inquired of them (Jews) about it (fasting on the day of 'Ashura).

Chapter 20: Which day should be fasted for 'Ashura?

Ibn 'Abbas reported that when the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) fasted on the day of 'Ashura and commanded that it should he observed as a fast, they (his Companions) said to him

Messenger of Allah, it is a day which the Jews and Christians hold in high esteem. Thereupon the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: When the next year comes, God willing, we would observe fast on the 9th But the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) died before the advent of the next year.

Chapter 21: Whoever eats on'Ashura, let him refrain (from eating) for the rest of the day

Salama b. al-Akwa' (Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) sent a person of the tribe of Aslam on the day of 'Ashura and commanded him to declare to the people to observe fast in case they had not observed it, and to complete fast till evening if they had taken food

Rubayyi' daughter of Mu'awwidh b. 'Afra' said that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) sent (a person) on the morning of Ashura to the villages of Ansar around Medina (with this message)

He who got up in the morning fasting (without eating anything) he should complete his fast, and he who had had his breakfast in the morning, he should complete the rest of the day (without food). The Companions said; We henceforth observed fast on it (on the day of 'Ashura) and, God willing, made our children observe that. We went to the mosque and made toys out of wool for them and when anyone felt hungry and wept for food we gave them these toys till it was the time to break the fast.

Chapter 22: The prohibition of fasting on the two days of 'Id

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) forbade to observe fast on two days the day of Fitr and the day of Sacrifice ('Id-ul-Adha).

Chapter 23: The prohibition of fasting the days of At-Tashriq, which are the days of eating, drinking and remembering Allah, The Mighty and Sublime

Ibn Ka'b b. Malik reported on the authority of his father that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) sent him and Aus b. Hadathan during the days of Tashriq to make this announcement

None but the believer would be admitted into Paradise, and the days of Mina' are the days meant for eating and drinking.

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Ibrahim b. Tahman with the same chain of transmitters but with this variation that he said

Both of them made the announcement."

Chapter 26: It is Permissible to delay making up missed Ramadan Fasts until before the next Ramadan comes, and this is for those who broke the fast for a reason such as sickness, travel, menstruation and the like

Abu Salama reported

I heard 'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) as saying: I had to complete some of the fasts of Ramadan, but I could not do it but during the month of Sha'ban due to my duties to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) or with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).

Chapter 27: Making up fasts on behalf of the deceased

Ibn 'Abbas (Allah be pleased with both of them) reported

A woman came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and said: My mother has died, and fasts of a month are due from her. Thereupon he said: Don't you see that if debt was due from her, would you not pay it? She said: Yes (I would pay on her behalf). Thereupon he said: The debt of Allah deserves its payment more than (the payment of anyone else).

Ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with them) reported

A woman came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and said: Messenger of Allah, my mother has died and there is due from her a fast of vow; should I fast on her behalf? Thereupon he said: You see that if your mother had died in debt, would it not have been paid on her behalf? She said: Yes. He (the Holy Prophet) said: Then observe fast on behalf of your mother.