The Book of Fasting

كتاب الصيام

Chapter 19: Fasting on the day of Ashura'

'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported that the Quraish used to fast on the day of Ashura during the pre-Islamic days. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) then commanded to fast on that day till (fasting) in Ramadan became obligatory. Then the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said

He who wishes to fast should do so, and he who wishes to break it may do so.

A hadith like this has been narrated on the authority of Abdullah through the same chain of transmitters.

Ibn 'Umar (Allah be pleased with them) said that the day of 'Ashura was mentioned before the Messenger of Allah (may peace he upon him). Thereupon the Messenger of Allah, (ﷺ) said

That was a day on which the people of pre-Islamic days used to observe fast. So he who amongst you likes to observe fast should do so, and he who does not like it should abandon it.

Abdullah b. 'Umar (Allah be pleased with both of them) reported that he heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say about the day of Ashura

It is a day on which the people of pre-Islamic days observed fast. So he who liked to fast on this day should do so, and he who liked to abandon it should abandon it. 'Abdullah (Allah be pleased with him) did not observe fast except when it coincided (with the days when he was in the habit of observing voluntary fasts during every month).

Abdullah b. Umar (Allah be pleased with them) reported that the day of 'Ashura was mentioned before the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and he narrated a hadith like one (narrated above).

Jabir b Samura reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) commanded us to observe fast on the day of Ashura and exhorted us to do it and was particular about it But when (fasting) in Ramadan was made obligatory, he hence. forth neither commanded us nor forbade us, nor was he so particular about it.

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

Ibn Abbas was asked about observing of fast on the day of Ashura, whereupon he said

I do not know Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) singling out any day's fast and considering it more excellent than another, except this day (the day of Ashura) and this month, meaning the month of Ramadan.

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

Hakam b. al-'Araj reported

I went to Ibn 'Abbas (Allah be Pleased with both of them) and he was reclining using his mantle as a pillow near the fountain of Zamzam. I said to him: Tell me about fasting on Ashura. He said: When you see the new moon of Muharram then count the (days) and observe fast on the 9th. I said to him: Is it how the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) observed the fast? He said: Yes.

Abdullah b 'Abbas reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had said

If I live till the next (year), I would definitely observe fast on the 9th, and the narration transmitted by Abu Bakr is:" He meant the day of Ashura."

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

Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) forbade fasting on these two days. 'Id-ul-Adha and 'Id-ul-Fitr.

Qaza'a related from Abu Sa'id. He said

I heard from him (Abu Sa'id) a hadith which impressed me, and I said to him: Did you hear it from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)? Thereupon he said: (Is it possible) that (I should) say about the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) that which I have not heard? I heard him saying: It is not proper to fast on two days, Adha and Fitr (at the end) of Ramadan.

Ziyad b. Jubair reported that a person came to Ibn 'Umar (Allah be pleased with them) and said

I had taken a vow that I would fast on the day (but it accidentally) synchronises with the day of Adha or the day of Fitr. Thereupon Ibn 'Umar (Allah be pleased with him) said: Allah, the Exalted, has commanded fulfilling of the vow, but the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) has forbidden the observance of fast on this day.

Chapter 24: It is disliked to single out Friday for fasting, unless it coincides with a day that one customarily fasts

Muhammad b. 'Abbas b. Ja'far reported

I asked Jabir b. 'Abdullah (Allah be pleased with both of them) as he was circumambulating the House (Ka'ba) whether the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had forbidden the fasting on Friday, whereupon he said: Yes, by the Lord of this House.

Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) as saying

None among you should observe fast on Friday, but only that he observes fast before it and after it.

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

In another version of the previous hadith, the words are

" Yahya said: I think it was due to the regard for the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)."

Chapter 27: Making up fasts on behalf of the deceased

'Abdullah b. Buraida (Allah be pleased with him) reported on the authority of his father

I was sitting with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) ; the rest of the hadith is the same but with this variation that the (the narrator) said:" Fasts of two months."

Chapter 30: The Virtue of Fasting

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying

Allah, the Majestic and the Exalted, said: Every act of the son of Adam is for him except fasting. It is done for My sake, and I will give a reward for it. By Allah in Whose Hand is the life of Muhammad, the breath of the observer of fast is sweeter to Allah than the fragrance of musk.

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying

Fasting is a shield.

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying

Allah the Exalted and Majestic said: Every act of the son of Adam is for him, except fasting. It is (exclusively) meant for Me and I (alone) will reward it. Fasting is a shield. When any one of you is fasting on a day, he should neither indulge in obscene language, nor raise the voice; or if anyone reviles him or tries to quarrel with him he should say: I am a person fasting. By Him, in Whose Hand is the life of Muhammad, the breath of the observer of fast is sweeter to Allah on the Day of judgment than the fragrance of musk. The one who fasts has two (occasions) of joy, one when he breaks the fast he is glad with the breaking of (the fast) and one when he meets his Lord he is glad with his fast.