The Book of Fasting (Kitab Al-Sawm)
INTRODUCTION
After prayer the second obligatory duty which every Muslim is required toper- form is
that of fasting during the month of Ramadan. The word sawm which has been used in the Holy
Qur'an and the Hadith for fasting means" to abstain" ; thus a horse that
abstains from moving about or from eating the fodder is said to be sa'im. In the technical
language sawm signifies fasting or abstaining from food and drink and sexual intercourse
from the dim beginning of dawn till sunset.
Fasting as an institution for the purification of the soul is common to all Divine
religions. The writer of the article on" Fasting" in the Encyclopadia Britannica
states that" it would be difficult to name any religious system of any description in
which it is wholly unrecognized." This institution was well established among the
Jews and the Christians.
The records of the Hadith bear ample testimony to the fact that fasting was a common
religious practice among the pre-Islamic Arabs too, and they used to observe fast on the
tenth of Muharram because it was on this very day that Allah saved Moses and his
companions from the clutches of the Pharaoh who was drowned in the sea along with his
army. The Arabs and other people too were familiar with fasting as an act of penitence or
of propitiation or a preparatory rite before some act of sacramental eating or an
initiation or a mourning ceremony.
In Islam fasting is primarily an institution for a spiritual discipline and
selfcontrol. It is in fact an exercise in religious devotion in the form of cheerful and
willing renunciation, for a definite period, of all the appetites of flesh lawful in
themselves (the unlawful ones being ruled out of course). The Qur'an says:
0 ye who believe! prescribed unto you is fasting even as it was prescribed unto those
before you. that haply you may become God-conscious (ii. 183).
Of all the creation of God only man deviates from His path. We will find that two
things are mainly responsible for this: the love for material possessions and the tempta-
tions of the flesh. Islam has, through the institutions of Zakat and Sadaqat, purged the
hearts of its followers from the love of wealth, and has inculcated in him the habit to
part with it readily for the sake of God.
Fasting has been ordained as a religious duty for the Muslims for subduing their lust
and keeping their appetites well within reasonable bounds so that man may not become their
slave and lose control over himself. The Qur'an clearly states that a man cannot attain
salvation unless he learns to restrain his self from low desires." And as for him who
fears to stand before his Lord and restrains himself from low desires, Paradise is surely
the abode" (lxxix. 40-41).
The exercise of abstaining from things otherwise lawful in the ordinary course of life,
at the behest of Allah, strengthens man's morality and self-control and deepens in him the
consciousness of the Lord. This is what distinguishes fasting in Islam from fasting in
other religions.
It should also be borne in mind that fasting does not aim at inflicting punishment upon
people or sadding upon them unbearable burdens. The underlying idea behind it is to teach
moderation and spiritual discipline so that human temptations may not become so wild and
uncontrollable as to flout the commands of the Great Master. To be a true servant of
Allah, it is essential that man should be able to conform his behaviour to the moral and
spiritual discipline embodied in the Shari'ah of Islam. One cannot achieve this end if one
finds oneself helpless before untamed and turbulent desires. Fasting is indispensable for
this moral and spiritual training.
Another distinguishing feature of Islamic fasting is that it does not train a person
for complete renunication but for perfect and cheerful obedience to the Lord All those
things from which man is commanded to abstain during fast, e. g. eating, drinking and
sexual intercourse, become permissible for him at the end of the fast. This shows that
Islam does not look down upon the appetite of flesh as something ignoble and thus fit to
be exterminated root and branch from the human soul. According to Islam, there is nothing
profane or ignoble in human personality: both soul and body are sacred and worthy of
respect. No aspect is to be ignored and no urge is to be completely curbed. What is
required is to keep all these urges well within their proper limits so that none of them
transgresses natural bounds and becomes the source of trouble.
That fasting is an institution for moral elevation can be judged from the fact that
Allah does not impose check only upon eating, drinking and sexual intercourse from dawn to
sunset, but also exhorts His servants to refrain from other foul acts, for ex- ample,
backbiting, indulging in foul speech, telling lies, etc. Abu Huraira reported Allah's
Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: If one does not abandon falsehood and other
actions like it, God has no need that one should abandon one's food and drink (Sahih
Bukhari).
The social aspect of fasting in Ramadan is that the whole atmosphere is permeated with
religious piety and devotion to Allah. There is one extra congregational prayer, Tarawih,
during the night, in which the Qur'an is recited and the Muslim is reminded of the fact
that it was in the month of Ramadan that the revelation of the Qur'an commenced. The
sadaqqt are also given with greater zeal and fervour in this month. Thus the whole Muslim
society is inspired by the love of God. Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace
be upon him) as saying: When Ramadan begins, the gates of Heaven are opened, the gates of
Hell are locked, and the devils are chained (Bukhari and Muslim).
Muhammad Asad, while elucidating the spiritual and moral significance of fast
says:" Twofold I learned, is the purpose of this month of fasting. One has to abstain
from food and drink in order to feel in one's body what the poor and hungry feel: thus
social responsibility is being hammered into human consciousness as a religious postulate.
The other purpose of fasting during Ramadan is self-discipline, an aspect of individual
morality strongly accentuated in all Islamic teachings (as, for instance, in the total
prohibition of all intoxicants, which Islam regards as too easy an avenue of escape from
consciousness and responsibility). In these two elements-brotherhood of man and Individual
self-discipline -I began to discern nhe outline of Islam's ethical out look" (Road to
Mecca, London, 1954, p. 188).
Chapter 1: EXCELLENCE OF THE MONTH OF RAMADAN
Book 006, Number 2361:
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: When there
comes the month of Ramadan, the gates of mercy are opened, and the gates of Hell are
locked and the devils are chained,
Book 006, Number 2362:
This hadith is reported by Abu Huraira (with a slight alteration of words) that the
Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said:" When (the month of) Ramadan
begins."
Chapter 2: FASTING IN RAMADAN SHOULD NECESSARILY BE COMMENCED WITH THE SIGHT OF
THE NEW MOON AND FINISHED WITH THE SIGHT OF THE NEWMOON IF THE WEATHER IS CLOUDY AT THE
BEGINNING OR AT THE END, THEN COMPLETE THIRTY DAYS
Book 006, Number 2363:
Ibn Umar (Allah be pleased with both of them) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be
upon him) as saying in connection with Ramadan: Do not fast till you see the new moon, and
do not break fast till you see it; but if the weather is cloudy calculate about it.
Book 006, Number 2364:
Ibn Umar reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) made a mention of
Ramadan and he with the gesture of his hand said: The month is thus and thus. (He then
withdrew his thumb at the third time). He then said: Fast when you see it, and break your
fast when you see it, and if the weather is cloudy calculate it (the months of Sha'ban and
Shawwal) as thirty days.
Book 006, Number 2365:
This hadith is narrated on the authority of 'Ubaidullah with the same chain of
transmitters, and he said: If (the sky) is cloudy for you, then calculate thirty days (for
the month of Ramadan).
Book 006, Number 2366:
'Ubaidullah narrated on the authority of the same chain of transmitters that the
Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) made a mention of Ramadan and said: The month
may consist of twenty-nine days, and it may be thus, thus and thus, and (he further) said:
Calculate it, but he did not say thirty.
Book 006, Number 2367:
Ibn'Umar (Allah be pleased with-both of them) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be
upon him) as saying: The month of Ramadan may consist of twenty-nine days. So do not fast
till you have sighted it (the new moon) and do not break fast, till you have sighted it
(the new moon of Shawwal), and if the sky is cloudy for you, then calculate.
Book 006, Number 2368:
'Abdullah b. 'Umar (Allah be pleased with both of them) reported Allah's Messenger (may
peace be upon him) as saying: The month (of Ramadan) may consist of twenty nine days; so
when you see the new moon observe fast and when you see (the new moon again at the
commencement of the month of Shawwal) then break It, and if the sky is cloudy for you,
then calculate it (and complete thirty days).
Book 006, Number 2369:
'Abdullah b. Umar (Allah be pleased with both of them) reported Allah's Measenger (may
peace be upon him) as saying: When you see the new moon, observe fast, and when you see it
(again) then break it, and if the sky is cloudy for you, then calculate it.
Book 006, Number 2370:
Ibn 'Umar (Allah be pleased with both of them) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be
upon him) as saying: The month may consist of twenty-nine nights. So do not fast till you
have sighted it (the new moon) and do not break it till you have sighted it, except when
the sky is cloudy for you, and if it is so, then calculate it.
Book 006, Number 2371:
Ibn Umar (Allah be pleased with both of them) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be
upon him) as saying: The month is thus and thus and thus (i. e. pointing with his fingers
thrice), and he held back his thumb at the third time (in order to show that it can also
consist of twenty-nine days).
Book 006, Number 2372:
Ibn Umar (Allah be pleased with both of them) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be
upon him) as saying: The month may consist of twenty-nine days.
Book 006, Number 2373:
Abdullah b. 'Umar (Allah be pleased with both of them) reported Allah's Messenger (may
peace be upon him) as saying: The mouth (of Ramadan) is thus and thus, and thus. i. e.
ten, ten and-nine.
Book 006, Number 2374:
Ibn Umar (Allah be pleased with both of them) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be
upon him) as saying: The month is thus, and thus, and thus, and he flapped his hands with
all their fingers twice. but at the third turn, folded his right thumb or left thumb (in
order to give an idea of twenty-nine).
Book 006, Number 2375:
Ibn 'Umar (Allah be pleased with both of them) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be
upon him) as saying: The month (of Ramadan) may consist of twenty. nine days, and Shu'ba
(one of the narrators) (gave a practical demonstration how the Holy prophet (may peace be
upon him) explained to them) by unfolding his hands thrice and folding his thumb at the
third turn. 'Uqba (one of the narrators in this chain of trans- mitters) said: I think
that he said that the month consists of thirty days and unfolded his palm three times.
Book 006, Number 2376:
Ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with both of them) reported Allah's Apostle (may peace
be upon him) as saying: We are an unlettered people who can neither write nor count. The
month is thus, and thus. folding his thumb when he said it the third time. This hadith has
been narrated on the authority of Aswad b. Qais with the same chain of transmitters, but
herein no mention has been made of the other month (consisting of) thirty days.
Book 006, Number 2377:
Sa'd b. 'Ubaida reported that Ibn'Umar (Allah be pleased with both of them) heard a
person saying: This night is the midnight (of the month). Upon this he said to him: How do
you know that it is the midnight (of the month), for I heard the Mes- senger of Allah (may
peace be upon him) as saying: The month is thus and thus (and he pointed with his ten
fingers twice) and thus (i. e. at the third time he pointed with all his fingers but
withdrew or folded his thumb)?
Book 006, Number 2378:
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: Whenever you
sight the new moon (of the month of Ramadan) observe fast. and when you sight it (the new
moon of Shawwal) break it, and if the sky is cloudy for you, then observe fast for thirty
days.
Book 006, Number 2379:
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: Observe fast
on sighting it (the new moon) and break (fast) on sighting it (the new moon), but if the
sky is cloudy for you, then complete the number (of thirty).
Book 006, Number 2380:
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: Observe fast
on sighting it (the new moon) and break it on sighting it. But if (due to clouds) the
actual position of the month is concealed from you, you should then count thirty (days).
Book 006, Number 2381:
Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (may peace
he upon him) made a mention of the new moon and (in this connection) said: Observe fast
when you see it (the new moon) and break fast when you see it (the new moon of Shawwal),
but when (the actual position of the month is) concealed from you (on account of cloudy
sky), then count thirty days.
Chapter 3: DO NOT FAST FOR A DAY OR TWO DAYS AHEAD OF RAMADAN
Book 006, Number 2382:
Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon
him) as saying: Do not observe fast for a day, or two days ahead of Ramadan except a
person who is in the habit of observing a particular fast; he may fast on that day.
Book 006, Number 2383:
This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Yahya b. Abi Kathir with the same
chain of transmitters.
Chapter 4: THE MONTH MAY CONSIST OF TWENTY-NINE DAYS
Book 006, Number 2384:
Zuhri reported that (once) the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) took an oath
that he would not go to his wives for one Month. Zuhri said that 'Urwa narrated to him
from 'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) that she said: When twenty-nine nights were over,
which I had counted, the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) came to me (he came to
me first of all). I said: Messenger of Allah, you had taken an oath that you would not
come to us for a month, whereas you have come after twenty nine days which I have counted.
Whereupon he said: The month may also consist of twenty-nine days.
Book 006, Number 2385:
Jabir (Allah be pleased with her) narrated that the Holy Prophet (may peace be upon
him) separated himself from his wives for a month. (His wives said: ) He came to us on the
twenty-ninth day, whereupon we said: It is the twenty-ninth (day) today. Thereupon he
said: So far as the month is concerned, (and he, with a view to explaining it) flapped his
hands thrice, but held back one finger at the last turn.
Book 006, Number 2386:
Abu Zubair is reported to have heard Jabir b. 'Abdullah (Allah be pleased with both of
them) as saying: The Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) separated himself from his
wives for a month. (His wives said: ) He came to us on the morning of the twenty-ninth.
Upon this some, of the people said: It is the morning of twenty- ninth (according to our
calculation). Upon this the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: The month. may
also consist of twenty-nine days. The Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) then
flapped his bands thrice, twice with all the fingers of both his hand (to indicate
twenty-nine) and by the third time with nine (fingers).
Book 006, Number 2387:
Umm Salama (Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Apostle of Allah (may peace be
upon him) took an oath that he would not go to some of his wives for the whole of the
month. When twenty-nine days bad passed he (the Holy Prophet) went to them in the morning
or in the evening. Upon this it was said to him: Apostle of Allah, you took an oath that
you would not come to us for a month, whereupon he said: The month may also consist of
twenty-nine days.
Book 006, Number 2388:
A hadith like this has been narrated on the authority of Ibn Juraij with the same chain
of transmitters.
Book 006, Number 2389:
Sa'd b. Abi Waqqas (Allah be pleased with him) said that the Messenger of Allah (may
peace be upon him) struck his hand against the other and (then with the gesture of his two
hands) said: The month is thus, thus (two times). He then withdrew (one of) his fingers at
the third turn.
Book 006, Number 2390:
Muhammad b. Sa'd reported on the authority of his father (Sa'd b. Abi Waqqas (Allah be
pleased with him) that the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) had said: Tho month is
thus and thus, and thus, i. e. ten, ten and nine. This hadith has been narrated by Abu
Khalid with the same chain of transmitters.
Chapter 5: THERE IS A SIGHTING OF THE MOON FOR EVERY TOWN; THE SIGHTING AT ONE
TOWN CANNOT BE HELD VALID FOR THE OTHER TOWN SITUATED AT A CONSIDERABLE DISTANCE FROM IT
Book 006, Number 2391:
Kuraib reported that Umm Fadl, daughter of Harith, sent him (Fadl, i. e. her son) to
Mu'awiya in Syria. I (Fadl) arrived in Syria, and did the needful for her. It was there in
Syria that the month of Ramadan commenced. I saw the new moon (of Ramadan) on Friday. I
then came back to Medina at the end of the month. Abdullah b. 'Abbas (Allah be pleased
with him) asked me (about the new moon of Ramadan) and said: When did you see it? I said.:
We saw it on the night of Friday. He said: (Did) you see it yourself? -I said: Yes, and
the people also saw it and they observed fast and Mu'awiya also observed fast, whereupon
he said: But we saw it on Saturday night. So we would continue to observe fast till we
complete thirty (lasts) or we see it (the new moon of Shawwal). I said: Is the sightidg of
the moon by Mu'awiya not valid for you? He said: No; this is how the Messenger of Allah
(may peace be upon him) has commanded us. Yahya b. Yahya was in doubt (whether the word
used in the narration by Kuraib) was Naktafi or Taktafi.
Chapter 6: IT IS IMMATERIAL WHETHER THE NEW MOON IS LARGE (ON ACCOUNT OF
APPEARING AFTER THIRTY NIGHTS) OR SMALL (ON ACCOUNT OF APPEARING ON THE THIRTIETH NIGHT) ;
AND ALLAH DEFERS IT TO MAKE IT SUITABLE FOR SIGHTING AND IF THE SKY IS CLOUDY, THEN THIRTY
(FASTS) ARE TO BE COMPLETED
Book 006, Number 2392:
Abu'l-Bakhtari reported: We went out to perform Umra and when we encamped in the valley
of Nakhla, we tried to see the new moon. Some of the people said: It was three nights old,
and others (said) that it was two nights old. We then met Ibn 'Abbas and told him we had
seen the new moon, but that some of the people said it was three nights old and others
that it was two nights old. He asked on which night we had seen it; and when we told him
we had seen it on such and such night, he said the Prophet of Allah (may peace be upon
him) had said: Verily Allah deferred it till the time it is seen, so it is to be reckoned
from the night you saw it.
Book 006, Number 2393:
Abu'l-Bakhtari reported: We saw the new moon of Ramadan as we were at Dhit-i-'Irq. We
sent a man to Ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with both of them) to ask him (whether the
sighting of a small moon had something of the nature of defect in it). Upon this Ibn
'Abbas (Allah be pleased with both of them) said that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be
upon him) had said: Verily Allah deferred its sight, but if (the new moon) is hidden from
you, then, complete its number (thirty).
Chapter 7: THE MONTHS OF 'ID ARE NOT INCOMPLETE
Book 006, Number 2394:
The son of Abu Bakra reported it on the authority of his father that the Apostle of
Allah (may peace be upon him) had said: The two months of 'Id, Ramadan and Dhu'l-Hijja
(are not incomplete).
Book 006, Number 2395:
'Abd ar-Rahman b. Abu Bakra reported on the authority of Abu Bakra that the Apostle of
Allah (may peace be upon him) had said: The months of 'Id are not incomplete. And in the
hadith narrated by Khalid (the words are):" The months, of 'Id are Ramadan and
Dhu'l-Hijja."
Chapter 8: THE TIMING OF FAST BEGINS WITH DAWN
Book 006, Number 2396:
'Adi b. Hatim (Allah be pleased with him) reported that when (this verse) was
revealed:" Until the white streak of the dawn becomes distinct from the dark
streak" (ii. 187) Adi b. Hatim said: Messenger of Allah, verily I keep underneath my
pillow two strings, one white and the other black, by which I distinguish night from dawn.
Upon this the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: Your pillow seems to be
very large. For the word khait implies the blackness of the night and the whiteness of the
dawn.
Book 006, Number 2397:
Sahl b. Sa'd said that when this verse was revealed:" Eat and drink till the white
streak is distinct from the dark streak," a person would take hold of a white thread
and a black thread and keep on eating till he could find them distinct (in the light of
the dawn). It was then that Allah, the Majestic and Great, reveiled (the words) min
al-fajr (from the dawn), and then it became clear (that the word khait refers to the
streak of light in the dawn).
Book 006, Number 2398:
Sahl b. Sa'd (Allah be pleased with him) said: When this verse was reveal- ed."
Eat and drink till the white streak becomes distinct from the dark streak for you,"
the person who decided to observe fast tied on one of his feet a black thread and on the
other a white thread. And he went on eating and drinking till he could distinguish
(between their colour) on seeing them. It was after this that Allah reveal- ed (the
words): min al-fajr. And they (the Muslims) came to know that (the word khait) refers to
the night and day.
Book 006, Number 2399:
'Abdullah b. Mas'ud (Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah
(may peace be upon him) had said: Bilal would pronounce Adhan (at the fag end of the night
in order to inform the people about the time of the Sahri). So you eat and drink till you
hear the Adhan of Ibn Umm Maktum (which was pro- nounced at the conclusion of the Sahri
and the commencement of the fast).
Book 006, Number 2400:
Abdullah b. 'Umar (Allah be pleased with both of them) reported: I heard the Messenger
of Allah (may peace be upon him) as saying: Bilal announces Adhan during the night, so you
eat and drink, till you hear the Adhan of Ibn Umm Maktum.
Book 006, Number 2401:
Ibn 'Umar (Allah be pleased with both of them) reported that the Messenger of Allah
(may peace be upon him) had two Mu'adhdhins, Bilal and son of Umm Maktum, the blind. The
Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: Bilal announces Adhan at (the fag end of
the) night (i. e. Sahri), so eat and drink till the son of Umm Maktum announces Adhan. And
he (the narrator) said: And the (difference of time) between their (Adhans) was not more
than this that one climbed down (from the minaret) and the other climbed up (to announce
Adhan).
Book 006, Number 2402:
A hadith like this has been transmitted on the authority of 'A'isha (Allah be pleased
with her).
Book 006, Number 2403:
A hadith like this has been narrated on the authority of 'Ubaidullah on the two chains
of transmitters.
Book 006, Number 2404:
Ibn Mas'ud (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon
him) as saying The Adhan of Bilal should not restrain anyone among you from eating Sahur
(last meal before daybreak during the month of Ramadan) for he announces Adhan (or he
calls) at (the fag end of) the night to make him turn who stands for prayer among you, and
to awaken those who are sleeping among you. And he said: The dawn is not like it, as one
says (and he lifted his hand) till he (dispersed his fingers) and said: It is like this.
Book 006, Number 2405:
This hadith has been narrated by Sulaiman al-Taimi with the same chain of transmitters
(but with a slight variation of words) that he (the Holy Prophet) said: The dawn is not
like it as it is said; he then gathered his fingers and lowered them. But he said, it is
like this (and he placed the index finger upon the other one and spread his hand).
Book 006, Number 2406:
This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Sulaiman Taimi with the same chain of
transmitters and, at the end, it was said that the first Adhan was meant to awaken those
who were in slumber amongst them and in order to make them turn who stand in (prayer)
among them (towards food at the commencement of the fast). Jarir (one of the narrators)
said that the Messenger (may peace be upon him) did not say like this but he said like it
(true dawn) that the streaks of (true dawn ) are horizontal and not vertical.
Book 006, Number 2407:
Samura b. Jandub reported Muhammad (may peace be upon him) as saying. The call of Bilal
may not mislead any one of you (and he may, under the wrong impression gathered from it,
refrain) from taking meal before the commencement of the fast (for the streaks) of this
whiteness (which are vertical indicate the false dawn and the true dawn with which the
fast commences is that when the streaks of light are) spread.
Book 006, Number 2408:
Samura b. Jundub reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: The
Adhan of Bilal should not mislead you nor the whiteness (of the pillar) of dawn, for it is
not the whiteness of the true dawn, but that of the false dawn which is vertical like a
pillar and you can eat food till the streaks of whiteness spread like it.
Book 006, Number 2409:
Samura b. Jundub (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be
upon him) as saying: The Adhan of Bilal may not mislead you with regard to your food at
the commencement of the fast, nor the vertical (streaks) of whiteness in the horizon (for
it is an indication of false dawn). You should stop eating (food) till (the whiteness)
spreads like it. Hammad narrated it and with the gesture of his band he explained, the
horizontal position (of the streaks of light).
Book 006, Number 2410:
Samura b. Jundub addressed and narrated from the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon
him) having said (these words): Neither the call of Bilal should mislead you nor this
whiteness (of false dawn) till (the true) dawn appears (or he said) till the dawn breaks.
Book 006, Number 2411:
A hadith like this has been narrated on the authority of Samura b. Jundub.
Chapter 9: EXCELLENCE OF TAKING MEAL BEFORE DAWN, STRESS ON GIVING IT
PREFERENCE AND PREFERENCE FOR DEFERRING IT (AT THE FAG END OF THE NIGHT) AND HASTENING IN
BREAKING IT
Book 006, Number 2412:
Anas (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as
saying: Take meal a little before dawn, for there is a blessing in taking meal at that
time.
Book 006, Number 2413:
'Amr b. al-'As reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: The
difference between our fasting and that of the people of the Book is eating shortly before
dawn.
Book 006, Number 2414:
Musa b. 'Ali has narrated this hadith through the same chain of transmitters.
Book 006, Number 2415:
Zaid b. Thabit (Allah be pleased with him) said: We took meal shortly before dawn along
with the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him). We then stood up for prayer. I said:
How much span of time was there between the two (acts, i. e. taking of Sahri and observing
of prayer)? He said (a span of reciting) fifty verses.
Book 006, Number 2416:
This hadith has been transmitted on the authority of Qatada too.
Book 006, Number 2417:
Sahl b. Sa'd (Allah be pleased with him) repotted Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon
him) as saying: The people will continue to prosper as long as they hasten the breaking of
the fast.
Book 006, Number 2418:
A hadith like this has been transmitted by Sahl b. Sa'd.
Book 006, Number 2419:
Abu 'Atiyya reported: I and Masruq went to 'A'isha and said to her: Mother of the
Believers, there are two persons among the Companions of Muhammad (may peace be upon him)
one among whom hastens in breaking the fast and in observing prayer, and the other delays
breaking the fast and delays observing prayer. She said: Who among the two hastens in
breaking fast and observing prayers? We said, It is 'Abdullah. i. e. son of Mas'ud.
whereupon she said: This is how the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) did. Abu
Kuraib added: The second one was Abu Musa.
Book 006, Number 2420:
Abu 'Atiyya reported: I and Misruq went to 'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) and
Masruq said to her: There are two persons among the Companions of Muhammad (may peace be
upon him) none of whom abandons the good, but one of them hastens to observe sunset prayer
and break the fast, and the other delays in observing the sunset prayer and in breaking
the fast, whereupon she said: Who hastens to observe sunset prayer and break the fast? He
said: It is 'Abdullah. Upon this she said: This is how the Messenger of Allah (may peace
be upon him) used to do.
Chapter 10: THE TIME FOR BREAKING THE FAST AND ENDING OF DAY
Book 006, Number 2421:
'Umar (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as
saying: When the night approaches and the day retreates and the sun sinks down, then the
observer of the fast should break it. Ibn Numair made no mention of the word"
then".
Book 006, Number 2422:
'Abdullah b. Abi Aufa reported: We were with the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon
him) on a journey during the month of Ramadan. When the sun had sunk he said: So and so,
get down (from your ride) and prepare the meal of parched barley for us. He said:
Messenger of Allah, still (there is light of) day. He (the Holy Prophet) said: Get down
and prepare meal of parched barley for us. So he got down and prepared the meal of parched
barley and offered him, and the apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) drank that
(liquid meal). He then told with the gesture of his hand that when the sun sank from that
side and the night appeared from that side, then the observer of the fast should break it.
Book 006, Number 2423:
Ibn Abi Aufa (Allah be pleased with him) reported: We were with the Messenger of Allah
(may peace be upon him) on a journey. When the sun sank he said to a person: Get down and
prepare barley meal for us. Upon this he said: Messenger of Allah, let there be dusk. (He
the Holy Prophet) said: Get down and prepare barley meal for us. He (the person) said:
There is still (the light of) day upon us. (But) he got down (in obedience to the command
of the Holy Prophet) and prepared a barley meal for him and he (the Holy Prophet) drank
that (liquid meal) and then said: When you see the night approaching from that side (west)
(and he pointed towards the east with his hand), then the observer of the fast should
break it.
Book 006, Number 2424:
Abdullah b. Abi Aufa (Allah be pleased with him) reported: We travelled with the
Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) as he had been observing fast. When the sun
sank he said: So and so, get down and prepare barley meal for us. The rest of the hadith
is the same.
Book 006, Number 2425:
This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Ibn Abi Aufa (Allah be pleased with
him) through another chain of transmitters (but with a sight alteration of words): In this
hadith transmitted by one of the narrators (neither these words are found): During the
month of Ramadan." nor his statement:" And the night prevails from that side
(the eastern side)." (These words are found in the narration of) Hushaim only.
Chapter 11: IT IS FORBIDDEN TO OBSERVE UNINTERRUPTED FASTING
Book 006, Number 2426:
Ibn 'Umar (Allah be pleased with both of them) said that the Apostle of Allah (may
peace be upon him) forbade uninterrupted fasting. They (some of the Companions) said: You
yourself fast uninterruptedly, whereupon he said: I am not like you. I am fed and supplied
drink (by Allah).
Book 006, Number 2427:
Ibn 'Umar reported that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) abserved 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).
Book 006, Number 2428:
A hadith like this has been transmitted by Ibn 'Umar (Allah be pleased with both of
them), but he did not make mention of (the words):" During the month of
Ramadan."
Book 006, Number 2429:
Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be
upon him) forbade (his Companions) from observing fast unintermptedly. One of the Muslims
said: Messenger of Allah, you yourself observe Saum Wisal. whereupon the Messenger of
Allah (may peace be upon him) said: Who among you is like me? I spend night (in a state)
that my Allah feeds me and provides me drink. When they (the Companions of the Holy
Prophet) did not agree in abandoning the uninterrupted fast, then the Holy Prophet (may
peace. be upon him) also observed this fast with them for a day, and then for a day. They
then saw the new moon and he (the Holy Prophet) said: If the appearance of the new moon
were delayed. I would have observed more (fasts) with you (and he did it) by way of
warning to them as they had not agreed to refrain (from observing Saum Wisal)
Book 006, Number 2430:
Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon
him) as saying: Abstain from Saum-Wisal. They (his Companions) said: Messenger of Allah,
but you observe Saum Wisal. Upon this he said: You are not like me in this matter, for I
spend my night (in a state) that my Lord feeds me and provides me drink Devote yourselves
to the deeds (the burden of which) you can bear.
Book 006, Number 2431:
Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon
him) 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."
Book 006, Number 2432:
Abu Huraira reported that the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) forbade (his
Companions) to observe Saum Wisal.
Book 006, Number 2433:
Anas (Allah be pleased with him) reported The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon
him) was observing prayer during Ramedan. I came and stood by his side. Then another man
came and he stood likewise till we became a group. When the Apostle of Allah (may peace be
upon him) perceived that we were behind him, he lightened the prayer. He then went to his
abode and observed such (a long) prayer (the like of which) he never observed with us.
When it was morning we said to him: Did you perceive us during the night? Upon this he
said: Yes, it was this (realisation) that induced me to do that which I did. He (the
narrator) said: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) began to observe Saum Wisal
at the end of the month (of Ramadan), and some persons among his Companions began to
observe this uninter- rupted fast, whereupon the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him)
said: What about such persons who observe uninterrupted fasts? You are not like me. By
Allah. if the month were lengthened for me, I would have observed Saum Wisal, so that
those who act with an exaggeration would (have been obliged) to abandon their
exaggeration. 1501
Book 006, Number 2434:
Anas (Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be
upon him) observed Saum Wisal during the early part of the month of Ramadan. The people
among Muslims also observed uninterrupted fast. This (news) reached him (the Holy Prophet)
and he said: Had the month been lengthened for me I would have continued observing Saum
Wisal, so that those who act with forced hardness would (have been obliged) to abandon it.
You are not like me (or he said): I am not like you. I continue to do so (in a state) that
my Lord feeds me and provides me drink.
Book 006, Number 2435:
'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) said: The Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him)
forbade them (his Companions) to observe Saum Wisal out of mercy for them. They said: You
(Holy Prophet) yourself observe it. Upon this he said: I am not like you. My Lord feeds me
and provides me drink.
Chapter 12: KISSING IS NOT FORBIDDEN WHILE FASTING IF ONE IS NOT URGED BY
SEXUAL LUST
Book 006, Number 2436:
'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) said that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon
him) kissed one of his wives while he was fasting, and then she ('A'isha) smiled (as she
narrated).
Book 006, Number 2437:
Sufyan reported: I said to 'Abd al-Rahman b. Qasim: Have you heard from your father
narrating from 'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) that he kissed her while observing
fast? He ('Abd al-Rahman b. Qasim) kept silence for a short while and then said:"
Yes."
Book 006, Number 2438:
'A'isha reported: Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) used to kiss me while
observing fast; and who among you can control his desire as the Messenger of Allah (may
peace be upon him) could control his desire.
Book 006, Number 2439:
'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported: Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him)
used to kiss (his wives) while fasting and embraced (them) while fasting; but he had the
greatest mastery over his desire among you.
Book 006, Number 2440:
'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon
him) used to kiss (his wives) while fasting; and he had the greatest control over his
desire (as compared with you).
Book 006, Number 2441:
'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) said that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon
him) used to embrace (his wives) while fasting.
Book 006, Number 2442:
Aswad reported: I and Masruq went to 'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) and asked. her
if the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) embraced (his wives) while fasting. She
said: Yes; but he had the greatest control over his desire among you: or he was one of
those who had control over his desire. It is further narrated on the authority of Aswad
and Masruq that they went to the Mother of the Believers and they asked her (and the rest
of the hadith is the same)
Book 006, Number 2443:
'Urwa b. Zubair narrated that 'A'isha the Mother of the Believers (Allah be pleased
with her) informed him that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) kissed her
while fasting.
Book 006, Number 2444:
A hadith like this has been narrated by Yahya b. Abu Kathir with the same chain of
transmitters.
Book 006, Number 2445:
'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be
upon him) used to kiss her during the month of fasting.
Book 006, Number 2446:
'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon
him) kissed (his wives) during Ramadan while observing fast.
Book 006, Number 2447:
'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported that Allah's Apostle (peace be upon him)
kissed (his wives) while fasting.
Book 006, Number 2448:
Hafsa (Allah be pleased with her) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be
upon him) kissed (his wives) while fasting.
Book 006, Number 2449:
A hadith like this has been narrated by Hafsa (Allah be pleased with her) through
another chain of transmitters.
Book 006, Number 2450:
Umar b Abu Salama reported that he asked the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon
him): Should one observing fast kiss (his wife)? The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon
him) said to him: Ask her (Umm Salama). She informed him that the Messenger of Allah (may
peace be upon him) 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 (may peace
be upon him) ) said: By Allah, I am the most God conscious among you and I fear Him most
among you.
Chapter 13: THERE IS NO HARM IN OBSERVING FAST IF ONE IS JUNBI EVEN AFTER DAWN
Book 006, Number 2451:
Abu Bakr (he is Abu Bakr b. Abd al-Rahman b. Harith) reported: I heard Abu Huraira
(Allah be pleased with him) narrating that he who is overtaken by dawn in a state of
seminal emission should not observe fast. I made a mention of it to 'Abd al-Rahman b.
Harith (i. e. to his father) but he denied it. 'Abd al-Rahman went and I also went along
with him till we came to'A'isha and Umm Salama (Allah be pleased with both of them) and
Abd al-Rahman asked them about it. Both of them said: (At times it so happened) that the
Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) woke up in the morning in a state of junub (but
without seminal emission in a dream) and observed fast He (the narrator) said: We then
proceeded till we went to Marwan and Abd al-Rahman made a mention of it to him. Upon this
Marwan said: I stress upon you (with an oath) that you better go to Abu Huraira and refer
to him what is said about it. So we came to Abu Huraira and Abu Bakr had been with us
throughout and 'Abd al-Rahman made a mention of it to him, whereupon Abu Huraira said: Did
they (the two wives of the Holy Prophet) tell you this? He replied: Yes Upon this (Abu
Huraira) said: They have better knowledge. Abu Huraira then attributed that what was said
about it to Fadl b. 'Abbas and said: I heard it from Fadl and not from the Apostle of
Allah (may peace be upon him). Abu Huraira then retracted from what he used to say about
it. Ibn Juraij (one of the narrators) reported: I asked 'Abd al-Malik, if they (the two
wives) said (made the statement) in regard to Ramadan, whereupon he said: It was so, and
he (the Holy Prophet) (woke up in the) morning in a state of junub which was not due to
the wet dream and then observed fast.
Book 006, Number 2452:
'A'isha, the wife of the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him), said: The dawn broke
upon the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) 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.
Book 006, Number 2453:
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 (may peace be upon him) (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.
Book 006, Number 2454:
Abu Bakr b. 'Abd al-Rahman b. al-Harith b. Hisham reported on the authority of 'A'isha
and Umm Salama, the wives of the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him): The Messenger
of Allah (may peace be upon him) at times got up in the morning in a state of junub on
account of having a sexual intercourse (with his wives during night) but not due to sexual
dreams in the month of Ramadan, and would observe fast.
Book 006, Number 2455:
'A'isha reported that a person came to the Apottle of Allah (may peace be upon him)
asking for a fatwa (religious verdict). She ('A'isha) had been overhearing it from behind
the curtain. 'A'isha added that he (the person) had said: Messenger of Allah, (the time)
of prayer overtakes me as I am in a state of junub; should I observe fast (in this state)?
Upon this the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: (At times the time) of
prayer overtakes me while I am in a state of junub, and I observe fast (in that very
state), whereupon he said: Messenger of Allah, you are not like us Allah has pardoned all
your sins, the previous ones and the later ones. Upon this he (the Holy Prophet) said: By
Allah, I hope I am the most God-fearirg of you, and possess the best knowledge among you
of those (things) against which I should guard.
Book 006, Number 2456:
Sulaiman b. Yasar reported that he asked Umm Salama whether a person (who gets up) in
the morning in a state of junub should observe fast. She said: The Messenger of Allah (may
peace be upon him) (at times) got up in the morning in a state of junub, not because of
sexual dreams (but on account of intercourse at night), and then observed fast.
Chapter 14: SEXUAL INTERCOURSE IS COMPLETELY FORBIDDEN DURING THE DAY IN THE
MONTH OF RAMADAN
Book 006, Number 2457:
Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported that a person came to the Apostle of
Allah (may peace be upon him) and said: Messenger of Allah, I am undone. He (the Holy
Prophet) said: What has brought about your ruin? He said: I have had intercourse with my
wife during the month of Ramadan. Upon this he (the Holy prophet) said: Can you find a
slave to set him free? He said: NO He (the Holy Prophet again) said: Can you observe fast
for two consecutive months? He said: No. He (the Holy Prophet) said: Can you provide food
to sixty poor people?, He said: No. He then sat down and (in the meanwhile) there was
brought to the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) a basket which contained dates. He
(the Holy Prophet) said: Give these (dates) in charity. He (the man) said: Am I to give to
one who is poorer than I? There is no family poorer than mine between the two lava plains
of Medina. The Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) laughed so that his molar teeth
became visible and said: Go and give it to your family to eat.
Book 006, Number 2458:
A hadith like this has been narrated on the authority of Mubammad 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 men- tion has been made of (the
fact) that the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) laughed till his molar teeth
became visible.
Book 006, Number 2459:
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 (may
peace be upon him), whereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: Can you find a slave (to grant
him freedom)? He said: No. He (the Holy 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.
Book 006, Number 2460:
This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Zuhri with the same chain of
transmitters that a person broke fast in Ramadan whereupon the Messenger of Allah (may
peace be upon him) commanded him to free a slave (as an atonement), and the rest of the
hadith is the same as narrated by Ibn Uyaina.
Book 006, Number 2461:
Humaid b. 'Abd al-Rahman reported that Abu Huraira had narrated to him that the Apostle
of Allah (may peace be upon him) commanded the person (who) broke the fast in Ramadan to
free a slave or observe fasts for two (consecutive) months or feed sixty poor persons.
Book 006, Number 2462:
This hadith has been narrated with the same chain of transmitters on the authority of
Zuhri.
Book 006, Number 2463:
'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported that a person came to the Messenger of
Allah (may peace be upon him) and said: I am burnt, whereupon the Messenger of Allah (may
peace be upon him) said: How is it? He (the person) said: I had intercourse with my wife
during the day in Ramadan. Upon this (the Holy Prophet) said: Give charity, give charity.
He (the person) said: There is nothing with me. He commanded him to sit down, (In the
meanwhile) there were brought to him (to the Holy Prophet) two baskets containing
eatables, whereupon the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) told him to give them
as sadaqa.
Book 006, Number 2464:
'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 (may peace be upon him), and he then
narrated the hadith. But (neither these words are found):" Give charity, give
charity" (nor) his words:" during the day time".
Book 006, Number 2465:
Abbad b. Abdullah b. Zubair reported that he had heard 'A'isha, the wife of the Apostle
of Allah (may peace be upon him), as saying: A person came to the Messenger of Allah (may
peace be upon him) in the mosque during (the month of) Ramadan and said: Messenger of
Allah, I am burnt I am burnt, whereupon the Mes- senger of Allah (may peace be upon him)
asked him as to what the matter was. Upon this he said: I had intercourse with my wife (in
a state of fasting) Thereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: Give charity. Upon this he said:
Apostle of Allah, I swear by God, there is nothing with me (to give in charity) as I do
not possess anything. He (the Holy Prophet) said: Sit down. So he sat down and he was in
this very state when there came a person urging a donkey with a load of eatables upon it.
The Mes- senger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: Where is that burnt one who was
just here? Thereupon the person stood up. The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him)
said: Give this (eatables brought by the man) in charity. Upon this the person said:
Messenger of Allah, can there be anyone else (more deserving than I)? By Allah. we are
hungry, we have nothing with us. Upon this he (the Holy Prophet) said: Then eat (these
eatables).
Chapter 15: PERMISSIBILITY OF OBSERVING THE FAST OR NOT OBSERVING IT IN THE
MONTH OF RAMADAN FOR A TRAVELLER
Book 006, Number 2466:
Ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may peace
be upon him) went out during the month of Ramadan in the year of Victory (when Mecca was
conquered) and was fasting till he reached Kadid (a canal situated at a distance of
forty-two miles from Mecca) and he then broke the fast. And it was the habit of the
Companions of the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) to follow him in every new
thing (or act). So they followed him also (in this matter).
Book 006, Number 2467:
This hadith is narrated on the authority of Zuhri with the same chain of transmitters.
Yahya (one of the narrators) said that Sufyan (the narrator) had stated: I do not know
whose statement it is:" It is the last word of the Messenger of Allah (may peace be
upon him) which is accepted as (final as it abrogates the previous ones)."
Book 006, Number 2468:
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 (may peace be upon
him) which is to be accepted as final. Zuhri said: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be
upon him) marched on Mecca on the morning of 14th of Ramadan (lit. when thirteen nights
had passed).
Book 006, Number 2469:
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.
Book 006, Number 2470:
Ibn 'Abbas (Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may peace
be upon him) journeyed during the month of Ramadan in a slate of fasting till he reached
'Usfan. He then ordered a cup containing drinking water and he drank that openly so that
the people might see it, and broke the fast (and did not resume it) till he reached Mecca.
Ibn 'Abbas (Allah be pleased with him) said: Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him)
fasted and broke the fast, so he who wished fasted and he who wished to break it broke it.
Book 006, Number 2471:
Ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with him) reported: Do not condemn one who observes fast,
or one who does not observe (in a journey). for the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon
him) observed fast in a journey or he did not observe it (too).
Book 006, Number 2472:
Jabir b. 'Abdullah (Allah be pleased with both of them) reported that Allah's Messenger
(may peace be upon him) went out to Mecca in Ramadan in the year of Victory, and he and
the people fasted till he came to Kura' al-Ghamim and the people also fasted. He then
called for a cup of water which he raised till the people saw it, and then he drank. He
was told afterwards that some people had continued to fast, and he said: These people are
the disobedient ones; these are the disobedient ones.
Book 006, Number 2473:
This hadith has been narrated by Ja'far with the some chain of trans- mitters and he
added: It was said to him (to the Holy Prophet): There are people to whom fasting has
become unbearable and they are waiting how you do. He (the Holy Prophet) then called for a
cup of water when it was afternoon. The rest of the hadith is the same.
Book 006, Number 2474:
Jabir b. 'Abdullah (Allah be pleased with both of them) reported that in the course of
a journey Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) saw a man, people crowding around him
and providing him a shade. Upon this he (the Holy Prophet) said: What is the matter with
him? They said: He is a person observing fast. Whereupon the Messenger of Allah (may peace
be upon him) said: It is no righteousness that you fast on journey.
Book 006, Number 2475:
'Amr b. al-Hasan is reported to have said that he heard Jabir b. 'Abdullah (Allah be
pleased with both of them) as saying that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him)
saw a man. The rest of the hadith is the same as mentioned above.
Book 006, Number 2476:
This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Shu'ba with the same chain of
transmitters but with this addition that he (the Holy Prophet) said:" Take advantage
of the concession of Allah Who Wanted it to you." When he (one of the narrators)
asked him (the other one, Yabya b. Abi Kathar) he did not retain it in his mind.
Book 006, Number 2477:
Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (Allah be pleased with him) reported: We went out on an expedition
with Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) on the 16th of Ramadan. Some of us fasted
and some of us broke the fast. But neither the observer of the fast found fault with one
who broke it, nor the breaker of the fast found fault with one who observed it.
Book 006, Number 2478:
A hadith like this has been narrated on the authority of Qatada with the same chain of
transmitters by different narrators (except this difference) that in the hadith
transmitted by Taimi and Umar b. Amir and Hisham (the date of setting out is) 18th, and in
the hadith transmitted by Sa'id it is the 12th, and in the one transmitted by Shu'ba it is
the 17th or 19th.
Book 006, Number 2479:
Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (Allah be pleased with him) reported: We went out on an expedition
with the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) during Ramadan and neither the
observer of the fast was found fault with for his fasting, nor the breaker of the fast for
breaking it.
Book 006, Number 2480:
Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (Allah be pleased with him) reported: We went out on an expedition
with the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) during Ramadan. Some of us observed
the fast and some of us broke it. Neither the observer of the fast had any grudge against
one who broke it, nor the breaker of the fast had any grudge against one who had fasted
They knew that he who had strength enough (to bear its rigour) fasted and that was good,
and they also found that he who felt weakness (and could not bear the burden) broke it,
and that was also good.
Book 006, Number 2481:
Abu Nadra reported Abu Sa'id al. Khudri and Jabir b. Abdullah as saying: We travelled
with the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him). The observer of the fast observed it,
and the breaker of the fast broke it, but none of them found fault with each other.
Book 006, Number 2482:
Humaid reported that Anas (Allah be pleased with him) was asked about fasting during
Ramadan while travelling. He said: We travelled with the MesseDger of Allah (may peace be
upon him) during the month of Ramadan, but neither the ob- server 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.
Book 006, Number 2483:
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 (may peace be upon him) 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 16: THE REWARD OF ONE WHO DOES NOT OBSERVE FAST BECAUSE OF A RELIGIOUS
DUTY
Book 006, Number 2484:
Anas (Allah be pleased with him) reported: We were with the Apostle of Allah (may peace
be upon him) on a journey. Some of us had been observing the fast and some of us had not
been fasting. We got down at a place on a hot day. Most of us had the cloth for shelter.
There were also those amongst us who sheltered (themselves against the rays of the) sun
with the help of their hands. The observers of the fast fell down (on account of
weakness). Those who had not observed it got up and pitched tents and watered the mounts.
Thereupon the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: The breakers of the fast
have taken away the reward today.
Book 006, Number 2485:
Anas (Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be
upon him) was journeying (along with his Companions). Some of them had observed the fast
whereas the others had broken it. Those who did not fast girded up their loins and worked,
but the observers of the fast were too weak to work. Upon this he (the Apostle of Allah)
said: Today the breakers of the fast have gone with the reward.
Book 006, Number 2486:
Qaza'a reported: I came to Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (Allah be pleased with him) and he was
surrounded (by people), and when they dispersed I said to him: I am not going to ask you
about what these people were asking. I ask you about fasting on a journey. Upon this he
said: We travelled with the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) towards Mecca and
we had been observing fast. We halted at a place. There the Messenger of Allah (may peace
be upon him) said: You are nearing your enemy and breaking of fast would give you greater
strength, and that was a concession (given to us). But some of us continued to observe the
fast and some of us broke it. We then got down at another place and he (the Holy Prophet)
said: You are going to encounter the enemy in the morning and breaking of the fast would
give you strength, so break the fast. As it was a point of stress, so we broke the fast.
But subsequently we saw ourselves observing the fast with the Messenger of Allah (may
peace be upon him) on a journey.
Chapter 17: CHOICE FOR OBSERVING FAST AND BREAKING IT ON A JOURNEY
Book 006, Number 2487:
'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported that Hamza b. 'Amr al-Aslami asked the
Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) about fasting on a journey, and he (the Holy
Prophet) said: Fast if you like and break it if you like.
Book 006, Number 2488:
'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported that Hamza b. Amr al-Aslami asked the
Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) thus: Messenger of Allah, I am a person devoted
much to fasting. Should I fast during the journey? He (the Holy Prophet) said: Fast if you
like and break it if you like.
Book 006, Number 2489:
This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Hisham with the same chain of
transmitters.
Book 006, Number 2490:
This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Hisham with the same chain of
transmitters that Hamza said: I am a person much used to fasting. Should I fast during the
journey? (The rest of the hadith is the same.)
Book 006, Number 2491:
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 (may peace be upon him) 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".
Book 006, Number 2492:
Abu Darda' (Allah be pleased with him) reported: We set out during the month of Ramadan
with the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) 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 (may peace
be upon him) and 'Abdullah b. Rawaha.
Book 006, Number 2493:
Abu Darda' reported: We were with the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) on
some of his journeys on an intensely hot day so much so that a person would place his hand
on his head (in order to protect himself) against excessive heat, and none amongst us was
fasting but the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) and Abdullah b. Rawaha
Chapter 18: IT IS PREFERABLE FOR THE PILGRIM NOT TO OBSERVE FAST IN 'ARAFAT ON
THE DAY OF 'ARAFA
Book 006, Number 2494:
Umm al-Fadl bint- al-Harith reported that some people argued about the fasting of the
Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) on the day of 'Arafa. Some of them said that he
had been fasting, whereas the others said that he had not been fasting. I sent a cup of
milk to him while he was riding his camel at 'Arafa, and he drank it.
Book 006, Number 2495:
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.
Book 006, Number 2496:
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.
Book 006, Number 2497:
Umm al-Fadl (Allah be pleased with her) is reported to have said that some people among
the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) 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.
Book 006, Number 2498:
Kuraib, the freed slave of Ibn 'Abbas (Allah be pleased with him), reported from
Maimuna, the wife of the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him), that people had doubt
about the fasting of Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) 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 (10TH OF MUHARRAM)
Book 006, Number 2499:
'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 ot Allah (may peace be upon him) 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.
Book 006, Number 2500:
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 (may
peace be upon him) 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 Apostle of Allah (may peace be
upon him) as mentioned in the narration transmitted by Jarir.
Book 006, Number 2501:
'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.
Book 006, Number 2502:
'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be
upon him) 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).
Book 006, Number 2503:
'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported that the Quraish used to observe fast on
the day of Ashura during the pre-Islamic days. The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upog
him) then commanded to fast on that day till (fasting) in Ramadan became obligatory. Then
the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: He who wished to fast should do so.
and he who wished to break it may do so.
Book 006, Number 2504:
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 (may peace be
upon him) observed it and the Muslims too (observed it) before fasting in Ramadan became
obligatory. But when it became obligatory, the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him)
said: 'Ashura is one of the days of Allah, so he who wished should observe fast and he who
wished otherwise should abandon it.
Book 006, Number 2505:
A hadith like this has been narrated on the authority of Abdullah through the same
chain of transmitters.
Book 006, Number 2506:
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,
(may peace be upon him) 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.
Book 006, Number 2507:
Abdullah b. 'Umar (Allah be pleased with both of them) reported that he heard the
Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) 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).
Book 006, Number 2508:
Abdullah b. Umar (Allah be pleased with them) reported that the day of 'Ashura was
mentioned before the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) and he narrated a hadith
like one (narrated above).
Book 006, Number 2509:
'Abdullah b. Umar (Allah be pleased with them) reported that the day of 'Ashura was
mentioned before the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) 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.
Book 006, Number 2510:
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 (may peace be upon him) 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.
Book 006, Number 2511:
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 aban- doned it (the practice
of observing fast on Ashura).
Book 006, Number 2512:
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.
Book 006, Number 2513:
'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.
Book 006, Number 2514:
Jabir b Samura reported that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) 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.
Book 006, Number 2515:
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 (may
peace be upon him) 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.
Book 006, Number 2516:
A hadith like this has been narrated on the authority of Ibn Shihab through the same
chain of transmitters.
Book 006, Number 2517:
This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Zuhri with the same chain of
transmitters that be heard Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) 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.
Book 006, Number 2518:
Ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with both of them) reported that when Allah's Messenger
(may peace be upon him) 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 Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) said:
We have a closer connection with Moses than you have, and he commanded to observe fast on
this day.
Book 006, Number 2519:
This hadith has been narrated by Ibn Bishr with the same chain of trans- mitters (but
with a slight variation) that he (the Holy Prophet) inquired of them (Jews) about it
(fasting on the day of 'Ashura).
Book 006, Number 2520:
Ibn'Abbas (Allah be pleased with both of them) reported that the Messenger of Allah
(may peace be upon him) arrived in Medina and found the Jews observing fast on the day of
'Ashura. The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) 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 (may peace be upon him) said: We have more right, and we have a closer
connection with Moses than you have; so Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) observed
fast (on the day of 'Ashura), and gave orders that it should be observed.
Book 006, Number 2521:
This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Ayyub with the same chain of
transmitters.
Book 006, Number 2522:
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 (may peace be upon him)
said: You also observe fast on this day.
Book 006, Number 2523:
Abu Musa reported that the people of Khaibar (most of them were Jews) observed fast on
tht day of 'Ashura and they treated it as 'Id and gave their women ornaments and beautiful
dresstowear. The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: You (only) observe fast
on this day.
Book 006, Number 2524:
Ibn Abbas was asked about observing of fast on the day of Ashura, whereupon he said: I
do not know Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) 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.
Book 006, Number 2525:
A hadith like this has been narrated on the authority of 'Ubaidullah b. Abi Yazid.
Chapter 20: ON WHICH DAY THE FAST IS TO BE OBSERVED IN MUHARRAM
Book 006, Number 2526:
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 (may peace be upon him) observed the fast? He said: Yes.
Book 006, Number 2527:
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.
Book 006, Number 2528:
Ibn 'Abbas reported that when the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) 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 (may peace be upon him) said: When
the next year comes, God willing, we would observe fast on the 9th But the Messenger of
Allah (may peace be upon him) died before the advent of the next year.
Book 006, Number 2529:
Abdullah b 'Abbas reported that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) 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: HE WHO ATE ON THE DAY OF ASHVRA SHOULD ABSTAIN (FROM EATING) FOR
THE REST OF THE DAY (AS A MARK OF RESPECT)
Book 006, Number 2530:
Salama b. al-Akwa' (Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah
(may peace be upon him) 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
Book 006, Number 2531:
Rubayyi' daughter of Mu'awwidh b. 'Afra' said that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be
upon him) 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.
Book 006, Number 2532:
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: FORBIDDANCE TO OBSERVE FAST ON 'ID-UL-FITR AND 'ID-UL-ADHA
Book 006, Number 2533:
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 (may peace be
upon him) 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.
Book 006, Number 2534:
Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may peace
be upon him) forbade to observe fast on these two days. 'Id-ul-Adha bi and 'Id-ul-Fitr.
Book 006, Number 2535:
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 (may peace be
upon him)? Thereupon he said: (Is it possible) that (I should) say about the Messenger of
Allah (may peace be upon him) 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.
Book 006, Number 2536:
Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah
(may peace be upon him) forbade to observe fast on two days the day of Fitr and the day of
Sacrifice ('Id-ul-Adha).
Book 006, Number 2537:
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 (may peace be upon him) has forbidden the observance of fast on this
day.
Book 006, Number 2538:
'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) said that the Prophet (may peace be upon him)
forbade to observe fast on two days-the day of Fitr and the day of Adha.
Book 006, Number 2539:
Nubaisha al-Hudhali reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: The
days of Tashriq are the days of eating and drinking.
Book 006, Number 2540:
Nabaisha reported that Khalid said: I met Abu Malih and asked him and he narrated it to
me from the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him). a hadith like one (narrated above)
with this addition:" And remembrance of Allah"
Book 006, Number 2541:
Ibn Ka'b b. Malik reported on the authority of his father that the Messenger of Allah
(may peace be upon him) 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.
Book 006, Number 2542:
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 23: DISAPPROVAL OF FASTING ON FRIDAY ALONE
Book 006, Number 2543:
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 (may peace be upon him) had forbidden the fasting on Friday, whereupon he said: Yes,
by the Lord of this House.
Book 006, Number 2544:
Muhammad b. 'Abbas b. Ja'far reported that he asked Jabir b. Abdullah (Allah be pleased
with them), whether he had heard like this from the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon
him).
Book 006, Number 2545:
Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported the Apostle of Allah (may peace be
upon him) as saying: None among you should observe fast on Friday, but only that he
observes fast before it and after it.
Book 006, Number 2546:
Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon
him) as saying: Do not single out the night (preceding) Friday among the nights for prayer
and do not single out Friday among days for fasting but only when anyone among you is
accustomed to fast (on dates) which coincide with this day (Friday).
Chapter 24: ABROGATION OF THE WORDS OF ALLAH:" AND AS FOR THOSE WHO CAN
FAST (BUT DO NOT) THE EXPIATION IS" BY THE WORDS:" WHOSOEVER WITNESSES IT HE
SHALL HAVE TO FAST THE WHOLE MONTH" (ii. 184)
Book 006, Number 2547:
Salama b. Akwa' (Allah be pleased with him) reported that when this verse was
revealed:" And as for those who can fast (but do not) expiation is the feeding of a
needy person" (ii. 183), (he who liked to observe fast did observe it) and he who
felt reluctant to observe it ate and expiated till the verse was revealed which abro-
gated it.
Book 006, Number 2548:
Salama b. Akwa' reported: We, during the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah (may peace
be upon him), in one month of Ramadan (observed fast according to our liking). He who
wished to fast lasted and he who wished to break broke it and fed a needy person as an
expiation 1544 till this verse was revealed:" He who witnesses among you the month
(of Ramadan) he should observe fast during it" (ii. 184).
Chapter 25: PERMISSIBILIY OF COMPLETING THE (MISSED) FASTS OF RAMADAN BEFORE
THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE COMING RAMADAN
Book 006, Number 2549:
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 (may peace be upon him) or with the
Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him).
Book 006, Number 2550:
This hadith is narrated on the authority of Yahya b. Sa'id with the same chain of
transmitters but with this variation that he said that ('A'isha did not observe fast but
in Sha'ban) out of regard for the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him). (In another
version, the words are):" Yahya said: I think it was due to the regard for the
Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him)."
Book 006, Number 2551:
This hadith is reported on the authority of Yahya with the same chain of transmitters
but no mention is made of the duty to the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him).
Book 006, Number 2552:
'A'isha reported: If one amongst us had to break fasts (of Ramadan due to natural
reasons, i. e. menses) during the life of the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him)
she could not find it possible to complete them so long she had been in the presence of
Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) till Sha'ban commenced.
Chapter 26: COMPLETING OF THE FAST ON BEHALF OF THE DEAD
Book 006, Number 2553:
'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him)
as saying: If anyone dies in a state (that he had to complete) some fasts, his heir must
fast on his behalf.
Book 006, Number 2554:
Ibn 'Abbas (Allah be pleased with both of them) reported: A woman came to the Messenger
of Allah (may peace be upon him) 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).
Book 006, Number 2555:
Ibn 'Abbas (Allah be pleased with them) reported: A man came to the Apostle of Allah
(may peace be upon him) and said: Messenger of Allah, my mother has died (in a state) that
she had to observe fasts of a month (of Ramadan). Should I complete (them) on her behalf?
thereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: Would you not pay the debt if your mother had died
(without paying it)? He said: Yes. He (the Holy Prophet) said: The debt of Allah deserves
more that it should he paid.
Book 006, Number 2556:
This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Ibn 'Abbas (Allah be pleased with
them) from the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him).
Book 006, Number 2557:
Ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with them) reported: A woman came to the Messenger of Allah
(may peace be upon him) 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.
Book 006, Number 2558:
Abdullah b. Buraida (Allah be pleased with him) reported on the authority of his
father: When we were sitting with the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him), a woman
came to him and said: I had gifted to my mother a maid-servant, and now she (the mother)
has died. Thereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: There is a definite reward for you and she
(the maid-servant) has been returned to you as an inheritance. She (that woman) again
said: Fasts of a month (of Ramadan) are due upon her; should I observe them on her behalf?
He (the Holy Prophet) said: Observe fasts on her behalf. She (again) said: She did not
perform Hajj, should I perform it on her behalf? He (the Holy Prophet) said: Perform Hajj
on her behalf.
Book 006, Number 2559:
'Abdullah b. Buraida (Allah be pleased with him) reported on the authority of his
father: I was sitting with the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) ; the rest of the
hadith is the same but with this variation that the (the narrator) said:" Fasts of
two months."
Book 006, Number 2560:
Ibn Buraida (Allah be pleased with him) reported on the authority of his father: A
woman came to the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him), and the rest of the hadith is
the same, but he said:" Fasting of one month." This hadith has been narrated on
the authority of Sufyan with the same chain of transmitters in which it is said:"
Fasting of two months."
Book 006, Number 2561:
Buraida (Allah be pleased with him) reported a similar hadith on the authority of his
father that a woman came to the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) and he
said:" Fasting for one month."
Chapter 27: WHEN AN OBSERVER OF FAST IS INVITED TO A FEAST, OR SOMEONE FIGHTS
WITH HIM, HE SHOULD SAY:" I AM FASTING"
Book 006, Number 2562:
Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon
him) as saying: If any one of you is invited to a meal when he is fasting, he should
say:" I am fasting."
Book 006, Number 2563:
Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported: When any one of you gets up in the
morning in the state of fasting, he should neither use obscene language nor do any act of
ignorance. And if anyone slanders him or quarrels with him, he should say:" I am
fasting, I am fasting."
Chapter 28: EXCELLENCE OF FASTING
Book 006, Number 2564:
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) 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.
Book 006, Number 2565:
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: Fasting is a
shield.
Book 006, Number 2566:
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) 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.
Book 006, Number 2567:
Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon
him) as saying: Every (good) deed of the son of Adam would be multiplied, a good deed
receiving a tenfold to seven hundredfold reward. Allah, the Exalted and Majestic, has
said: With the exception of fasting, for it is done for Me and I will give a reward for
it, for one abandons his passion and food for My sake. There are two occasions of joy for
one who fasts, joy when he breaks it, and joy when he meets his Lord, and the breath (of
an observer of fast) is sweeter to Allah than the fragrance of musk.
Book 006, Number 2568:
Abu Huraira and Abu Sa'id (Allah be pleased with both of them) reported Allah's
Messenger (may peace be upon him) (as saying): Allah, the Exalted and Majestic, said: Fast
(is exclusively) meant for Me and I would give its reward. There are two (occasions) of
joy for the observer of fast. He feels joy when he breaks the fast and he is happy when he
meets Allah. 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. A hadith like this is narrated on the
authority of Abu Sinan with the same chain of transmitters (and the words are):" As
he meets Allah, He rewards him, and he is happy."
Book 006, Number 2569:
Sahl b. Sa'd (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon
him) as saying: In Paradise there is a gate which is called Rayyan through which only the
observers of fast would enter on the Day on Resurrection. None else would enter along with
them. It would be proclaimed: Where are the observers of fast that they should be admitted
into it? -and when the last of them would enter, it would be closed and no one would enter
it.
Book 006, Number 2570:
Abu Sa'id al Khudri (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace
be upon him) as saying: Every servant of Allah who observes fast for a day in the way of
Allah, Allah would remove, because of this day, his face farther from the Fire (of Hell)
to the extent of seventy years' distance.
Book 006, Number 2571:
This hadith has been narrated by Suhail with the, arne chainof trausmitters.
Book 006, Number 2572:
Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace
be upon him) as saying: He who observes fast for a day in the way of Allah He would remove
his face from the Hell to the extent of seventy years' distance.
Chapter 29: PERMISSIBILITY OF MAKING AN INTENTION FOR VOLUNTARY FASTING BEFORE
NOON AND PERMISSIBILITY OF BREAKING VOLUNIARY FAST WITHOUT REASON
Book 006, Number 2573:
'A'isha, the Mother of the Believers (Allah be pleased with her), reported that one day
the Messenger of Allah tpay peace be upon him) said to me: 'A'isha, have you anything (to
eat)? I said: 'Messenger of Allah, there is nothing with us. Thereupon he said: I am
observing fast. She said: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) went out, and
there was a present, for us and (at the same time) some visitors dropped in. When the
Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) came back, I said to him: Messenger of Allah, a
present was given to us, (and in the meanwhile) there came to us visitors (a major Portion
of it has been spent on them), but I have saved something for you. He said: What is it? I
said: It is hais (a compound of dates and clarified butter). He said: Bring that. So I
brought it to him and he ate it and then said: I woke up in the morning observing fast.
Talha said: I narrated this hadith to Mujahid and he said: This (observing of voluntary
fast) is like a person who sets apart Sadaqa out of his wealth. He may spend it if he
likes, or he may retain it if he so likes.
Book 006, Number 2574:
'A'isha, the Mother of the Believers (Allah be pleased with her), reported: The Apostle
of Allah (may peace be upon him) came to me one day and said: Is there anything with you
(to eat)? I said: No. Thereupon he said: I shall then be fasting. Then he came to us
another day and we said: Messenger of Allah, hais has been offered to us as a gift.
Thereupon he said: Show that to me; I had been fasting since morning. He then ate it.
Chapter 30: EATING AND DRINKING (AND SEXUAL INIERCOURSE) IN FORGETFULNESS DOES
NOT BREAK THE FAST
Book 006, Number 2575:
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: If anyone
forgets that he is fasting and eats or drinks he should complete his fast, for it is only
Allah Who has fed him and given him drink.
Chapter 31: THE FAST OBSERVED BY THE APOSTLE OF ALLAH (MAY PEACE BE UPON HIM)
BESIDES RAMADAN
Book 006, Number 2576:
Abdullah b. Shaqiq reported: I said to'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her): Did the
Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) observe fast for full one month besides Ramadan?
She said: I do not know of any month in which he fasted through- out, but that of the
month of Ramadan and (the month) in which he did not fast at all, till he ran the course
of his life.
Book 006, Number 2577:
'Abdullah b. Shaqiq reported: I said to 'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her): Did the
Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) observe fast during a month? She said, I do not
know of any month in which he fasted throughout except Ramedan and (the month) in which he
did not fast at all till he ran the course of his life. May peace be upon him.
Book 006, Number 2578:
Abdullah b. Shaqiq reported. I asked 'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) about fasting
of the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him). She said: He used to observe fast (at
times) so continuously that we said: He has fasted, he has fasted. And (at times) he did
not observe fast (for days) and we began to say: He has abandoned fasting, he has
abandoned fasting. She said: I did not see him observing fast throughout the whole of the
month since he arrived in Medina, but that of Ramadan.
Book 006, Number 2579:
A hadith like this has been narrated on the authority of Abdullah b. Shaqiq but in the
chain of transmitters no mention is made of Hisham and Muhammad.
Book 006, Number 2580:
'A'isha, the Mother of the Believers (Allah be pleased with her), reported that the
Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) used to observe fasts (so conti- nuously) that
we said that he would not break, and did not observe (them) till we said that he would not
fast: and I did not see the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) completing the fast
of a month, but that of Ramadan, and I did not see him fasting more in any other month
than that of Sha'ban.
Book 006, Number 2581:
Abu Salama reported: I asked 'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) about the fasting of
the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him). She said: He used to observe fast (at
times so continuously) that we said: He has fasted (never to break), and he did not
observe fast till we said: He has given up perhaps never to fast, and I never saw him
observing (voluntary fasts) more in any other month than that of Sha'ban. (lt appeared as
if) he observed fast throughout the whole of Sha'ban except a few (days).
Book 006, Number 2582:
'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon
him) did not observe fast in any month of the year more than in the month of Sha'ban, and
used to say: Do as many deeds as you are capable of doing, for Allah will not become weary
(of giving you reward), but you would be tired (of doing good deeds) ; and he also said:
The deed liked most by Allah is one to which the doer adheres constantly even if it is
small.
Book 006, Number 2583:
Ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with both of them) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may
peace be upon him) did not fast throughout any month except during ramadan. And when he
observed fast (he fasted so continuously) that one would say that he would not break
(them) and when he Abandoned, he abandoned (so continuously) that one would say: By Allah,
perhaps he would never fast.
Book 006, Number 2584:
This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Abu Bishr with the same chain of
transmitters (with a slight variation of words and these are), that he (the narrator)
said:" During any month continuously since he came to Medina."
Book 006, Number 2585:
'Uthman b. Hakim al-Ansari said: I asked Sa'id b. Jubair about fasting In Rajab, and we
were then passing through the month of Rajab, whereupon he said: I heard Ibn 'Abbas (Allah
be pleased with both of them) as saying: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him)
used to observe fast (so continuously) that we (were inclined) to say that he would not
break (them) and did not observe them so conti- nuously) that we (were inclined to say)
that he would not observe fast.
Book 006, Number 2586:
Anas (Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be
upon him) used to observe fast till it was said that he had observed fast, he had observed
fast (perhaps never to break it), and he did not fast till it was said that he had given
up fast, he had given up fast (perhaps never to observe it).
Chapter 32: FORBIDDANCE TO OBSERVE PERPETUAL FAST AND EXCELLENCE OF OBSERVING
FAST ON ALTERNATE DAYS
Book 006, Number 2587:
'Abdullah b. 'Amr b. al-'As reported that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon
him) was informed that he could stand up for (prayer) throughout the night and observe
fast every day so long as he lived. Thereupon the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon
him) said: Is it you who said this? I said to him: Messenger of Allah. it is I who said
that. Thereupon the Messenger of Allah may peace be upon him) said: You are not capable
enough to do so. Observe fast and break it; sleep and stand for prayer, and observe fast
for three days during the month; for every good is multiplied ten times and this is like
fasting for ever. I said: Messenger of Allah. I am capable of doing more than this.
Thereupon he said: Fast one day and do not fast for the next two days. I said: Messenger
of Allah, I have the strength to do more than that. The Holy Prophet (may peace be upon
him), said: Fast one day and break on the other day. That is known as the fasting of David
(peace be upon him) and that is the best fasting. I said: I am capable of doing more than
this. Thereupon the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: There is nothing
better than this. 'Abdullah b. 'Amr (Allah be pleased with them) said: Had I accepted the
three days (fasting during every month) as the Messeinger of Allah (may peace be upon him)
had said, it would have been more dear to me than my family and my property.
Book 006, Number 2588:
Yahya reported: I and 'Abdullah b. Yazid set out till we came to Abu Salama. We sent a
messenger to him (in his house in order to inform him about our arrival) and he came to
us. There was a mosque near the door of his house, and we were in that mosque, till he
came out to us. He said: If you like you may enter (the house) and, if you like, you may
sit here (in the mosque). We said: We would rather sit here and (you) relate to us. He
(Yahya) then narrated that 'Abdullah b Amr b. al-'As (Allah be pleased with them) told
him: I used to observe fast uninterruptedly and recited the (whole of the) Qur'an every
night. It (the uninterrupted fasting and recital of the Qur'in every night) was mentioned
to the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) or he sent for me, and I went to him and
he said to me: I have been informed that you fast continuously and recite (the whole of
the Qur'An) every night. I said: Apostle of Allah, it is right, but I covet thereby
nothing but good, whereupon he said: It suffices for you that you should observe fast for
three days during every mouth. I said: Apostle of Allah, I am capable of doing more than
this. He said: Your wife has a right upon you, your visitor has a right upon you, your
body has a right upon you; so observe the fast of David, the Apostle of Allah (peace be
upon him), for he was the best worshipper of Allah. I said: Apostle of Allah, what is the
fast of David? He said: He used to fast one day and did not fast the other day. He (also)
said: Recite the Qur'an during every month. I said: Apostle of Allah, I am capable of
doing more than this, whereupon he said: Recite it in twenty days; recite it in ten days.
I said: I am capable of doing more than this, whereupon he said: Recite it every week, and
do not exceed beyond this, for your wife has a right upon you, your visitor has a right
upon you, your body has a right upon you. He ('Amr b. 'As) said: I was hard to myself and
thus I was put to hardship. The Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) had told me: 'You
do not know you may live long (thus and bear the hardships for a long time), and I
accepted that which the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) had told me. When I grew
old I wished I had availed myself of the conces- sion (granted by) the Apostle of Allah
(may-peace be upon him). This hadith has been narrated by Yahya b. Abu Kathir with the
same chain of transmitters and he made this addition after these words: During every
month, (fasting) for three days, there is for you ten times for every good and that is
perpetual fasting (for three days would bring a reward for full thirty days). I said: What
is the fast of the Apostle of Allah, David? He said: Half of the age (observing fast on
alternate days for the whole life). And in the hadith no mention has been made of the
recital of the Qur'an, and he did not say: Your visitor has a right upon you, but
(instead) he said: Your son has a right upon you.
Book 006, Number 2589:
'Abdullah b. 'Amr (Allah be pleased with them) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may
peace be upon him) said to me: Recite the whole of the Qur'An during every nonth. I said:
I find power (to recite it) in a shorter period. He said: Then recite it in twenty nights.
I said: I find power (to recite it in a shorter period even than this), whereupon he said:
Then recite it in seven (nights) and do not exceed beyond it.
Book 006, Number 2590:
'Abdullah b. 'Amr b. al-'As (Allah be pleased with them) reported that the Messenger of
Allah (may peace be upon him) said: 'Abdullah, don't be like so and so who observed prayer
during the whole night and then abandoned it (altogether).
Book 006, Number 2591:
Abdu'llah b. 'Amr b. 'As (Allah be pleased with them) reported: It was conveyed to the
Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) that I observe fast succes- sively and pray
during the whole night. He sent for me or I met him and he (the Holy Prophet) said: It has
been conveyed to me that you observe fast continuously and do not break it and pray during
the whole night. Don't do that. for there is share for your eyes, share for your own self,
share for your family; so observe fast and break it, pray and sleep and observe fast for
one day during the ten days, and there is a reward for you (for other) nine (days besides
the tenth day of the fast). I said: Apostle of Allah, I find myself more powerful than
this. He said: Then observe the fast of David (peace be upon him). He ('Amr) said: Apostle
of Allah, how did David observe fast? He (the Holy Prophet) said: He used to fast one day
and break it on the other day, and he did not run (from the battlefield) as he encountered
(the enemy). He said: Apostle of Allah, who can guarantee this for me (will I also
encounter the enemy dauntlessly)? 'Ata', the narrator of the hadith, said: I do not know
how there (crept in) the matter of perpetual fast. The Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon
him), however, said: He who observed perpetual fast did not fast at all; he who observed
perpetual fast did not fast at all, he who observed perpetual fast did not fast at all.
This hadith has been narrated by Ibn Juraij with the same chain of transmitters. Imam
Muslim has narrated this hadith on the authority of Abu 'Abbas al-Sa'ib b. Farrukh and he
was a trustworthy and reliable (narrator) among the people of Mecca.
Book 006, Number 2592:
Abdullah b. Amr (Allah be pleased with both of them) reported: The Messenger of Allah
(may peace be upon him) said to me: 'Abdullah b. Amr, you fast continuously and stand in
prayer for the whole of night. If you do like that, your eyes would be highly strained and
would sink and lose sight. There is no (reward for) fasting (for him) who fasts
perpetually. Fasting for three days during the month is like fasting, the whole of the
month. I said: I am capable of doing more than this, whereupon he said: Observe the fast
of David. He used to fast one day and break (the other) day. And he did not turn back in
the encounter.
Book 006, Number 2593:
This hadith is narrated on the authority of Habib b. Abu Thabit with the same chain of
transmitters and he said:" And you would become exhausted."
Book 006, Number 2594:
'Abdullah b. 'Amr (Allah be pleased with both of them) reported: The Messenger of Allah
(may peace be upon him) said to me: I have been informed that you stand for prayer the
whole of night and fast during the day. I said: I do that, whereupon he said: If you did
that you in fact strained heavily your eyes and made yourself weak. There is a right of
your eyes (upon you) and a right of your self (upon you) and a right of your family (upon
you). Stand for prayer and sleep. observe fasts and break (them).
Book 006, Number 2595:
'Abdullah b. 'Amr (Allah be pleased with both of them) reported Allah's Messenger (may
peace be upon him) as saying: With Allah the best fasting is that of David and the best
prayer is that of David (peace be upon him) for he slept half of the night and stood for
prayer for the third of it and (then) slept the sixth part of it and he observed fast one
day and broke on the other.
Book 006, Number 2596:
'Abdullah b. 'Amr b. al-'As reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as
saying: The best fasting in the eye of Allah is that of David, for he fasted for half of
the age (he fasted on alternate days), and the best prayer in the eye of Allah, the
Exalted and Majestic, is that of David (peace be upon him), for he slept for half of the
night and then stood for prayer and then again slept. He prayed for one-third of the night
after midnight. He (the narrator) said: I asked 'Amr b. Dinar whether 'Amr b. Aus said
that he stood for prayer one-third of the night after midnight. He said: Yes.
Book 006, Number 2597:
Abu Qatada reported that Abu al Malih informed me: I went along with your father to
'Abdullah b. Amr, and he narrated to us that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon
him) was informed about my fasting and he came to me, and I placed a leather cushion
filled with fibre of date-palms for him. He sat down upon the ground and there was that
cushion between me and him, and he said to me: Does three days' fasting in a month not
suffice you? I said: Messenger of Allah, (I am capable of observing more fasts). He said:
(Would) five (not suffice for you)? I said: Messenger of Allah, (I am capable of observing
more fasts) He said: (Would) seven (fasts) not suffice you? I said: Messenger of Allah, (I
am capable of observing more fasts). He (the Holy Prophet) then said: (Would) nine (fasts
not suffice you)? I said: Messenger of Allah, (I am capable of observing more fasts). He
said: (Would) eleven (fasts not suffice you)? I said: Messenger of Allah, (I am capable of
observing more fasts than these). Thereupon the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him)
said: There is no fasting (better than) the fasting of David which comprises half of the
age, fasting a day and not fasting a day.
Book 006, Number 2598:
'Abdullah b. Amr (Allah be pleased with them) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may
peace be upon him) had said to him: Observe fast for a day and there would be reward for
you for the rest (of the days). He said: I am capable of doing more than this. He then
said: Observe fast for two days, and there would be reward for you for the rest (of the
days). He said: I am capable of doing more than this. He (the Holy Prophet) said: Observe
fast for three days and there would be reward for you for the rest of the days. He said: I
am capable of doing more than this, whereupon he said: Observe fast for four days and
there would be reward for you for the rest of the days. He said: I am capable of doing
more than this. Thereupon he said: Then observe fast (which is the) best in the eye of
Allah, the fast of David (peace be upon him) ; he used to observe fast one day and break
on the other day.
Book 006, Number 2599:
'Abdullah b. 'Amr (Allah be pleased with them) reported that the Messenger of Allah
(may peace be upon him) said to me! 'Abdullah b. 'Amr, it has been conveyed to me that you
observe fast during the day and stand in prayer during the whole night. Don't do that, for
your body has a share of its own in you, your eye has a share of its own in you, your wife
has a share of her own in you. Observe fast and break it too. Fast for three days in every
month and that is a prepetual fasting. I said! Messenger of Allah, I have got strength
enough (to do more than this), whereupon he said: Then observe the fast of David (peace be
upon him). Observe fast one day and break it (on the other) day. And he ('Abdullah b.
'Amr) used to say: Would that I had availed myself of this concession.
Chapter 33: EXCELLENCE OF OBSERVING FAST FOR THREE DAYS DURING EVERY MONTH. AND
FASTING ON THE DAY OF 'ARAFA AND 'ASHURA AND MONDAY AND THURSDAY
Book 006, Number 2600:
Mu'adha al-'Adawiyya reported that she asked 'A'isha, the wife of the Apostle of Allah
(may peace be upon him), whether the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) observed
fasts for three days during every month. She said: Yes I said to her: Which were (the
particular) days of the month on which he observed fast? She said: He was not particular
about the days of the month on which to observe fast.
Book 006, Number 2601:
'Imran b. Husain (Allah be pleased with them) reported that the Apostle of Allah (may
peace be upon him) said to him (or he said to another person and he was listening to it):
O, so and so, did you observe fast in the middle of the month? He said: No. Thereupon he
(the Messenger of Allah) said: When you break it, then observe fast for two days.
Book 006, Number 2602:
Abu Qatada reported that a person came to the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him)
and said: How do you observe fast? The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) felt
annoyed. 1560 When 'Umar (Allah be pleased with him) noticed his annoyance, he said: We
are well pleased with Allah as our Lord, with Islam as our Code of Life, and with Muhammad
as our Prophet. We seek refuge with Allah from the anger of Allah and that of His
Messenger. 'Umar kept on repeating these words till his (the Prophet's) anger calmed down.
Then Umar said: Messenger of Allah. what is the position of one who perpetually observes
fasts? Thereupon he said: He neither fasted nor broke it, or he said: He did not fast and
he did not break it. He said: What about him who observes fast for two days and breaks one
day. There- upon he said: Is anyone capable of doing it? He ('Umar) said: What is the
position of him who observes fast for a day and breaks on the other day? Thereupon he (the
Holy Prophet) said: That is the fast of David (peace be upon him). He ('Umar) said: What
about him who observes fast one day and breaks it for two days. Thereupon he (the
Messenger of Allah) said: I wish, I were given strength to observe that. Thereafter he
said: The observance of three days' fast every Month and that of Ramadan every year is a
perpetual fasting. I seek from Allah that fasting on the day of 'Arafa may atone for the
sins of the preceding and the coming years. and I seek from Allah that fasting on the day
of Ashura may atone for the sins of the preceding year.
Book 006, Number 2603:
Abu Qatada al-Ansari (Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah
(may peace be upon him) was asked about his fasting. The Messenger of Allah (may peace be
upon him) felt annoyed. Thereupon 'Umar (Allah be pleased with him) said: We are pleased
with Allah as the Lord, with Islam as our Code of Life, with Muhammad as the Messenger and
with our pledge (to you for willing and cheerful submission) as a (sacred) commitment. He
was then asked about perpetual fasting, whereupon he said: He neither fasted nor did he
break it, or he did not fast and he did not break it. He was then asked about fasting for
two days and breaking one day. He (the Holy Prophet) said: And who has strength enough to
do it? He was asked about fasting for a day and breaking for two days, whereupon he said:
May Allah bestow upon us strength to do it. He was then asked about fasting for a day and
breaking on the other, whereupon he said: That is the fasting of my brother David (peace
be upon him). He was then asked about fasting on Monday, whereupon he said: It was the day
on which I was born. on which I was commissioned with prophethood or revelation was sent
to me, (and he further) said: Three days' fasting every month and of the whole of Ramadan
every year is a perpetual fast. He was asked about fasting on the day of 'Arafa (9th of
Dhu'I-Hijja), whereupon he said: It expiates the sins of the preceding year and the coming
year. He was asked about fasting on the day of 'Ashura (10th of Muharram), whereupon be
said: It expiates the sins of the preceding year. (Imam Muslim said that in this hadith
there is a) narration of Imam Shu'ba that he was asked about fasting on Monday and
Thursday, but we (Imam Muslim) did not mention Thursday for we found it as an error (in
reporting).
Book 006, Number 2604:
This hadith has been narrated by Shu'ba with the same chain of transmitters.
Book 006, Number 2605:
This hadith has been narrated by Ghailan b. Jarir with the same chain of transmitters,
but with one variation, that there has been made mention of Monday and not of Thursday.
Book 006, Number 2606:
Abu Qatada Ansari (Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah's Massenger (may
peace be upon him) was asked about fasting on Monday, whereupon he said: It is (the day)
when I was born and revelation was sent down to me.
Chapter 34: FASTING IN THE MONTH OF SHA'BAN
Book 006, Number 2607:
'Imran b. Husain (Allah be pleased with them) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace he
upon him) having said to him or to someone else: Did you fast in the middle of Sha'ban? He
said: No. Thereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: If you did not observe fast, then you
should observe fast for two days.
Book 006, Number 2608:
Imran b. Husain (Allah be pleased with them) reported that Allah's Apostle (way peace
heupon him) said. to a person: Did you observe any fast in the middle of this month
(Sha'ban)? He said: No. Thereupon the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said:
Fast for two days instead of (one fast) when you have completed (fasts of) Ramadan.
Book 006, Number 2609:
'Imran b. Husain (Allah be pleased with them) reported that the Apostle of Allah (may
peace be upon him) said to a person: Did you observe fast in the middle of this month. i.
e. Sha'ban? He said: No. Thereupon he said to him: When it is the end of Ramadan, then
observe fast for one day or two (Shu'ba had some doubt about it) but he said: I think that
he has said: two days.
Book 006, Number 2610:
This hadith is narrated by 'Abdullah b. Hani b. Akhi Mutarrif with the same chain of
transmitters.
Chapter 35: EXCELLENCE OF THE FAST OF MUHARRAM
Book 006, Number 2611:
Abu Haraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon
him) as saying: The most excellent fast after Ramadan is God's month. al-Muharram, and the
most excellent prayer after what is prescribed is prayer during the night.
Book 006, Number 2612:
Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported that he (the Messenger of Allah) was
asked as to which prayer was most excellent after the prescribed prayer, and which fast
was most excellent after the month of Ramadan. He said: Prayer offered in the middle of
the night and the most excellent fast after (fasting) in the month of Ramadan is the fast
in God's month al-Muharram.
Book 006, Number 2613:
A hadith like this has been reported from the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him)
by 'Abd al-Malik with the same chain of transmitters in connection with fast.
Chapter 36: EXCELLENCE OF OBSERVING FAST FOR SIX DAYS IN THE MONTH OF SHAWWAL
AFTER RAMADAN
Book 006, Number 2614:
Abu Ayyub al-Ansari (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace
be upon him) as saying: He who observed the fast of Ramadan and then followed it with six
(fasts) of Shawwal. it would be as if he fasted perpetually.
Book 006, Number 2615:
Abu Ayyub al-Ansari reported (through another chain of transmitters): I heard Allah's
Messenger (may peace be upon him) saying like this.
Book 006, Number 2616:
Abu Ayyub reported a hadith like this (through another chain of transmitters).
Chapter 37: EXCELLENCE OF LAILAT-UL-QADR AND EXHORTATION TO FIND IT
Book 006, Number 2617:
Ibn 'Umar (Allah be pleased with them) reported that some persons among the Companions
of the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) were shown Lailat- ul-Qadr while sleeping
in the last week (of Ramadan). Thereupon Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: I
see that your dreams agree regarding the last week; so he who wants to seek it should seek
it in the last week (during the night).
Book 006, Number 2618:
Ibn 'Umar (Allah be pleased with them) reported Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him)
as saying: Seek Lailat-ul-Qadr in the last week (of Ramadan).
Book 006, Number 2619:
Salim reported on the authority of his father that a person saw Lailat-ul- Qadr on the
27th (of Ramadan). Thereupon Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) said: I see that your
dreams agree regarding the last ten (nights of Ramadan). So seek it on an odd number (of
these ten nights).
Book 006, Number 2620:
Salim b. 'Abdullah b. 'Umar reported that his father said: I heard Allah's Messenger
(may peace be upon him) as saying: So far as Lailat-ul-Qadr is concerned. some persons
among you have seen it (in a dream) in the first week and some persons among you have been
shown that it is in the last week; so seek it in the last ten (nights).
Book 006, Number 2621:
Ibn Umar (Allah be pleased with them) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon
him) as saying: Seek it (Lailat-ul-Qadr) in the last (ten nights). If one among you shows
slackness and weakness (in the earlier part of Ramadan), it should not be allowed to
prevail upon him in the last week.
Book 006, Number 2622:
Ibn Umar (Allah be pleased with them) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon
him) as saying: He who is anxious to seek it (Lailat-ul-Qadr) should seek it in the last
ten (nights of Ramadan).
Book 006, Number 2623:
'Ibn 'Umar (Allah be pleased with both of them) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace
be upon him) as saying: Seek the time of Lailat-ul-Qadr in the last (ten nights), or he
said: in the last nine (nights).
Book 006, Number 2624:
Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon
him) as saying: I was shown Lailat-ul-Qadr; then some members of my family awoke me up,
then I was caused to forget it. So seek it in the last week. Harmala said: (The Holy
Prophet did not say:" I was made to forget," but he stated):" But I forgot
it."
Book 006, Number 2625:
Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah's Messenger (may
peace be upon him) spent in devotion (in i'tikaf) the middle ten nights of the month of
Ramadan, and when twenty nights were over and it was the twenty-first night, he went back
to his residence and those who were along with him also returned (to their respective
residences). He spent one month in devotion. Then he addressed the people on the night he
came back (to his residence) and commanded them as Allah desired (him to command) and then
said: I used to devote myself (observe i'tikaf) during these ten (nights). Then I started
devoting myself in the last ten (nights). And he who desires to observe i'tikaf along with
me should spend the night) at his place of i'tikaf. And I saw this night (Lailat-ul-Qadr)
but I forgot it (the exact night) ; so seek it;In the last ten nights on odd numbers. I
saw (the glimpses of that dream) that I was prostrating in water and mud. Abu Sa'id
al-Khudri said: It rained on the twenty-first night and the water dripped (from the roof)
of the mosque at the place where the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) observed
prayer. I looked at him and as he completed the dawn prayer, (I found) his face was wet
with mud and water.
Book 006, Number 2626:
Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah
(may peace be upon him) devoted (himself to prayer) in the middle (ten nights) of Ramadan.
The rest of the hadith is the same except for these words:" That he adhered to his
place of i'tikaf and his forehead was besmeared with mud and water."
Book 006, Number 2627:
Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah
(may peace be upon him) observed i'tikaf (confined himself for devotion and prayer) in the
first ten (days) of Ramadan; he then observed i'tikaf in the middle ten (days) in a
Turkish tent with a mat hanging at its door. He (the Holy Prophet) took hold of that mat
and placed it in the nook of the tent. He then put his head out and talked with people and
they came near him, and he (the Holy Prophet) said: I observed i'tikaf in the first ten
(nights and days) in order to seek that night (Lailat-ul-Qadr). I then observed i'tikaf in
the middle ten days. Then (an angel) was sent to me and I was told that this (night) is
among the last ten (nights). He who among you likes to observe i'tikaf should do so; and
the people observed it along with him, and he (the Holy Prophet) said: That
(Lailat-ul-Qadr) was shown to me on an odd (night) and I (saw in the dream) that I was
prostrating in the morning in clay and water. So in the morning of the twenty-first night
when he (the Holy Prophet) got up for dawn (prayer). there was a rainfall and the mosque
dripped, and I saw clay and water. When he came out after completing the morning prayer (I
saw) that his forehead and the tip of his nose had (traces) of clay and water, and that
was the twenty-first night among the last ten (nights).
Book 006, Number 2628:
Abu Salama reported: 'We discussed amongst ourselves Lailat-ul-Qadr. I came to Abu
Sa'id al-Khudri (Allah be pleased with him) who was a friend of mine and said to him:
Would you not go with us to the garden of date trees? He went out with a cloak over him. I
said to him: Did you hear the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) making mention of
Lailat-ul-Qadr? He said: Yes, (and added) we were observing i'tikaf with the Messenger of
Allah (may peace be upon him) in the middle ten days of Ramadan, and came out on the
morning of the twentieth and the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) addressed us
and said: I was shown Lailat-ul-Qadr, but I forgot (the exact night) or I was caused to
forget it, so seek it in the last ten odd (nights), and I was shown that I was prostrating
in water and clay. So he who wanted to observe i'tikaf with the Messenger of Allah (inay
peace be upon him) should return (to the place of i'tikaf). He (Abu Sa'id al-Khudri) said:
And we returned and did not find any patch of cloud in the sky. Then the cloud gathered
and there was (so heavy) a downpour that the roof of the mosque which was made of the
branches of date-palms began to drip. Then there was prayer and I saw the Messenger of
Allah (may peace be upon him) prostrating in water and clay till I saw the traces of clay
on his forehead.
Book 006, Number 2629:
This badith has been reported on the authority of Yahya b. Abu Kathir with the same
chain of transmitters (with a slight variation of these words): I saw the Messenger of
Allah (may peace be upon him) after he had completed (the prayer) and there was a trace of
clay on his forehead and tip (of the nose).
Book 006, Number 2630:
Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may
peace be upon him) observed i'tikaf in the middle ten days of Ramadan to seek
Lailat-ul-Qadr before it was made manifest to him. When (these nights) were over, he
commanded to strike the tent. Then it was made manifest to him that (Lailat-ul-Qadr) was
in the last ten nights (of Ramadan), and commanded to pitch the tent (again). He then came
to the people and said: O people, Lailat-ul-Qadr was made manifest to me and I came out to
inform you about it that two persons came contend- ing with each other and there was a
devil along with them and I forgot it. So seek it in the last ten nights of Ramadan. Seek
it on the ninth, on the seventh and on the fifth. I (one of the narrators) said: Abu
Sa'id, you know more than us about numbers. He said: Yes, indeed we have better right than
you. I said: What is this ninth, seventh, and fifth? He said: When twenty-one (nights are
over) and the twenty-second begins, it is the ninth, and when twenty-three (nights) are
over, that which follows (the last night) is the seventh, and when twenty-five nights are
over, what follows it is fifth. Ibn Khallad said: Instead of the word Yahliqan
(contending), he said Yakhtasiman, (they are disputing).
Book 006, Number 2631:
'Abdullah b. Unais reported Allah's Messenger (may peace beupon him) 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 (may peace be upon him) 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).
Book 006, Number 2632:
'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) and Ibn Numair reported Allah's Mes- senger (may
peace be upon him) as saying: Look for (and in the words of Waki, seek) Lailat-ul-Qadr in
the last ten nights of Ramadan.
Book 006, Number 2633:
Zirr b. Habaish reported: I thu asked Ubayy b. Ka'b (Allah be pleased with him): Your
brother (in faith) Ibn Mas'ud says: He who stands (for the night prayer) throughout the
year would find Lailat-ul-Qadr, whereupon he said: May Allah have mercy upon him; (he said
these words) with the intention that people might not rely only (on one night), whereas he
knew that it (Lailat-ul-Qadr) is in the month of Ramadan and it is the twenty-seventh
night. He then took oath (without making any exception, i. e. without saying Innsha Allah)
that it was the twenty-seventh night. I said to him: Abu Mundhir, on what ground do you
say that? Thereupon he said: By the indication or by the sign which the Messenger of Allah
(may peace be upon him) gave us, and that is that on that day (the sun) would rise without
having any ray in it.
Book 006, Number 2634:
Zirr b. Hubaish reported that Ubayy b. Ka'b (Allah be pleased with him) said about
Lailat-ul-Qadr: By Allah, I know well about it. Shu'ba said: To the best of my knowledge
it was the twenty-seventh night for which the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him)
commanded us to stand for prayer. Shu'ba doubted these words: That it was the night for
which the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) commanded us to stand for prayer. And
(he further) said: This was narrated to me by a friend of mine from him (the Holy
Prophet).
Book 006, Number 2635:
Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported: We were talking about Lailat-ul-Qadr
in the presence of the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) and he said: He who
amongst you remembers (the night) when the moon arose and it was like a piece of plate (at
the fag end of the month in a state of waning).
Chapter 38: OBSERVING OF I'TIKAF IN THE LAST TEN DAYS OF RAMADAN
Book 006, Number 2636:
Ibn 'Umar (Allah be pleased with both of them) reported that the Apostle of Allah (may
peace be upon him) used to observe i'tikaf in the last ten days of Ramadan.
Book 006, Number 2637:
Abdullah b. Umar (Allah be pleased with both of them) reported that the Messenger of
Allah (may peace be upon him) used to observe i'tikaf in the last ten days of Ramadan.
Nafi' said: Abdullah (Allah be pleased with him) showed me the place in the mosque where
the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) used to observe i'tikaf.
Book 006, Number 2638:
'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be
upon him) used to observe i'tikaf in the last ten days of Ramadan.
Book 006, Number 2639:
This hadith has been narrated by 'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) through another
chain of transmitters.
Book 006, Number 2640:
'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may peace he
upon him) used to observe i'tikif in the last ten days of Ramadan till Allah called him
back (to his heavenly home). Then his wives observed i'tikaf after him.
Chapter 39: WHEN SHOULD A PERSON ENTER THE PLACE OF I'TIKAF AS HE INTENDS TO
OBSERVE IT
Book 006, Number 2641:
'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported that when the Messenger of Allah (may
peace be upon him) decided to observe i'tikaf, he prayed in the morning and then went to
the place of his i'tikaf, and he commanded that a tent should be pitched for him, and it
was pitched. He (once) decided to observe i'tikaf in the last ten days of Ramadan. Zainab
(the wife of the Holy Prophet) commanded that a tent should be pitched for her. It was
pitched accordingly. And some other wives of Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him)
commanded that tents should be pitched for them too. And they were pitched. When the
Messenger of Allah (may peace he upon him) offered the morning prayer, he looked and found
(so many) tents. Thereupon he said: What is this virtue that these (ladies) have decided
to acquire? He commanded his tent to be struck and abandoned i'tikaf in the month of
Ramadan and postponed it to the first ten days of Shawwal.
Book 006, Number 2642:
This hadith has been reported through another chain of transmitters, and there it is
mentioned that. 'A'isha, Hafsa and Zainab (Allah be pleased with them) pitched the tents
for i'tikaf.
Chapter 40: ONE SHOULD EXERT MORE (IN DEVOTION AND PRAYER) IN THE LAST TEN DAYS
OF RAMADAN
Book 006, Number 2643:
'A'Isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported that when the last ten nights began
Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) kept awake at night (for prayer and devotion),
wakened his family, and prepared himself to observe prayer (with more vigour).
Book 006, Number 2644:
'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon
him) used to exert himself in devotion during the last ten nights to a greater extent than
at any other time.
Chapter 41: FASTING ON THE 10TH OF DHU'L-HIJJA
Book 006, Number 2645:
'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported: I never saw the Messenger of Allah (may
peace be upon him) fasting in the ten days of Dhu'I-Hijja.
Book 006, Number 2646:
'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported: The Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon
him) did not observe fast in the ten days of Dhul-Hijja.
More Ahadiths
Home
|