Chapter on Fasting with Authorization

Nashit ibn Salih narrated from Hisham ibn al-Hakam from Abu Abdullah عليه السلام that the Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى (peace be upon him and his family) said: "Among the etiquettes of a guest is that he does not fast voluntarily except with the host's permission. Among the obedience of a wife to her husband is that she does not fast voluntarily except with his permission and instruction. Among the righteousness and obedience of a servant to his master is that he does not fast voluntarily except with his master's permission. Among the dutifulness of a child to their parents is that they do not fast voluntarily except with their parents' permission and command. Otherwise, the guest would be ignorant, the wife disobedient, the servant corrupt and sinful, and the child undutiful."

Al-'Ala narrated from Muhammad ibn Muslim from one of the Imams عليه السلام that he said: "One should perform the ritual bath (ghusl) on three nights in the Month of Ramadan: the nineteenth, the twenty-first, and the twenty-third. The Commander of the Faithful عليه السلام was struck on the nineteenth and passed away on the twenty-first." Imam عليه السلام added: "The ghusl should be performed at the beginning of the night, and it suffices until its end."

It has also been narrated that: "One should perform the ritual bath (ghusl) on the night of the seventeenth."

Zurara and Fudayl narrated from Abu Ja'far عليه السلام who said: "Bathing (ghusl) during the Month of Ramadan should be performed near sunset, just before it, then one should pray and break the fast."

Sama’ah narrated from Abu Basir, from Abu Abdullah عليه السلام who said: "The Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, peace be upon him and his family, when the last ten nights (of Month of Ramadan) arrived, would tighten his waistbelt, avoid women, revive the nights (with worship), and dedicate himself fully to worship."

Sulayman Al-Ja’fari narrated from Abu Al-Hasan عليه السلام that he said: "Pray on the nights of the 21st and 23rd (of Month of Ramadan) 100 units (rak’ahs), reciting Al-Hamd (Surah Al-Fatihah) once and Qul Huwa Allahu Ahad (Surah Al-Ikhlas) ten times in each unit."

Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام said: "On the night of the 19th of Month of Ramadan is the decree, on the night of the 21st is the judgment, and on the night of the 23rd is the confirmation of what will occur in the year until its similar time. And Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Majestic, has the authority to do as He wills with His creation."

Rifāʿa narrated from Imam عليه السلام that Imam عليه السلام said: "The Night of Qadr is the beginning of the year and it is its end."

It is narrated that the Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, peace and blessings be upon him and his family, was shown in his dream that the sons of Umayyah would ascend his pulpit after him, leading people astray and turning them away from the straight path. When he awoke, he was sorrowful and grieved. Archangel Jibril عليه السلام descended to him and asked: "O Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, why do I see you sorrowful and grieved?" The Prophet replied: "O Jibril, I saw in my dream the sons of Umayyah ascending my pulpit after me, leading people astray and turning them away from the straight path." Archangel Jibril عليه السلام said: "By the One who sent you with the truth as a Prophet, I was not aware of this matter." He then ascended to the heavens and shortly returned with verses of the Quran to console the Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم: "Have you considered if We let them enjoy themselves for years, then there comes to them that which they were promised, it will not avail them that which they used to enjoy." (Surah Ash-Shu’ara 26:205–207) And He revealed to Him صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم: "Indeed, We sent it down during the Night of Qadr. And what will make you know what the Night of Qadr is? The Night of Qadr is better than a thousand months." (Surah Al-Qadr 97:1–3) Allah سبحانه وتعالى made the Night of Qadr for His Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him and his family, better than a thousand months of the rule of the sons of Umayyah.

A man asked Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام: "Inform me about Laylatul Qadr; was it [only in the past], or does it occur every year?" Imam عليه السلام replied: "If Laylatul Qadr were removed, the Quran would be removed."

Humran asked Abu Ja'far عليه السلام about the saying of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Almighty and Majestic: "Indeed, We sent it down on a blessed night" (Surah Ad-Dukhan 44:3). Imam عليه السلام replied: "It is Laylatul Qadr, and it occurs every year in the Month of Ramadan, during its last ten nights. The Quran was revealed only on Laylatul Qadr. Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Almighty and Majestic, says: 'Therein every wise matter is made distinct' (Surah Ad-Dukhan 44:4)." Imam عليه السلام continued: "On Laylatul Qadr, everything that will occur in that year, up to its equivalent time in the following year, is decreed — whether good or evil, obedience or disobedience, life or death, or sustenance. Whatever is decreed and decided on that night is inevitable. Yet, Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Almighty and Majestic, has the will (to alter decrees as He pleases)." Humran then asked: "Laylatul Qadr is better than a thousand months — what does this mean?" Imam عليه السلام replied: "Righteous deeds on Laylatul Qadr are better than those performed over a thousand months. Were it not for Allah سبحانه وتعالى, Blessed and Exalted, multiplying the rewards for believers, they would not reach this merit. However, Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Almighty and Majestic, multiplies good deeds for them."

Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام was asked, "How is Laylatul Qadr better than a thousand months?" Imam عليه السلام replied: "Righteous deeds performed on it are better than deeds performed in a thousand months that do not contain Laylatul Qadr."

Ali ibn Abi Hamzah narrated from Abu Basir, who narrated from Abu Abdullah عليه السلام, who said: "The Torah was revealed on the sixth of Month of Ramadan, the Injil (Gospel) was revealed on the twelfth of Month of Ramadan, the Zabur (Psalms) was revealed on the eighteenth of Month of Ramadan, and the Quran [Al-Furqan] was revealed on Laylatul Qadr."

It is narrated from Al-Ala from Muhammad ibn Muslim, who narrated from one of the two (Imam Al-Baqir عليه السلام or Imam Al-Sadiq عليه السلام, peace be upon them), who said: "I asked him about the sign of Laylatul Qadr, and Imam عليه السلام replied: 'Its sign is that its breeze is pleasant; if it is in cold weather, it becomes warm, and if it is in hot weather, it becomes cool and pleasant.'"

Imam عليه السلام was asked about Laylatul Qadr, and Imam عليه السلام said: "On it, the angels and the scribes descend to the lowest heaven, where they record what will occur during the year, including what will befall the servants. However, there is an affair with Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Almighty and Majestic, that remains subject to His will: He advances from it what He wills, delays from it what He wills, erases, and establishes. 'And with Him is the Mother of the Book' (Surah Ar-Ra'd 13:39)."

It is narrated from Ali ibn Abi Hamzah who said: I was with Abu Abdullah عليه السلام when Abu Basir said to him, "May I be your ransom! Which night is the one in which one can hope for what is hoped for?" Imam عليه السلام replied: "It is on the night of the 21st or the 23rd." Abu Basir asked: "What if I cannot perform worship on both nights?" Imam عليه السلام said: "How easy are two nights for what you seek!" Abu Basir then said: "Sometimes we see the crescent moon in our area, but we receive news that it was seen differently in another place." Imam عليه السلام said: "How easy are four nights for what you seek in them!" Abu Basir asked: "May I be your ransom! Is the 23rd night the night of Al-Juhani?" Imam عليه السلام replied: "That is said." Abu Basir further asked: "May I be your ransom! Sulayman ibn Khalid narrated that on the 19th night, the pilgrims' delegation is recorded." Imam عليه السلام said: "O Abu Muhammad! The pilgrims' delegation is written on Laylatul Qadr, along with deaths, trials, provisions, and what will occur until the same time in the following year. So seek it on the 21st and 23rd nights. Pray 100 units (rak'ah) on each of these nights and spend them in worship until dawn, if you are able, and perform ghusl (ritual purification) on these nights." Abu Basir asked: "What if I cannot stand for prayer?" Imam عليه السلام said: "Then pray while sitting." Abu Basir said: "What if I cannot do even that?" Imam عليه السلام said: "Then pray while lying on your bed." Abu Basir asked: "What if I cannot do that either?" Imam عليه السلام replied: "It is fine for you to take a brief nap at the beginning of the night. The gates of the heavens are opened in the Month of Ramadan, the devils are chained, and the deeds of the believers are accepted. What a blessed Month of Ramadan is! In the time of the Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى (peace and blessings be upon him and his family), it was called 'the month of sustenance.'"

It is narrated from Muhammad ibn Humran, from Sufyan ibn Al-Simt, who said: I asked Abu Abdullah عليه السلام about the nights in the Month of Ramadan that are hoped to be special. Imam عليه السلام replied: "The 19th, 21st, and 23rd." I asked: "What if a person is overtaken by weakness or illness? Which night should be relied upon from these?" Imam عليه السلام replied: "The 23rd."

In a narration from Abdullah ibn Bukayr, from Zurara, from one of the two (Imam Al-Baqir عليه السلام or Imam Al-Sadiq عليه السلام, peace be upon them), he said: I asked him about the nights in the Month of Ramadan in which it is recommended to perform ghusl (ritual purification). Imam عليه السلام replied: "The 19th night, the 21st night, and the 23rd night." Imam continued: "The 23rd night is the night of Al-Juhani. His story is that he said to the Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى (peace and blessings be upon him and his family), 'My home is far from Medina. Command me to dedicate a specific night to enter [for worship].' So the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) instructed him to dedicate the 23rd night."