Fasting

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, "When Ramadan begins the gates of heaven are opened." A version has, "The gates of paradise are opened, the gates of jahannam are locked, and the devils are chained." Another has, "The gates of mercy are opened." (Bukhari and Muslim).

Sahl b. Sa'd reported God’s messenger as saying, "In paradise there are eight gates among which is a gate called ar-Rayyan which only those who fast will enter." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Huraira reported God's messenger as saying, "He who fasts during Ramadan with faith and seeking his reward from God will have his past sins forgiven; he who prays during the night in Ramadan with faith and seeking his reward from God will have his past sins forgiven; and he who passes Lailat al-qadr [Night of Decree] in prayer with faith and seeking his reward from God will have his past sins forgiven." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

He reported God’s messenger as saying, "Every deed a son of Adam does will be multiplied, a good deed receiving a tenfold to seven hundredfold reward. God has said, ‘With the exception of fasting, for it is done for my sake and I give a reward for it. One abandons his passion and his food for my sake.* The one who fasts has two occasions of joy, one when he breaks his fast and one when he meets his Lord. The bad breath of one who fasts is sweeter to God than the fragrance of musk. Fasting is a protection, [i.e. from acts of disobedience in this world and from hell in the next. Pt. vi.] and when the day of the fast of any of you comes he must not use vile language or raise his voice, and if anyone reviles him or tries to fight with him he should tell him he is fasting.” *This is not from the Qur’an, but is a hadith qudsi, a tradition which gives words spoken by God. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Huraira reported God's messenger as saying, "When the first night of Ramadan comes the devils and the rebellious jinn are chained, the gates of hell are locked and not one of them is opened; the gates of paradise are opened and not one of them is locked, and a crier calls, 'You who desire what is good, come forward, and you who desire evil refrain.' Some are freed from hell by God, and that happens every night." Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it, and Ahmad transmitted it from a man. [i.e. an unspecified person.] Tirmidhi said this is a gharib tradition.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “Ramadan, a blessed month, has come to you during which God has made it obligatory for you to fast. In it the gates of heaven are opened, the gates of al-Jahim are locked, and the rebellious devils are chained. In it God has a night which is better than a thousand months. He who is deprived of its good has indeed suffered deprivation." Ahmad and Nasa’i transmitted it.

‘Abdallah b. ‘Amr reported God’s messenger as saying, “Fasting and the Qur’an intercede for a man. Fasting says, ‘O my Lord, I have kept him away from his food and his passions by day, so accept my intercession for him.’ The Qur’an says, ‘I have kept him away from sleep by night, so accept my intercession for him.’ Then their intercession is accepted." Baihaqi transmitted it in Shu'ab al-iman.

Anas b. Malik told of God’s messenger saying when Ramadan began, “This month has come to you, and it contains a night which is better than a thousand months. He who is deprived of it is deprived of all good, but only those who are denied prosperity are deprived of it." Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Salman al-Farisi told of God’s messenger saying in a sermon which he delivered to them on the last day of Sha'ban, “A great month, a blessed month, a month containing a night which is better than a thousand months has approached you people. God has appointed the observance of fasting during it as an obligatory duty, and the passing of its night in prayer as a voluntary practice. If someone draws near to God during it with some good act he will be like one who fulfils an obligatory duty in another month, and he who fulfills an obligatory duty in it will be like one who fulfills seventy obligatory duties in another month. It is the month of endurance, and the reward of endurance is paradise. It is the month of sharing with others, and a month in which the believer’s provision is increased. If someone gives one who has been fasting something with which to break his fast it will provide forgiveness of his sins and save him from hell, and he will have a reward equal to his without his reward being diminished in any respect.” Some of them remarked to God’s messenger that they did not all have the means to give one who had been fasting something with which to break his fast, and he replied, “God gives this reward to him who gives one who has been fasting some milk mixed with water, or a date, or a drink of water with which to break his fast, and anyone who gives a full meal to one who has been fasting will be given a drink from any tank by God and will not thirst till he enters paradise. It is a month whose beginning is mercy, whose middle is forgiveness, and whose end is freedom from hell. If anyone makes things easy for his slave during it, God will forgive him and free him from hell.”

Ibn ‘Abbas said that when the month of Ramadan began God's messenger set every prisoner free and gave to every beggar.

Ibn ‘Umar reported the Prophet (ﷺ) as saying, “Paradise is decorated for Ramadan from the beginning of the year till a following year, and when the first day of Ramadan comes a wind under the throne blows some of the leaves of paradise on the maidens with bright large eyes,* and they say, ‘My Lord, appoint us husbands from among Thy servants with whom we shall be happy and who will be happy with us’.” *cf. Qur’an, xliv, 54; lvi, 22. Baihaqi transmitted the three traditions in Shu'ab al-iman.

Abu Huraira said that when the Prophet (ﷺ) stated that his people would be granted forgiveness on the last night in Ramadan and was asked whether it was Lailat al-qadr, he replied, “No, but a workman is paid his full wages only when he has finished his work.” Ahmad transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Umar reported God’s messenger as saying, “Do not fast till you see the new moon, and do not break your fast till you see it; but if the weather is cloudy calculate when it should appear.” In a version he said, “The month consists of twenty-nine days, but do not fast till you see it, and if the weather is cloudy wait till thirty days of the previous month have passed.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “Fast when you see it and break your fast when you see it, and if the weather is cloudy treat Sha‘ban as having thirty days.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Ibn ‘Umar reported God’s messenger as saying, “We are an unlettered people who can neither write nor count. The month is thus and thus and thus,” drawing in his thumb when he said it the third time.* Then he said, “The month is thus and thus and thus,” meaning a complete thirty days. He meant alternately twenty-nine and thirty. *Spreading out the ten fingers the first two times and nine the third time. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Bakra reported God’s messenger as saying, “The months of festival, Ramadan and Dhul-hijja, are not defective.”* *The most probable meaning is that, even if these months have only twenty-nine days, they are not on that account to be considered deficient in comparison with a month which has thirty days. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “None of you must fast one day or two days just before Ramadan, except in the case of a man who has been in the habit of observing a particular fast, for he may fast on that day.”* *If a man is in the habit of fasting on a particular day of the week and one or other of the two days before Ramadan falls on that day, he may observe his usual practice. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Huraira reported God's messenger as saying, "When the middle of Sha'ban comes do not fast." Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it.

He reported God’s messenger as saying, "Calculate on the basis of the new moon of Sha'ban when Ramadan begins." Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Umm Salama said she never saw the Prophet (ﷺ) fasting two consecutive months, except Sha'ban and Ramadan. Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Nasa’i and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

‘Ammar b. Yasir said, "He who fasts on a day about which he is doubtful has disobeyed Abul Qasim"* *i.e., the Prophet. Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Nasa’i, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Abbas told a desert Arab coming to the Prophet (ﷺ) and saying he had seen the new moon, i.e. the new moon of Ramadan. He asked him whether he testified that there is no god but God and he replied that he did. He then asked if he testified that Muhammad is God’s messenger, and when he replied that he did he said, “Bilal, announce to the people that they must fast tomorrow." Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Nasa’i, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Umar said that the people tried to see the new moon and he informed God’s messenger that he had seen it, so he fasted and commanded the people to observe the fast." Abu Dawud and Darimi transmitted it.

‘A’isha said that God’s messenger used to count the days in Sha'ban in a manner he did not practise any other month, then fasted when he saw the new moon of Ramadan; but if the weather was cloudy he counted thirty days and then fasted. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Abul Bakhtari said: We went out to perform the ‘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 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 what night we had seen it, and when we told him we had seen it on such and such a night he said, “God’s messenger deferred it till the time it is seen, so it is to be reckoned as being on the night you saw it.” In a version he said: We saw the new moon of Ramadan when we were in Dhat ‘Irq* and we sent a man to Ibn ‘Abbas to enquire of him. He replied that God’s messenger had said, “God most high has deferred it till it is seen, but if the weather is cloudy observe the fast after the complete number of days have passed.” *Dhat 'Irq was near Nakhla, so this version is simply a little more precise than the other about were they were. Muslim transmitted it.

Anas reported God's messenger as saying, “Take a meal a little before dawn, for there is a blessing in taking a meal at that time.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

‘Amr b. al-‘As reported God’s messenger as saying, “The difference between our fasting and that of the People of the Book is eating shortly before dawn.” Muslim transmitted it.

Sahl reported God’s messenger as saying, “The people will continue to prosper as long as they hasten the breaking of the fast.”* *This refers to each day during Ramadan, and recommends that the fast should be broken as early as that may lawfully be done. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

‘Umar reported God’s messenger as saying, “When the night approaches on this side and the day retreats on that side and the sun sets, he who fasts has reached the time to break it.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Huraira said that God’s messenger forbade uninterrupted fasting, and when a man said, “You fast uninterruptedly, messenger of God,” he replied, “Which of you is like me? During the night my Lord gives me food and drink.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Hafsa reported God’s messenger as saying, “He who does not before dawn express his intention of fasting is not credited with it.” Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Nasa’i and Darimi transmitted it. Abu Dawud said that Ma'mar, az-Zubaidi, Ibn ‘Uyaina and Yunus al-Aili, all of whom got it on Zuhri’s authority, traced it no farther back than Hafsa.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “When any of you hears the summons to prayer while he has a vessel in his hand he should not lay it down till he finishes his drink.”* *This is interpreted as referring to the dawn prayer during Ramadan. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

He reported God’s messenger as stating that God Most High has said, “Those of my servants who are quickest in breaking their fast are dearest to me.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Salman b. ‘Amir reported God’s messenger as saying, “When one of you breaks his fast he should do so with dates for they provide blessing; but if he cannot get any he should break his fast with water for it is purifying.” Ahmad, Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it, but only Tirmidhi included “for they provide blessing.”

Anas said that the Prophet (ﷺ) used to break his fast before praying with some fresh dates, but if there were no fresh dates he had a few dry dates, and if there were no dry dates he took some mouthfuls* of water. *Mirqat explains this as three mouthfuls, but 'three' does not occur in the text. Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud transmitted it, Tirmidhi saying that this is a hasan gharib tradition.

Zaid b. Khalid reported God’s messenger as saying, ‘He who gives one who has been fasting something with which to break his fast, or who equips a fighter will have a reward equivalent to his.” Baihaqi transmitted it in Shu'ab al-iman, and Muhyi as-sunna, who said it is sahih, in Sharh as-sunna.

Ibn ‘Umar told that the Prophet (ﷺ) said when he broke his fast, “Thirst has gone, the arteries are moist, and the reward is sure, if God wills.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Mu'adh b. Zuhra told that when the Prophet (ﷺ) broke his fast he said, “O God, for Thee I have fasted and with Thy provision I have broken my fast.” Abu Dawud transmitted it in mursal form.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “The religion will continue to prevail as long as people hasten to break the fast, because the Jews and the Christians delay doing so.” Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Abu ‘Atiya said: Masruq and I visited ‘A'isha and said, “Mother of the faithful, there are two of Muhammad’s companions one of whom hastens to break the fast and hastens to pray while the other delays breaking the fast and delays praying. She asked which of them hastened to break the fast and hastened to pray, and when we told her that he was ‘Abdallah b. Mas'ud she said, "Thus did God’s messenger do." The other was Abu Musa. Muslim transmitted it.

Al-‘Irbad b. Sariya told that God’s messenger invited him to a meal shortly before dawn in Ramadan saying, “Come to the blessed morning meal.” Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “How good is the believer’s meal of dates shortly before dawn!” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “If one does not abandon falsehood and action in accordance with it, God had no need that he should abandon his food and his drink.” Bukhari transmitted it.

‘A'isha said, “God’s messenger used to kiss and embrace while he was fasting, but he was the one of you who had most control over his desire.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

She said that God’s messenger would be overtaken by the dawn in Ramadan when he was in a state of sexual defilement, not owing to a dream, and would wash and fast. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Ibn ‘Abbas said that the Prophet (ﷺ) had himself cupped when he was wearing the ihram and also when he was fasting. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “If anyone forgets when he is fasting and eats or drinks he should complete his fast, for it is only God who has fed him and given him drink.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

He said that while they were sitting with the Prophet (ﷺ) a man came to him and said, “Messenger of God, I am undone.” He asked him what had happened to him and he replied that he had had intercourse with his wife while he was fasting. God’s messenger then asked him whether he could get a slave to free, but he replied that he could not. He asked if he could fast two consecutive months, but he replied that he could not. He asked if he could provide food for sixty poor people, and when he replied that he could not, he told him to sit down. The Prophet (ﷺ) then waited for a time, and meanwhile an ‘araq containing dates was brought to him, an ‘araq being a huge basket.* He asked where the man who had questioned him was, and when he replied, "[Here] I am," he said, "Take this and give it as sadaqa." The man replied, “Am I to give it to one who is poorer than I am, messenger of God? I swear by God that there is no poorer family than mine between the two lava plains of Medina," i.e. the two harras. The Prophet (ﷺ) thereupon laughed so that his eye-teeth became visible and said, "Give it to your family to eat." *In explaining the word 'araq the tradition calls it a hugh miktal. The miktal was a basket containing fifteen sa's. It is also said to have had double that capacity. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

‘A'isha said that the Prophet (ﷺ) used to kiss her and suck her tongue when he was fasting. Abu Dawud transmitted it.* *Saum, 34. This is said by some to be weak because Muhammad b. Dinar and Sa'd b. Aus are among its transmitters.

Abu Huraira said that a man asked the Prophet (ﷺ) whether one who was fasting might embrace his wife and he gave him permission, but when another came to him and asked him he forbade him. The one to whom he gave permission was an old man and the one whom he forbade was a youth. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

He reported God’s messenger as saying, "If one has a sudden attack of vomiting while he is fasting no atonement is required of him, but if he vomits intentionally he must make atonement." Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it. Tirmidhi said this is a gharib tradition which he knew only among the traditions of ‘Isa. b. Yunus, and that Muhammad, i.e. Bukhari, said he did not consider it one which was held in estimation.

Ma'dan b. Talha said Abu Darda’ told him that God’s messenger vomited and broke his fast. He said that he met Thauban in the mosque of Damascus, and when he remarked that Abu Darda’ told him that God’s messenger vomited and broke his fast he said, "He spoke the truth; and I was the one who poured out the water for his ablution." Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi and Darimi transmitted it.

‘Amir b. Rabi'a said he had seen the Prophet (ﷺ) more often than he could count using a toothstick while he was fasting. Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Anas told of a man coming to the Prophet (ﷺ) and saying, “I have a complaint in my eyes, so may I apply collyrium while I am fasting?” He replied, “Yes.” Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying its isnad is not strong and Abu ‘Atika the transmitter is declared to be weak.

One of the Prophet’s companions said he had seen the Prophet (ﷺ) in al-'Arj* pouring water over his head while he was fasting; either because of thirst or because of the heat. *A wadi in the neighbourhood of at-Ta’if. Malik and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Shaddad b. Aus said that when God’s messenger was walking hand in hand with him on the eighteenth of Ramadan he came across a man in al-Baqi who was being cupped and said, “The one who cups and the one who is cupped have broken their fast.” Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it. The shaikh and imam Muhyi as-sunna said that some of those who allow cupping have interpreted it as meaning that they exposed themselves to the danger of breaking the fast, the one who was cupped on account of weakness, and the one who did the cupping because he could not guarantee that something would not get into his stomach by sucking the flask.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “If anyone breaks his fast one day in Ramadan without a concession* or without being ill, a perpetual fast will not atone for it even if he observes it.” *e.g. while travelling. Ahmad, Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, Darimi and Bukhari in a chapter heading transmitted it. Tirmidhi said that he heard Muhammad, i.e. Bukhari, say this was the only tradition he knew by Abul Mutawwis the transmitter.

He reported God’s messenger as saying, “Many a one who fasts gets nothing from his fasting but thirst, and many a one who prays during the night gets nothing from his night prayers but wakefulness.” Darimi transmitted it. The tradition of Laqit b. Sabira has been mentioned in the chapter on how to perform ablution. [in another part of the Mishkat]

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reported God’s messenger as saying, “Three things do not break the fast of one who is fasting: cupping, vomiting, and a nocturnal emission.” Tirmidhi transmitted it saying this is a tradition which is not regarded, its transmitter ‘Abd ar-Rahman b. Zaid being declared a weak traditionist.

Thabit al-Bunani said that when Anas b. Malik was asked whether they disapproved of cupping for one who was fasting in the time of God’s messenger he replied, “No, except if it had a weakening effect.” Bukhari transmitted it.

Bukhari said without a complete isnad that Ibn ‘Umar used to have himself cupped whan he was fasting. Then he abandoned it and had himself cupped at night.

‘Ata’ said, “If one rinses his mouth and ejects the water in it, swallowing his saliva and anything that remains in it does him no harm; but one should not chew gum, for although I do not say that he breaks his fast he swallows the saliva produced by the gum, he is nevertheless prohibited from doing it.” Bukhari transmitted it in a chapter heading.

‘A'isha said that Hamza b. ‘Amr al-Aslami who was greatly devoted to fasting asked the Prophet (ﷺ) whether he should fast when on a journey, and received the reply, “Fast if you like, or break your fast if you like.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri said that when they went out on an expedition with God’s messenger on the sixteenth of Ramadan some fasted and some broke their fast, but neither party found fault with the other. Muslim transmitted it.

Jabir said that in the course of a journey God’s messenger saw a crowd and a man who had been put in the shade. On asking the reason and being told that he was fasting he said, “Fasting while on a journey is not a part of righteousness.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Anas said that in the course of a journey with the Prophet (ﷺ) when some of them were fasting and others broke their fast, they alighted at a stage on a hot day, and while those who fasted collapsed those who had broken their fast rose and set up the tents and watered the riding-beasts, whereupon God's messenger said, “Those who broke their fast have earned all the reward today.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Ibn ‘Abbas said God's messenger left Medina to go to Mecca and fasted till he reached ‘Usfan. He then called for water, and raising it aloft so that the people might see it, he broke his fast and did not resume it till he reached Mecca, and that was in Ramadan. Ibn ‘Abbas used to say, “God’s messenger has fasted and has broken his fast, so he who wishes may fast and he who wishes may break his fast.” (Bukhari and Muslim.) In a version by Muslim from Jabir it says that he drank after the afternoon prayer.

Anas b. Malik al-Ka‘bi reported God’s messenger as saying, “God has remitted half the prayer to the traveller, and fasting to the traveller, the woman who is suckling an infant and the woman who is pregnant.” Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Nasa’i and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Salama b. al-Muhabbiq reported God’s messenger as saying, “If anyone has a riding-beast which carries him to where he can get sufficient food he should observe the fast of Ramadan wherever he is when it comes.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Jabir said that God’s messenger went off to Mecca in Ramadan in the year of the Conquest, and he and the people fasted till he came to Kura' al-Ghamim.* He then called for a cup of water which he raised till the people looked at it, and then he drank. He was told afterwards that some of the people had continued to fast, and said, “Those are the disobedient ones; those are the disobedient ones.” *A wadi two stages from Mecca on the way to Medina. Muslim transmitted it.

‘Abd ar-Rahman b. ‘Auf reported God’s messenger as saying, “One who fasts in Ramadan while travelling is like one who breaks his fast when not travelling.” Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Hamza b. ‘Amr al-Aslami told God’s messenger that he found himself strong enough to fast while travelling and asked whether it would be wrong for him to do so. He was told that licence had been given by God who is great and glorious, so that if anyone acted upon this he did well, but if anyone wished to fast he would not be guilty of sin. Muslim transmitted it.

‘A'isha said that when she had some part of the fast of Ramadan to make up she would be able to do so only in Sha'ban. Yahya b. Sa'id said she meant this was due to her being kept from it by her duty to the Prophet. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “It is not allowable for a woman to fast when her husband is present without his permission,* and she may not allow anyone to enter his house without his permission.” *This refers not to Ramadan, but to a supererogatory fast. Muslim transmitted it.

Mu'adha al-‘Adawiya said that when she asked ‘A'isha why one who has been menstruating must make up for her fast but not for her prayer, she replied, “That happened to us, and we were ordered to make up for the fast, but were not ordered to make up for the prayer.” Muslim transmitted it.

‘A'isha reported God’s messenger as saying, “If anyone dies when some fast due from him has been unfulfilled, his heir must fast on his behalf.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Nafi‘, on Ibn ‘Umar’s authority, reported the Prophet (ﷺ) as saying, “If anyone dies when fasting in the month of Ramadan has been unfulfilled by him, a poor man should be fed on his behalf in place of every day.” Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying that correctly this goes no farther back than Ibn ‘Umar.

Malik said he heard that Ibn ‘Umar used to be asked whether one might fast or pray on behalf of another, and reply, “One may neither fast nor pray on behalf of another.” He transmitted it in al-Muwatta’.

‘A'isha said, "God’s messenger used to fast to such an extent that we thought he would never break his fast, and he would go without fasting to such an extent that we thought he would never fast. I never saw God’s messenger fast a complete month except in Ramadan, and I never saw him fast more in any month than in Sha'ban." In a version she said he used to fast the whole of Sha'ban, i.e. he would fast all but a little of Sha'ban. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

‘Abdallah b. Shaqiq said that when he asked ‘A'isha whether the Prophet (ﷺ) used to fast a whole month she replied, "I never knew him to fast a whole month except Ramadan, nor to refrain from fasting some part of every month till he died." Muslim transmitted it.

‘Imran b. Husain said that the Prophet (ﷺ) asked him, or that he asked a man in ‘Imran’s hearing, “Father of so and so, did you not fast the last day of Sha'ban?" When, he replied that he had not, he said, “If you did not observe a fast, you must fast for two days."* *To reconcile this tradition with that of Abu Huraira at the foot of p.420 it is suggested that the man had made a vow to observe this fast, or that it was his custom. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “The most excellent fast after Ramadan is in God’s month al-Muharram, and the most excellent prayer after what is prescribed is prayer during the night." Muslim transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Abbas said, "I never saw the Prophet (ﷺ) singling out any day’s fast and considering it more excellent than another, except this day, the day of ‘Ashura’,* and this month, meaning the month of Ramadan." *The 10th of Muharram. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

He said that when God’s messenger fasted on the day of ‘Ashura’ and commanded that it should be observed as a fast, he was told it was a day held in honour by Jews and Christians, and said, “If I am spared till next year I shall fast on the ninth.” Muslim transmitted it.

Umm al-Fadl daughter of al-Harith said that on the day of 'Arafa some people near her argued about whether God’s messenger was fasting, some saying that he was and others saying that he was not. She therefore sent him a cup of milk while he was observing the halt at ‘Arafa on his camel, and he drank it. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

‘A'isha said she never saw God’s messenger fasting during the first ten days of Dhul Hijja. Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Qatada said that when a man came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and asked him how he fasted, he was angry at what he said, and when 'Umar observed his anger he said, “We are satisfied with God as Lord, with Islam as religion and with Muhammad as Prophet. We seek refuge in God from the anger of God and His messenger.” ‘Umar kept on repeating these words till his anger calmed down, then asked, “Messenger of God, what is the position of one who observes a perpetual fast?” He replied, “May he not fast or break his fast!” or he said, “He has neither fasted nor broken his fast.” He asked, “What is the position of one who fasts two days out of every three?” and received the reply, “Is anyone able to do that?” He asked what was the position of one who fasted every second day and was told that was the fast David observed. He asked what was the position of one who fasted one day out of every three, and God’s messenger replied, “I wish I were given power to observe that.” Thereafter he said, “The observance of three days’ fast every month and of Ramadan every year is a perpetual fast. I seek from God that fasting on the day of ‘Arafa may atone for the sins of the preceding and the coming year, and I seek from God that fasting on the day of ‘Ashura’ may atone for the sins of the preceding year.” Muslim transmitted it.

He said that when God’s messenger was asked about fasting on Monday he said, “On it I was born and on it the revelation was first sent down to me.”* *The meaning seems to be that as this day is so distinguished, one could not choose a better one. Muslim transmitted it.

Mu'adha al-‘Adawiya said she asked ‘A'isha whether God’s messenger used to fast three days every month, and she replied that he did. She asked which days in the month he fasted, and she replied that he did not care which days of the month he fasted. Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Ayyub al-Ansari told that God’s messenger said, “If anyone fasts during Ramadan, then follows it with six days in Shawwal, it will be like a perpetual fast.” Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri said God’s messenger forbade fasting on the day of breaking the fast of Ramadan and on the day of sacrifice. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

He reported God’s messenger as saying, “No fast is to be observed on two days, al-Fitr and al-Adha.* *In this tradition I have used the Arabic words, but have translated them in the preceding tradition. In the preceding tradition an-nahr is used where al-Adha is used here. Al-Adha means literally the victims. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Nubaisha al-Hudhali reported God’s messenger as saying, “The days of at-tashriq* are days of eating, drinking, and remembrance of God.” *The three days after the sacrifice on the tenth of Dhul Hijja. The name is said to have been given because the flesh of the victims is cut into strips and put in the sun to dry; but other explanations are also given. Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying. “None of you must fast on a Friday unless he fasts the day before or the day after.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

He reported God’s messenger as saying, “Do not choose Thursday night as a particular night for prayer, and do not choose Friday as a particular day for fasting, unless it occurs during a fast one of you is observing.” Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Sa‘id al-Khudri reported God’s messenger as saying, “If anyone fasts for a day while engaged in jihad, God will remove him* seventy years’ distance from hell.” *Literally, ‘his face’. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

‘Abdallah b. ‘Amr b. al-‘As told of God’s messenger saying to him, “Have I not been informed, ‘Abdallah, that you fast during the day and get up at night for prayer?” [Mirqat explains this as meaning all night.] When he replied that that was so, he said, “Do not do it. Fast and break your fast, get up for prayer and sleep, for you have a duty to your body, your eye, your wife, and your visitors. May he who observe a perpetual fast never fast!* Fasting three days every month is equivalent to a perpetual fast. Fast three days every month and recite the Qur'an every month.” When he replied that he was able to do more than that, he said, “Observe the most excellent fast, that of David, fasting every second day, and recite the Qur’an once every seven nights, but do no more than that.” * Cf. the similar phrase in the tradition of Abu Qatada (p.434). Some hold that the meaning here is, ‘He who observes a perpetual fast has not fasted.’ (Bukhari and Muslim.)

‘A'isha said that God’s messenger used to fast on Mondays and Thursdays. Tirmidhi and Nasa’i transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “Men’s deeds are presented [to God] on Mondays and Thursdays, and I like mine to be presented when I am fasting.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Abu Dharr reported God’s messenger as saying, “When you fast three days in the month, Abu Dharr, fast on the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth.” Tirmidhi and Nasa'i transmitted it.