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

Umm al-Fadl (Allah be pleased with her) is reported to have said that some people among the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) were in doubt about fasting on the day of 'Arafa and we were with him on that day. I (Umm al-Fadl) sent him a cup of milk and he was halting at 'Arafa, and he drank that.

Kuraib, the freed slave of Ibn 'Abbas (Allah be pleased with him), reported from Maimuna, the wife of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), that people had doubt about the fasting of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) on the day of 'Arafa. Maimuna sent him a cup of milk and he was halting at a place and he drank it and the people were seeing him.

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 in the pre-Islamic days and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) also observed it. When he migrated to Medina, he himself observed this fast and commanded (others) to observe it. But when fasting during the month of Ramadan was made obligatory he said

He who wishes to observe this fast may do so, and he who wishes to abandon it may do so.

This hadith is narrated on the authority of Hisham with the same chain of transmitters, but he made no mention in the first part of the hadith that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to observe fast, and said about the second part that he abandoned the (fast) of Ashura, and he who wished observed the fast and who wished otherwise abandoned it, and he did not hold it as the words of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) as mentioned in the narration transmitted by Jarir.

'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).

'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.

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.

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).

'Abdullah b. Umar (Allah be pleased with them) reported that the day of 'Ashura was mentioned before the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and he said

It is a day when the people in the pre-Islamic days need to observe fast, so he who wishes to observe fast should do so, and he who wishes to abandon it should do so.

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.

'Alqama reported that Ash'ath b. Qais went to Ibn Mas'udd while he was eating on the day of Ashura. Thereupon he said

Abu Abd al-Rahman, it is the day of 'Ashura (and you are eating). Upon this he said: Fast was observed on (this day) before the (fasting) in Ramadan was made obligatory, but when it was made obligatory, (fasting on the day of 'Ashura) was abandoned. So if you are not fasting, then take food.

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.

Abd al-Rahman reported that he heard Mu'awiya b. Abu Sufyan delivering a sermon in Medina. i. e. when he came there (for Hajj). He delivered a sermon on the day of 'Ashura and said

People of Medina, where are your scholars? I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say on this very day: It is the day of 'Ashura. Allah has not made fasting on This day obligatory for you but I am fasting. He who likes to observe fast among you should do so, and he who likes not to observe it may not observe it.