The Tradition of Umm Dāwūd and Her Deed of Worship

ʿUthmān b. ʿAbd Allāh b. Tamīm al-Qazwīnī narrated to us, saying that his father narrated to him among others, saying that Aḥmad b. ʿAlī al-Anṣārī narrated to him among others, from ʿAbd al-Salām b. Ṣāliḥ al-Harawī, saying that ʿAlī b. Mūsā al-Riḍā عليه السلام has stated: “Whoever fasts the first day of Rajab will have Allāh pleased with him on the day he meets Him. Whoever fasts two days of Rajab will have Allāh pleased with him on the day he meets Him. Whoever fasts three days of Rajab will have Allāh pleased with him, and satisfied with him, as his enemies would also be, on the day he meets Him. Whoever fasts seven days of Rajab will have the doors of the heavens and the earth—seven each, respectively—opened up for his spirit when he dies until it reaches the loftiest realms (of existence). Whoever fasts eight days of Rajab will have all eight doors of Paradise opened for him. Whoever fasts fifteen days of Rajab will have Allāh عز وجل grant him every wish of his except that which involves sin or cutting ties with one’s kin. Whoever fasts the whole month of Rajab will be absolved from his sins as if he were as innocent as on the day his mother birthed him, and he will be freed from the Fire and admitted into Heaven to reside therein with the chosen, selected few.”