Chapter on the Virtue of the Month of Ramadan and the Prayers Within It in Addition to the Recommended Prayers Mentioned in the Other Months

Al-Husayn ibn Said, from al-Qasim, from Ali ibn Abi Hamzah, who said: We entered upon Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him, and Abu Basir said to Imam عليه السلام: “What do you say about prayer in (month of) Ramadan?” Imam عليه السلام said to Abu Basir: “Indeed, (month of) Ramadan has a sanctity and a right that no other month resembles. Pray as much as you are able in (month of) Ramadan, the supererogatory prayers by night and day. And if you are able to pray one thousand rak’ahs in every day and night, then pray. Indeed, Imam Ali عليه السلام, peace be upon him, in the last part of his life, used to pray one thousand rak’ahs in every day and night. So pray, O’ Aba Muhammad, with increased devotion in (month of) Ramadan.” Abu Basir said: “May I be ransomed for you, how many (rak’ahs)?” Imam عليه السلام said: “For twenty nights that pass, (pray) twenty rak’ahs each night eight rak’ahs before the Atamah (Isha) prayer and twelve after it in addition to what you used to pray before that. Then when the last ten (nights) enter, pray thirty rak’ahs each night eight before the Atamah (Isha) and twenty-two after the Atamah (Isha) in addition to what you used to do before that.”