Reward of fasting on first Thursday, middle Wednesday and last Thursday of the month
Thawāb al-Aʿmāl wa ʿiqāb al-Aʿmāl|Volume 1|Book 2|Chapter 141
Thawāb al-Aʿmāl wa ʿiqāb al-Aʿmāl
Book 2, Chapter 141
Reward of fasting on first Thursday, middle Wednesday and last Thursday of the month
10 hadiths حَدَّثَنِی مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مُوسَی بْنِ الْمُتَوَکِّلِ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ الْحِمْیَرِیُّ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِیسَی عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ جَمِیلِ بْنِ صَالِحٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مَرْوَانَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع یَقُولُ کَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص یَصُومُ حَتَّی یُقَالَ لَا یُفْطِرُ ثُمَّ صَامَ یَوْماً وَ أَفْطَرَ یَوْماً ثُمَّ صَامَ الْإِثْنَیْنِ وَ الْخَمِیسَ ثُمَّ آلَ مِنْ ذَلِکَ إِلَی صِیَامِ ثَلَاثَهِ أَیَّامٍ فِی الشَّهْرِ- خَمِیسٍ فِی أَوَّلِ الشَّهْرِ وَ أَرْبِعَاءَ فِی وَسَطِ الشَّهْرِ وَ خَمِیسٍ فِی آخِرِ الشَّهْرِ وَ کَانَ یَقُولُ ذَاکَ صَوْمُ الدَّهْرِ وَ قَدْ کَانَ أَبِی ع یَقُولُ مَا مِنْ أَحَدٍ أَبْغَضَ إِلَیَّ مِنْ رَجُلٍ یُقَالُ لَهُ کَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص یَفْعَلُ کَذَا وَ کَذَا فَیَقُولُ لَا یُعَذِّبُنِی اللَّهُ عَلَی أَنْ أَجْتَهِدَ فِی الصَّلَاهِ کَأَنَّهُ یَرَی أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص تَرَکَ شَیْئاً مِنَ الْفَضْلِ عَجْزاً عَنْهُ.
1. Muhammad bin Musa al-Mutawakkil narrated to me, from Abdullah bin Ja'far al-Himyari, from Ahmad bin Muhammad bin 'Isa, form al-Hassan bin Mahbub, from Jamil bin Salih, from Muhammad bin Marwan, from abu 'Abdillah عليه السلام who said: "The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم used to fast until it was said he does not break his fast (he does not eat). Then he would fast for a day and break his fast on another day. After that, he would fast on Monday and Thursday. Furthermore, he would fast on three days in the month – Thursday in the start of the month, Wednesday in the middle of the month, and Thursday in the end of the month. He used to say, 'This is the perpetual fasting.'" My father عليه السلام used to say, "No one is more detestable to me than a man who is told that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم used to do so-and-so, and he says, 'Allah will not punish me for doing ijtihad in prayer,' as if he sees that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم has left some excellent deeds due to weakness."
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا الْحُسَیْنُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ أَبَانٍ عَنِ الْحُسَیْنِ بْنِ سَعِیدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِی عُمَیْرٍ عَنْ حَمَّادٍ عَنِ الْحَلَبِیِّ عَنْ أَبِی عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ قَالَ أَمِیرُ الْمُؤْمِنِینَ ع صِیَامُ شَهْرِ الصَّبْرِ وَ ثَلَاثَهِ أَیَّامٍ فِی کُلِّ شَهْرٍ یَذْهَبْنَ بِبَلَابِلِ الصُّدُورِ وَ صِیَامُ ثَلَاثَهِ أَیَّامٍ فِی کُلِّ شَهْرٍ صِیَامُ الدَّهْرِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ یَقُولُ فِی کِتَابِهِ- مَنْ جاءَ بِالْحَسَنَهِ فَلَهُ عَشْرُ أَمْثالِها
2. Imam Ja’far Sadiq عليه السلام narrates that Amirul Momineen عليه السلام said, “The fasts of the month of Patience (Ramadan) and three fasts of a month keep the evil-thoughts away from one’s heart. The three fasts of a month are equal to the fasts of an age for Allah says in His book, “Whoever brings a good deed, he shall have ten like it.”9
وَ بِهَذَا الْإِسْنَادِ عَنِ الْحُسَیْنِ بْنِ سَعِیدٍ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ أَبِی بَصِیرٍ قَالَ: سَأَلْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع عَنِ الصِّیَامِ فِی الشَّهْرِ کَیْفَ هُوَ فَقَالَ ثَلَاثَهُ أَیَّامٍ فِی الشَّهْرِ فِی کُلِّ عَشَرَهِ أَیَّامٍ یَوْماً إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ یَقُولُ فِی کِتَابِهِ- مَنْ جاءَ بِالْحَسَنَهِ فَلَهُ عَشْرُ أَمْثالِها ثَلَاثَهُ أَیَّامٍ فِی الشَّهْرِ صَوْمُ الدَّهْرِ.
3. And from the previous chain from al-Hussain b. Sa’eed from Ahmad b. Muhammad from Abi Basir who said: The narrator asked Imam Musa Kadhim عليه السلام, “How can one gain the reward of fasting for a month?” Imam عليه السلام replied, “By observing fast for three days of every month because the Almighty Allah has said that one who does a good deed would get ten rewards for it. Hence observing fast for three days of a month is equal to fasting for an age.”
وَ بِهَذَا الْإِسْنَادِ عَنِ الْحُسَیْنِ بْنِ سَعِیدٍ عَنِ النَّضْرِ بْنِ سُوَیْدٍ عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ سَالِمٍ عَنِ الْأَحْوَلِ عَمَّنْ ذَکَرَهُ عَنْ أَبِی عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص سُئِلَ عَنْ صَوْمِ خَمِیسَیْنِ بَیْنَهُمَا أَرْبِعَاءُ فَقَالَ أَمَّا الْخَمِیسُ فَیَوْمٌ تُعْرَضُ فِیهِ الْأَعْمَالُ وَ أَمَّا الْأَرْبِعَاءُ فَیَوْمٌ خُلِقَتْ فِیهِ النَّارُ وَ أَمَّا الصَّوْمُ فَجُنَّهٌ.
4. Imam Ja’far Sadiq عليه السلام narrates that the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم was asked about fasting on two Thursdays and a Wednesday in between them. He replied, “The specialty of Thursday is that one’s deeds are presented on this day while 9 Surah Anaam 6:160 Wednesday is characterized by the creation of Hell on this day. Hence a fast on Wednesday is shield against Hell.”
وَ بِهَذَا الْإِسْنَادِ عَنِ الْحُسَیْنِ بْنِ سَعِیدٍ عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ عِیسَی عَنْ حَرِیزٍ قَالَ: قِیلَ لِأَبِی عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع مَا جَاءَ فِی صَوْمِ الْأَرْبِعَاءِ فَقَالَ قَالَ عَلِیٌّ ع إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ خَلَقَ النَّارَ یَوْمَ الْأَرْبِعَاءِ فَأَحَبَّ صَوْمَهُ لِیُتَعَوَّذَ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ النَّارِ.
5. And from the previous chain from al-Hussain b. Sa’eed from Hamad b. Isa from Hareez who said: Imam Ja’far Sadiq عليه السلام was asked regarding fasting on Wednesday. He replied that Ali عليه السلام used to say, “The Almighty Allah created Hell on Wednesday. He likes the person fasting on this day seeking protection against the fire of Hell.”
وَ بِهَذَا الْإِسْنَادِ عَنِ الْحُسَیْنِ بْنِ سَعِیدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ یَحْیَی أَخِی مُغَلِّسٍ الصَّیْرَفِیِّ عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع یَقُولُ صَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص حَتَّی قِیلَ مَا یُفْطِرُ وَ أَفْطَرَ حَتَّی قِیلَ مَا یَصُومُ ثُمَّ صَامَ صَوْمَ دَاوُدَ ع یَوْماً وَ یَوْماً ثُمَّ قُبِضَ ص عَلَی صَوْمِ ثَلَاثَهِ أَیَّامٍ فِی الشَّهْرِ وَ قَالَ یَعْدِلْنَ الدَّهْرَ وَ یَذْهَبْنَ بِوَحَرِ الصَّدْرِ قَالَ قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاکَ وَ أَیُّ أَیَّامٍ هِیَ فَقَالَ أَوَّلُ خَمِیسٍ فِی الشَّهْرِ وَ أَوَّلُ أَرْبِعَاءَ بَعْدَ الْعَشْرِ مِنْهُ وَ آخِرُ خَمِیسٍ مِنْهُ قَالَ قُلْتُ وَ لِمَ صَارَتْ هَذِهِ الْأَیَّامُ قَالَ لِأَنَّ مَنْ کَانَ قَبْلَنَا مِنَ الْأُمَمِ إِذَا أُنْزِلَ عَلَیْهِمُ الْعَذَابُ نَزَلَ فِی هَذِهِ الْأَیَّامِ فَصَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص هَذِهِ الْأَیَّامَ کُلَّهَا لِأَنَّهَا الْأَیَّامُ الْمَخُوفَهُ.
6. It is narrated by Imam Ja’far Sadiq عليه السلام that the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم used to fast so much that people used to say that he does not miss any fast. Then he used to discontinue observing fast for so many days that people used to say that he does not observe fast. Then he started observing fast for alternate days like Dawood عليه السلام. When he passed away from this world, he was fasting (one of the three fasts of a month). He said that these fasts are equal to the fasts of an age and it kills the evil thoughts arising in one’s heart.” The narrator asked, “May I be sacrificed on you, what are those days?” Imam عليه السلام replied, “First Thursday of every month, the Wednesday coming after first ten days of a month and last Thursday of the month?” The narrator asked, “Why are these days selected?” Imam عليه السلام replied, “The communities before us had to bear the chastisement on these days. Hence the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم used to fast during these days and they are the days of fearing Allah.”
وَ بِهَذَا الْإِسْنَادِ عَنِ الْحُسَیْنِ بْنِ سَعِیدٍ عَنْ فَضَالَهَ عَنْ أَبَانٍ عَنْ أَبِی جَعْفَرٍ الْأَحْوَلِ عَنْ یَسَارِ بْنِ یَسَارٍ قَالَ: قُلْتُ لِأَبِی عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع لِأَیِّ شَیْ ءٍ یُصَامُ الْأَرْبِعَاءُ قَالَ لِأَنَّ النَّارَ خُلِقَتْ یَوْمَ الْأَرْبِعَاءِ.
7. And from the previous chain from al-Hussain b. Sa’eed from Fadhalah from Aban from Abi Ja’far al-Ahwal from Yasar b. Yasar who said: The narrator asked Imam Ja’far Sadiq عليه السلام the reason behind recommendation of the fast on Wednesday. Imam عليه السلام replied, “This is so because Hell was created on Wednesday.”
وَ بِهَذَا الْإِسْنَادِ عَنِ الْحُسَیْنِ بْنِ سَعِیدٍ عَنْ حَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِیٍّ عَنْ بُکَیْرٍ عَنْ زُرَارَهَ قَالَ: قُلْتُ لِأَبِی عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع بِمَا جَرَتِ السُّنَّهُ مِنَ الصَّوْمِ فَقَالَ ثَلَاثَهُ أَیَّامٍ فِی کُلِّ شَهْرٍ الْخَمِیسُ فِی الْعَشْرِ الْأَوَّلِ وَ الْأَرْبِعَاءُ فِی الْعَشْرِ الثَّانِی وَ الْخَمِیسُ فِی الْعَشْرِ الْآخِرِ قَالَ قُلْتُ هَذَا جَمِیعُ مَا جَرَتْ بِهِ السُّنَّهُ فِی الصَّوْمِ قَالَ نَعَمْ.
8. And from the previous chain from al-Hussain b. Sa’eed from Hassan b. Ali from Bukayr from Zurarah who said: The narrator asked Imam Ja’far Sadiq عليه السلام, “What is recommended in a fast?” Imam عليه السلام replied, “Fasting on three days every month.” The narrator asked, “Are you talking about recommended fasts?” Imam عليه السلام replied, “Yes.”
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مُوسَی بْنِ الْمُتَوَکِّلِ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ الْحِمْیَرِیُّ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِیسَی عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنِ الْحُسَیْنِ بْنِ أَبِی حَمْزَهَ قَالَ: قُلْتُ لِأَبِی جَعْفَرٍ ع أَوْ لِأَبِی عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع صَوْمُ ثَلَاثَهِ أَیَّامٍ فِی الشَّهْرِ أُؤَخِّرُهَا فِی الصَّیْفِ إِلَی الشِّتَاءِ فَإِنِّی أَجِدُهُنَّ أَهْوَنَ عَلَیَّ فَقَالَ نَعَمْ وَ احْفَظْهَا.
9. It was narrated to us by Muhammad b. Musa b. al-Mutawakil who said it was narrated to us by Abdillah b. Ja’far al-Himyari from Ahmad b. Muhammad b. Isa from al-Hassan b. Mahbub from al-Hussain b. Abi Hamzah who said: The narrator asked Imam Muhammad Baqir عليه السلام or Imam Ja’far Sadiq عليه السلام, “Can I postpone fasting for three days of a month till winter for I would find it easier to fast then?” Imam عليه السلام replied, “Yes, but do not reduce their number.”
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَلِیِّ بْنِ مَاجِیلَوَیْهِ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِی عَمِّی مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ أَبِی الْقَاسِمِ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ أَبِی عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الْبَرْقِیِّ عَنْ أَبِیهِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الْمُغِیرَهِ عَنْ یَزِیدَ بْنِ خَلِیفَهَ قَالَ: قُلْتُ لِأَبِی عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنَّهُ یَشْتَدُّ عَلَیَّ الصَّوْمُ فِی الْحَرِّ فَأَجِدُ الصُّدَاعَ فَقَالَ اصْنَعْ کَمَا أَصْنَعُ أَنَا إِذَا سَافَرْتُ أَتَصَدَّقُ کُلَّ یَوْمٍ بِمُدٍّ عَلَی أَهْلِیَ الَّذِی أَقُوتُهُمْ بِهِ.
10. It was narrated to us by Muhammad b. Ali b. Majluwayh who said it was narrated to me by my uncle Muhammad b. Abi al-Qasim from Ahmad b. Abi Abdillah al-Barqi from his father Muhammad b. Khalid from Abdillah b. al-Mughira from Yazid b. Khalifa who said: The narrator asked Imam Ja’far Sadiq عليه السلام, “O master! It is difficult for me to fast during summer and my head starts aching.” Imam عليه السلام replied, “Do what I do. When I go on a journey, for each day I give in Sadaqah one Mudd (750 grams) of food as I give to my family members.”