Chapter on Fasting on the Day of Doubt
Man Lā Yaḥḍuruh al-Faqīh|Volume 2|Book 2|Chapter 16
وَ رَوَى عَبْدُ اَلْعَظِيمِ بْنُ عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ اَلْحَسَنِيُّ عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ اَلرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ يَقُولُ: «اَلصَّوْمُ لِلرُّؤْيَةِ وَ اَلْفِطْرُ لِلرُّؤْيَةِ وَ لَيْسَ مِنَّا مَنْ صَامَ قَبْلَ اَلرُّؤْيَةِ لِلرُّؤْيَةِ وَ أَفْطَرَ قَبْلَ اَلرُّؤْيَةِ لِلرُّؤْيَةِ» قَالَ قُلْتُ لَهُ يَا اِبْنَ رَسُولِ اَللَّهِ فَمَا تَرَى فِي صَوْمِ يَوْمِ اَلشَّكِّ فَقَالَ «حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي عَنْ جَدِّي عَنْ آبَائِهِ عَلَيْهِمُ اَلسَّلاَمُ قَالَ قَالَ أَمِيرُ اَلْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ «لَأَنْ أَصُومَ يَوْماً مِنْ شَهْرِ شَعْبَانَ أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِنْ أَنْ أُفْطِرَ يَوْماً مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ ».
Abd al-Azim ibn Abdullah al-Hasani narrated from Sahl ibn Sa'd, who said: "I heard al-Ridha عليه السلام say: 'Fasting is based on the sighting [of the crescent], and breaking the fast is based on the sighting [of the crescent]. Whoever fasts before sighting the crescent for the sake of sighting, or breaks the fast before sighting the crescent for the sake of sighting, is not one of us.'" I said to him: "O son of the Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, what is your view on fasting the day of doubt?" Imam عليه السلام said: "My father narrated to me from my grandfather, from his forefathers عليه السلام, who said that Amir al-Mu'minin عليه السلام said: 'Fasting one day of Sha'ban is more beloved to me than breaking my fast for one day in Month of Ramadan.'"
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh