Chapter on the Recommended Fasts of the Year
Man Lā Yaḥḍuruh al-Faqīh|Volume 2|Book 2|Chapter 4
Man Lā Yaḥḍuruh al-Faqīh
Volume 2, Book 2, Chapter 4
Chapter on the Recommended Fasts of the Year
15 hadiths · 1 commentary
رَوَى اَلْحَسَنُ بْنُ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ جَمِيلِ بْنِ صَالِحٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مَرْوَانَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ يَقُولُ: «كَانَ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ يَصُومُ حَتَّى يُقَالَ لاَ يُفْطِرُ وَ يُفْطِرُ حَتَّى يُقَالَ لاَ يَصُومُ ثُمَّ صَامَ يَوْماً وَ أَفْطَرَ يَوْماً ثُمَّ صَامَ اَلْإِثْنَيْنِ وَ اَلْخَمِيسَ ثُمَّ آلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ إِلَى صِيَامِ ثَلاَثَةِ أَيَّامٍ فِي اَلشَّهْرِ، اَلْخَمِيسِ فِي أَوَّلِ اَلشَّهْرِ وَ أَرْبِعَاءَ فِي وَسَطِ اَلشَّهْرِ وَ خَمِيسٍ فِي آخِرِ اَلشَّهْرِ وَ كَانَ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ يَقُولُ «ذَلِكَ صَوْمُ اَلدَّهْرِ» وَ قَدْ كَانَ أَبِي عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ يَقُولُ «مَا مِنْ أَحَدٍ أَبْغَضَ إِلَى اَللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ مِنْ رَجُلٍ يُقَالُ لَهُ كَانَ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ يَفْعَلُ كَذَا وَ كَذَا فَيَقُولُ لاَ يُعَذِّبُنِي اَللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ عَلَى أَنْ أَجْتَهِدَ فِي اَلصَّلاَةِ وَ اَلصَّوْمِ كَأَنَّهُ يَرَى أَنَّ رَسُولَ اَللَّهِ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ تَرَكَ شَيْئاً مِنَ اَلْفَضْلِ عَجْزاً عَنْهُ» ».
It is narrated by al-Hasan ibn Mahbub from Jamil ibn Salih, from Muhammad ibn Marwan, who said: "I heard Abu Abdullah (Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام) say: 'The Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) would fast so much that it was said he would never break his fast, and he would break his fast so much that it was said he would never fast. Then he began fasting one day and breaking his fast the next day. Then he fasted on Mondays and Thursdays. After that, he transitioned to fasting three days a month: the first Thursday of the month, the Wednesday in the middle of the month, and the last Thursday of the month. He (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) would say: "That is the fasting of a lifetime." My father (Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir عليه السلام) used to say: "There is no one more detested by Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Almighty, than a person who, when told that the Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) did such and such, responds by saying, 'Allah سبحانه وتعالى will not punish me for striving in prayer and fasting,' as if he believes that the Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) left something of merit undone due to incapacity."'"
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh, p. 89
وَ فِي رِوَايَةِ حَمَّادِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ قَالَ: «صَامَ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ حَتَّى قِيلَ مَا يُفْطِرُ ثُمَّ أَفْطَرَ حَتَّى قِيلَ مَا يَصُومُ ثُمَّ صَامَ صَوْمَ دَاوُدَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ يَوْماً وَ يَوْماً ثُمَّ قُبِضَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَى صِيَامِ ثَلاَثَةِ أَيَّامٍ فِي اَلشَّهْرِ وَ قَالَ «يَعْدِلْنَ صَوْمَ اَلدَّهْرِ وَ يَذْهَبْنَ بِوَحَرِ اَلصَّدْرِ» » وَ قَالَ حَمَّادٌ اَلْوَحَرُ اَلْوَسْوَسَةُ فَقَالَ حَمَّادٌ فَقُلْتُ وَ أَيُّ اَلْأَيَّامِ هِيَ قَالَ « أَوَّلُ خَمِيسٍ فِي اَلشَّهْرِ وَ أَوَّلُ أَرْبِعَاءَ بَعْدَ اَلْعَشْرِ مِنْهُ وَ آخِرُ خَمِيسٍ فِيهِ » فَقُلْتُ وَ كَيْفَ صَارَتْ هَذِهِ اَلْأَيَّامُ اَلَّتِي تُصَامُ فَقَالَ «لِأَنَّ مَنْ قَبْلَنَا مِنَ اَلْأُمَمِ كَانُوا إِذَا نَزَلَ عَلَى أَحَدِهِمُ اَلْعَذَابُ نَزَلَ فِي هَذِهِ اَلْأَيَّامِ فَصَامَ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ هَذِهِ اَلْأَيَّامَ لِأَنَّهَا اَلْأَيَّامُ اَلْمَخُوفَةُ».
In the narration of Hammad ibn Uthman, from Abu Abdullah (Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام), he said: "The Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) fasted so much that it was said he would never break his fast. Then he broke his fast so much that it was said he would never fast. Then he adopted the fasting of Dawud عليه السلام, fasting one day and breaking his fast the next. Finally, He (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) settled on fasting three days a month and said: 'They are equivalent to fasting for a lifetime and remove the whispers (waswasah) from the chest.'" Hammad added: 'The whispers mean doubts or anxiety.' Hammad said: 'I asked, "Which days are they?" Imam عليه السلام said: "The first Thursday of the month, the first Wednesday after the tenth of the month, and the last Thursday of the month."' I asked: 'Why were these particular days chosen for fasting?' Imam عليه السلام said: 'Because among the nations before us, whenever punishment descended on one of them, it would occur on these days. So, the Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) fasted on these days because they are fearful days.'"
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ رَوَى اَلْفُضَيْلُ بْنُ يَسَارٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ قَالَ: «إِذَا صَامَ أَحَدُكُمُ اَلثَّلاَثَةَ اَلْأَيَّامَ مِنَ اَلشَّهْرِ فَلاَ يُجَادِلَنَّ أَحَداً وَ لاَ يَجْهَلْ وَ لاَ يُسْرِعْ إِلَى اَلْحَلْفِ وَ اَلْأَيْمَانِ بِاللَّهِ فَإِنْ جَهِلَ عَلَيْهِ أَحَدٌ فَلْيَحْتَمِلْ ».
It is narrated by al-Fudhayl ibn Yasar from Abu Abdullah (Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام) who said: "When one of you fasts the three days of the month, let him not dispute with anyone, act ignorantly, or hasten to take oaths by Allah سبحانه وتعالى. If someone acts ignorantly toward him, let him endure it."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh, p. 90
وَ رَوَى عَبْدُ اَللَّهِ بْنُ اَلْمُغِيرَةِ عَنْ حَبِيبٍ اَلْخَثْعَمِيِّ قَالَ: قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ أَخْبِرْنِي عَنِ اَلتَّطَوُّعِ وَ عَنْ هَذِهِ اَلثَّلاَثَةِ اَلْأَيَّامِ إِذَا أَجْنَبْتُ مِنْ أَوَّلِ اَللَّيْلِ فَأَعْلَمُ أَنِّي قَدْ أَجْنَبْتُ فَأَنَامُ مُتَعَمِّداً حَتَّى يَنْفَجِرَ اَلْفَجْرُ أَصُومُ أَوْ لاَ أَصُومُ قَالَ «صُمْ ».
It is narrated by Abdullah ibn al-Mughira from Habib al-Khath'ami, who said: "I said to Abu Abdullah (Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام): 'Inform me about optional fasting and about fasting on these three days. If I become in a state of janabah (major ritual impurity) at the beginning of the night and I know that I am in such a state but I deliberately sleep until dawn breaks, should I fast or not?' Imam عليه السلام said: 'Fast.'"
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh, p. 90
وَ قَالَ أَمِيرُ اَلْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: «صِيَامُ شَهْرِ اَلصَّبْرِ وَ ثَلاَثَةِ أَيَّامٍ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ يَذْهَبْنَ بِبَلاَبِلِ اَلصَّدْرِ وَ صِيَامُ ثَلاَثَةِ أَيَّامٍ فِي كُلِّ شَهْرٍ صِيَامُ اَلدَّهْرِ إِنَّ اَللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَقُولُ: «مَنْ جٰاءَ بِالْحَسَنَةِ فَلَهُ عَشْرُ أَمْثٰالِهٰا» »
Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام said: "Fasting the month of patience (Month of Ramadan) and three days of every month removes the anxieties of the chest. Fasting three days in every month is equivalent to fasting for a lifetime. Indeed, Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Almighty, says: 'Whoever comes with a good deed will have ten times the like of it.'"
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ فِي رِوَايَةِ عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ قَالَ: «إِنَّ رَسُولَ اَللَّهِ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ سُئِلَ عَنْ صَوْمِ خَمِيسَيْنِ بَيْنَهُمَا أَرْبِعَاءُ فَقَالَ «أَمَّا اَلْخَمِيسُ فَيَوْمٌ تُعْرَضُ فِيهِ اَلْأَعْمَالُ وَ أَمَّا اَلْأَرْبِعَاءُ فَيَوْمٌ خُلِقَتْ فِيهِ اَلنَّارُ وَ أَمَّا اَلصَّوْمُ فَجُنَّةٌ ».
In the narration of Abdullah ibn Sinan from Abu Abdullah (Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام), he said: "The Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) was asked about fasting on two Thursdays with a Wednesday in between. Imam عليه السلام said: 'As for Thursday, it is the day on which deeds are presented. As for Wednesday, it is the day on which the Fire was created. And fasting is a shield.'"
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ فِي رِوَايَةِ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ قَالَ: «إِنَّمَا يُصَامُ فِي يَوْمِ اَلْأَرْبِعَاءِ لِأَنَّهُ لَمْ تُعَذَّبْ أُمَّةٌ فِيمَا مَضَى إِلاَّ يَوْمَ اَلْأَرْبِعَاءِ وَسَطَ اَلشَّهْرِ فَيُسْتَحَبُّ أَنْ يُصَامَ ذَلِكَ اَلْيَوْمُ ».
In the narration of Ishaq ibn Ammar from Abu Abdullah (Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام), Imam عليه السلام said: "Fasting on Wednesday is prescribed because no nation in the past was punished except on a Wednesday in the middle of the month. Therefore, it is recommended to fast on that day."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ فِي رِوَايَةِ عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ قَالَ قَالَ لِي أَبُو عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: «إِذَا كَانَ فِي أَوَّلِ اَلشَّهْرِ خَمِيسَانِ فَصُمْ أَوَّلَهُمَا فَإِنَّهُ أَفْضَلُ وَ إِذَا كَانَ فِي آخِرِ اَلشَّهْرِ خَمِيسَانِ فَصُمْ آخِرَهُمَا فَإِنَّهُ أَفْضَلُ.
In the narration of Abdullah ibn Sinan, he said: "Abu Abdullah (Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام) said to me: 'If there are two Thursdays at the beginning of the month, fast the first of them, for it is better. And if there are two Thursdays at the end of the month, fast the last of them, for it is better.'"
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ سَأَلَ عِيصُ بْنُ اَلْقَاسِمِ أَبَا عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: عَمَّنْ لَمْ يَصُمِ اَلثَّلاَثَةَ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ وَ هُوَ يَشْتَدُّ عَلَيْهِ اَلصِّيَامُ هَلْ فِيهِ فِدَاءٌ فَقَالَ «مُدٌّ مِنْ طَعَامٍ فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ ».
Iys ibn al-Qasim asked Abu Abdullah (Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام) about someone who does not fast the three days of every month and finds fasting difficult. Is there a compensation for this? Imam عليه السلام said: "A mudd (a measure) of food for each day."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh, p. 90
وَ رَوَى اِبْنُ مُسْكَانَ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ اَلْمُثَنَّى قَالَ: قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ إِنِّي قَدِ اِشْتَدَّ عَلَيَّ صَوْمُ ثَلاَثَةِ أَيَّامٍ فِي كُلِّ شَهْرٍ فَمَا يُجْزِي عَنِّي أَنْ أَتَصَدَّقَ مَكَانَ كُلِّ يَوْمٍ بِدِرْهَمٍ فَقَالَ «صَدَقَةُ دِرْهَمٍ أَفْضَلُ مِنْ صِيَامِ يَوْمٍ ».
It is narrated by Ibn Muskan from Ibrahim ibn al-Muthanna, who said: "I said to Abu Abdullah (Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام): 'Fasting three days every month has become difficult for me. What would suffice for me? Can I give charity in place of each day, a dirham?' Imam عليه السلام said: 'Giving charity of a dirham is better than fasting a day.'"
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ رَوَى اَلْحَسَنُ بْنُ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنِ اَلْحَسَنِ بْنِ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ قَالَ: قُلْتُ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ أَوْ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ صَوْمُ ثَلاَثَةِ أَيَّامٍ فِي اَلشَّهْرِ أُؤَخِّرُهُ فِي اَلصَّيْفِ إِلَى اَلشِّتَاءِ فَإِنِّي أَجِدُهُ أَهْوَنَ عَلَيَّ فَقَالَ «نَعَمْ فَاحْفَظْهَا ».
It is narrated by al-Hasan ibn Mahbub from al-Hasan ibn Abi Hamzah, who said: "I said to Abu Ja‘far or Abu Abdullah عليه السلام: 'Can I delay fasting the three days of the month in the summer until the winter, as I find it easier for me then?' Imam عليه السلام said: 'Yes, but make sure to observe it.'"
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ رَوَى اِبْنُ بُكَيْرٍ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ قَالَ: قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ بِمَ جَرَتِ اَلسُّنَّةُ مِنَ اَلصَّوْمِ فَقَالَ «ثَلاَثَةِ أَيَّامٍ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ، اَلْخَمِيسِ فِي اَلْعَشْرِ اَلْأُوَلِ وَ اَلْأَرْبِعَاءِ فِي اَلْعَشْرِ اَلْأَوْسَطِ وَ اَلْخَمِيسِ فِي اَلْعَشْرِ اَلْآخِرِ » قَالَ قُلْتُ هَذَا جَمِيعُ مَا جَرَتْ بِهِ اَلسُّنَّةُ فِي اَلصَّوْمِ فَقَالَ «نَعَمْ».
It is narrated by Ibn Bukayr from Zurara, who said: "I said to Abu Abdullah (Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام): 'What is the prescribed practice for fasting?' Imam عليه السلام said: 'Three days in every month: the Thursday in the first ten days, the Wednesday in the middle ten days, and the Thursday in the last ten days.' I said: 'Is this all that the prescribed practice includes for fasting?' Imam عليه السلام said: 'Yes.'"
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ رَوَى دَاوُدُ اَلرَّقِّيُّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ قَالَ: «لَإِفْطَارُكَ فِي مَنْزِلِ أَخِيكَ أَفْضَلُ مِنْ صِيَامِكَ سَبْعِينَ ضِعْفاً أَوْ تِسْعِينَ ضِعْفاً ».
It is narrated by Dawud al-Raqqi from Abu Abdullah (Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام), Imam عليه السلام said: "Breaking your fast at your brother's home is better than fasting seventy or even ninety times."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ رَوَى جَمِيلُ بْنُ دَرَّاجٍ عَنْهُ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ أَنَّهُ قَالَ: «مَنْ دَخَلَ عَلَى أَخِيهِ وَ هُوَ صَائِمٌ فَأَفْطَرَ عِنْدَهُ وَ لَمْ يُعْلِمْهُ بِصَوْمِهِ فَيَمُنَّ عَلَيْهِ كَتَبَ اَللَّهُ لَهُ صَوْمَ سَنَةٍ ».
It is narrated by Jamil ibn Darraj from Abu Abdullah عليه السلام that Imam عليه السلام said: "Whoever visits his brother while fasting, then breaks his fast at his house without informing him of his fasting to gain favor, Allah سبحانه وتعالى will write for him the reward of fasting a full year."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh, p. 90
وَ رُوِيَ أَنَّهُ سُئِلَ اَلْعَالِمُ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: عَنْ خَمِيسَيْنِ يَتَّفِقَانِ فِي آخِرِ اَلْعَشْرِ فَقَالَ «صُمِ اَلْأَوَّلَ فَلَعَلَّكَ لاَ تَلْحَقُ اَلثَّانِيَ ».
It is narrated that the Scholar, (Imam Musa ibn Jafar Al-Kadhim عليه السلام), was asked about two Thursdays that occur in the last ten days of the month. Imam عليه السلام said: "Fast the first one, for you may not live to see the second."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
Commentary #1