The Book of Fasting

كتاب الصيام

Chapter 19: Fasting on the day of Ashura'

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

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).

Ibn'Abbas (Allah be pleased with both of them) reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) arrived in Medina and found the Jews observing fast on the day of 'Ashura. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to them

What is the (significance) of this day that you observe fast on it? They said: It is the day of great (significance) when Allah delivered Moses and his people, and drowned the Pharaoh and his people, and Moses observed fast out of gratitude and we also observe it. Upon this the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: We have more right, and we have a closer connection with Moses than you have; so Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) observed fast (on the day of 'Ashura), and gave orders that it should be observed.

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

Abu Musa (Allah be pleased with him) reported

The day of 'Ashura was one which the Jews respected and they treated it as Id. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: You also observe fast on this day.

Abu Musa reported that the people of Khaibar (most of them were Jews) observed fast on the day of 'Ashura and they treated it as 'Id and gave their women ornaments and beautiful dresses to wear. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said

You (only) observe fast on this day.

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.

A hadith like this has been narrated on the authority of 'Ubaidullah b. Abi Yazid.

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.

Hakam b. 'Araj reported

I asked Ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with them) as he was reclining using his cloak as a pillow near Zamzam about fasting on 'Ashura. The rest of the hadith is the same.

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.

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 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.

Khalid b. Dhakwan reported

I asked Rubayyi' daugther of Mu'awwidh about fasting on the day of 'Ashura. Thereupon she said: The Messenger of Allah (may peace he upon him) sent his messenger to the villages of the Ansar, and the rest of the hadith is the same (but with this variation that one of the Companions) said:" We used to make toys out of wool and took (them to the mosque) along with us. When they (the children) asked us for food, we gave them these toys to play with, and these made them forgetful till they completed their fast."

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

Abu Ubaid, the freed slave of Ibn Azhar, reported

I observed Id along with Umar b. al-Khattab (Allah be pleased with him). He came (out in an open space) and prayed and (after) completing it addressed the people and said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) has forbidden the observing of fast on these two days. One is the day of Fitr (at the end of your fasts), and the second one, the day when you eat (the meat) of your sacrifices.

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.