The Book of Fasting

كتاب الصيام

Chapter 40: The virtue of Lailat Al-Qadr and the Exhortation to seek it; When it is and the most likely times to seek it

Ibn Umar (Allah be pleased with them) reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying

He who is anxious to seek it (Lailat-ul-Qadr) should seek it in the last ten (nights of Ramadan).

'Abdullah b. Unais reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying

I was shown Lailat-ul-Qadr; then I was made to forget it, and saw that I was prostrating in water and clay in the morning of that (night). He (the narrator) said: There was a downpour on the twenty-third night and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) led us in prayer, and as he went back, there was a trace of water and clay on his forehead and on his nose. He (the narrator) said: 'Abdullah b. Unais used to say that it was the twenty-third (night).

'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) and Ibn Numair reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying

Look for (and in the words of Waki, seek) Lailat-ul-Qadr in the last ten nights of Ramadan.

Chapter 11: The prohibition of Al-Wisal

Ibn 'Umar reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) observed fasts uninterruptedly in Ramadan and the people (in his wake) did this. But he forbade them to do so. It was said to him (to the Holy Prophet)

You yourself observe the fasts uninterruptedly (but you forbid us to do so) Upon this he said: I am not like you; I am fed and supplied drink (by Allah).

Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) as saying (the words as said in the previous hadith) but with this alteration (of words)

" Take upon yourselves (the burden of the deeds) for which you have the strength to bear."

Chapter 12: Clarifying that Kissing when fasting is not unlawful for the one whose desire is not provoked by that

'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) said that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to embrace (his wives) while fasting.

Hafsa (Allah be pleased with her) reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) kissed (his wives) while fasting.

A hadith like this has been narrated by Hafsa (Allah be pleased with her) through another chain of transmitters.

Umar b Abu Salama reported that he asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)

Should one observing fast kiss (his wife)? The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to him: Ask her (Umm Salama). She informed him that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) did that, where upon he said: Messenger of Allah, Allah pardoned thee all thy sins, the previous and the later ones. Upon this the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) ) said: By Allah, I am the most God conscious among you and I fear Him most among you.

Chapter 13: The fasting is valid for the one who is Junub when dawn comes

'A'isha, the wife of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), said

The dawn broke upon the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) during the Ramadan in a state of junub not because of sexual dream (but on account of intercourse) and he washed himself and observed fast.

Abu Bakr reported that Marwan sent him to Umm Salama to ask whether a person should observe fast who is in a state of junub and the dawn breaks upon him, whereupon she said that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) (was at times) junbi on account of intercourse and not due to sexual dream, and the dawn broke upon him, but he neither broke the fast nor recompensed.

Chapter 14: The strict prohibition of intercourse during the day in Ramadan for one who is fasting; And the obligation of offering major expiation and the definition thereof; And that it is obligatory for both the one who can afford it and the one who cannot afford it, and it remains an obligation for the one who cannot afford it until he has the means

A hadith like this has been narrated on the authority of Muhammad b. Muslim al-Zuhri with the same chain of transmitters, and he said

There was brought an 'araq containing dates, an 'araq being a huge basket. But in this hadith no mention has been made of (the fact) that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) laughed till his molar teeth became visible.

Abu Huraira reported that a person had intercourse with his wife during Ramadan (while fasting). He asked for the religious verdict (about it) from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), whereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said

Can you find a slave (to grant him freedom)? He said: No. He (the Prophet again) said: Can you afford to observe fasts for two (consecutive) months? He said: No. He (the Holy Prophet) said: Then feed sixty poor men.

'Abbad b. Abdullah b. Zubair narrated that he heard 'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) saying

A person came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), and he then narrated the hadith. But (neither these words are found):" Give charity, give charity" (nor) his words:" during the day time".

Chapter 15: It is permissible to fast or not to fast during Ramadan for one who is travelling for no sinful purpose, if his journey is two stages or further. But it is better for the one who is able to fast without suffering any harm to do so, and the one for whom it is difficult may break the fast

It has been narrated on the authority of Zuhri with the same chain of transmitters that breaking of fast (in a journey) is the final of the two commands (whether one may fast or one may break it), and it is the last command of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) which is to be accepted as final. Zuhri said

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) marched on Mecca on the morning of 14th of Ramadan (lit. when thirteen nights had passed).

A hadlth like this has been transmitted on the authority of Ibn Shibab who said that they (the Compnions of the Holy Prophet) followed the latest of his commands and looked upon it as one abrogating (the previous ones) and the most firm.

Abu Khalid al-Ahmar narrated from Humaid who said

I went out and was fasting; they said to me: Break (lit. go back, repeat). He said that Anas reported that the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to set out on a journey and neither the observer of the fast found fault with the breaker of the fast, nor the breaker of the fast found fault with the observer of the fast. (One of the narrators Humaid said): I met Ibn Abi Mulaika who informed me the same thing on the authority of 'A'isha.

Chapter 17: The choice between fasting and not fasting when travelling

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Hisham with the same chain of transmitters.

Hamza b. 'Amr al-Aslami (Allah be pleased with him) said

Messenger of Allah, I find strength in me for fasting on a journey; is there any sin upon me (in doing it)? Thereupon the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: It is a concession from Allah. He who took advantage of it, it is good for him, and he who preferred to observe fast, there is no sin upon him. Harun (one of the narrators) in his narration said: 'lt is a concession, and he made no mention of" from Allah".

Abu Darda' (Allah be pleased with him) reported

We set out during the month of Ramadan with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) in such an intense heat that one of us would place his hand over his head (in order to protect himself) against the excessive heat, and none among us was observing the fast, except the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and 'Abdullah b. Rawaha.