Fasting

وَعَنْ عِمْرَانَ بْنِ حُصَيْنٍ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: أَنَّهُ سَأَلَهُ أَوْ سَأَلَ رَجُلًا وَعِمْرَانَ يَسْمَعُ فَقَالَ: «يَا أَبَا فُلَانٍ أَمَا صُمْتَ مِنْ سَرَرِ شَعْبَانَ؟» قَالَ: لَا قَالَ: «فَإِذَا أَفْطَرْتَ فَصُمْ يَوْمَيْنِ»

‘Imran b. Husain said that the Prophet asked him, or that he asked a man in ‘Imran’s hearing, “Father of so and so, did you not fast the last day of Sha'ban?" When, he replied that he had not, he said, “If you did not observe a fast, you must fast for two days."* *To reconcile this tradition with that of Abu Huraira at the foot of p.420 it is suggested that the man had made a vow to observe this fast, or that it was his custom. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «أَفْضَلُ الصِّيَامِ بَعْدَ رَمَضَانَ شَهْرُ اللَّهِ الْمُحَرَّمِ وَأَفْضَلُ الصَّلَاةِ بَعْدَ الْفَرِيضَةِ صَلَاةُ اللَّيْلِ» . رَوَاهُ مُسلم

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “The most excellent fast after Ramadan is in God’s month al-Muharram, and the most excellent prayer after what is prescribed is prayer during the night." Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ: مَا رَأَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَتَحَرَّى صِيَامَ يَوْمٍ فَضَّلَهُ عَلَى غَيْرِهِ إِلَّا هَذَا الْيَوْمَ: يَوْمَ عَاشُورَاءَ وَهَذَا الشَّهْرُ يَعْنِي شَهْرَ رَمَضَان

Ibn ‘Abbas said, "I never saw the Prophet singling out any day’s fast and considering it more excellent than another, except this day, the day of ‘Ashura’,* and this month, meaning the month of Ramadan." *The 10th of Muharram. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَن ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ: حِينَ صَامَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَوْمَ عَاشُورَاءَ وَأَمَرَ بِصِيَامِهِ قَالُوا: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّهُ يَوْمٌ يُعَظِّمُهُ الْيَهُودُ وَالنَّصَارَى. فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «لَئِنْ بَقِيتُ إِلَى قَابِلٍ لأصومن التَّاسِع» . رَوَاهُ مُسلم

He said that when God’s messenger fasted on the day of ‘Ashura’ and commanded that it should be observed as a fast, he was told it was a day held in honour by Jews and Christians, and said, “If I am spared till next year I shall fast on the ninth.” Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أُمِّ الْفَضْلِ بِنْتِ الْحَارِثِ: أَنَّ نَاسًا تَمَارَوْا عِنْدَهَا يَوْمَ عَرَفَةَ فِي صِيَامِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ: هُوَ صَائِمٌ وَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ: لَيْسَ بِصَائِمٍ فَأَرْسَلْتُ إِلَيْهِ بقدح لبن وَهُوَ وَاقِف عل بعيره بِعَرَفَة فشربه

Umm al-Fadl daughter of al-Harith said that on the day of 'Arafa some people near her argued about whether God’s messenger was fasting, some saying that he was and others saying that he was not. She therefore sent him a cup of milk while he was observing the halt at ‘Arafa on his camel, and he drank it. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا قَالَتْ: مَا رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ صَائِما فِي الْعشْر قطّ. رَوَاهُ مُسلم

‘A'isha said she never saw God’s messenger fasting during the first ten days of Dhul Hijja. Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي قَتَادَةَ: أَنَّ رَجُلًا أَتَى النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَ كَيْفَ تَصُومُ فَغَضِبَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مَنْ قَوْله. فَلَمَّا رأى عمر رَضِي الله عَنْهُم غَضَبَهُ قَالَ رَضِينَا بِاللَّهِ رَبًّا وَبِالْإِسْلَامِ دِينًا وَبِمُحَمَّدٍ نَبِيًّا نَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ غَضَبِ اللَّهِ وَغَضب رَسُوله فَجعل عمر رَضِي الله عَنْهُم يُرَدِّدُ هَذَا الْكَلَامَ حَتَّى سَكَنَ غَضَبُهُ فَقَالَ عمر يَا رَسُول الله كَيفَ بِمن يَصُومُ الدَّهْرَ كُلَّهُ قَالَ: «لَا صَامَ وَلَا أَفْطَرَ» . أَوْ قَالَ: «لَمْ يَصُمْ وَلَمْ يُفْطِرْ» . قَالَ كَيْفَ مَنْ يَصُومُ يَوْمَيْنِ وَيُفْطِرُ يَوْمًا قَالَ: «وَيُطِيقُ ذَلِكَ أَحَدٌ» . قَالَ كَيْفَ مَنْ يَصُوم يَوْمًا وَيفْطر يَوْمًا قَالَ: «ذَاك صَوْم دَاوُد عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام» قَالَ كَيْفَ مَنْ يَصُومُ يَوْمًا وَيُفْطِرُ يَوْمَيْنِ قَالَ: «وَدِدْتُ أَنِّي طُوِّقْتُ ذَلِكَ» . ثُمَّ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «ثَلَاث مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ وَرَمَضَانُ إِلَى رَمَضَانَ فَهَذَا صِيَامُ الدَّهْرِ كُلِّهِ صِيَامُ يَوْمِ عَرَفَةَ أَحْتَسِبُ عَلَى اللَّهِ أَنْ يُكَفِّرَ السَّنَةَ الَّتِي قَبْلَهُ وَالسَّنَةَ الَّتِي بَعْدَهُ وَصِيَامُ يَوْمِ عَاشُورَاءَ أَحْتَسِبُ عَلَى اللَّهِ أَنْ يُكَفِّرَ السَّنَةَ الَّتِي قَبْلَهُ» . رَوَاهُ مُسلم

Abu Qatada said that when a man came to the Prophet and asked him how he fasted, he was angry at what he said, and when 'Umar observed his anger he said, “We are satisfied with God as Lord, with Islam as religion and with Muhammad as Prophet. We seek refuge in God from the anger of God and His messenger.” ‘Umar kept on repeating these words till his anger calmed down, then asked, “Messenger of God, what is the position of one who observes a perpetual fast?” He replied, “May he not fast or break his fast!” or he said, “He has neither fasted nor broken his fast.” He asked, “What is the position of one who fasts two days out of every three?” and received the reply, “Is anyone able to do that?” He asked what was the position of one who fasted every second day and was told that was the fast David observed. He asked what was the position of one who fasted one day out of every three, and God’s messenger replied, “I wish I were given power to observe that.” Thereafter he said, “The observance of three days’ fast every month and of Ramadan every year is a perpetual fast. I seek from God that fasting on the day of ‘Arafa may atone for the sins of the preceding and the coming year, and I seek from God that fasting on the day of ‘Ashura’ may atone for the sins of the preceding year.” Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَن أَبِي قَتَادَةَ قَالَ: سُئِلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَنْ صَوْمِ الِاثْنَيْنِ فَقَالَ: «فِيهِ وُلِدْتُ وَفِيهِ أُنْزِلَ عَلَيَّ» . رَوَاهُ مُسْلِمٌ

He said that when God’s messenger was asked about fasting on Monday he said, “On it I was born and on it the revelation was first sent down to me.”* *The meaning seems to be that as this day is so distinguished, one could not choose a better one. Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْ مُعَاذَةَ الْعَدَوِيَّةِ أَنَّهَا سَأَلَتْ عَائِشَةَ: أَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَصُومُ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ؟ قَالَتْ: نَعَمْ فَقُلْتُ لَهَا: مِنْ أَيِّ أَيَّامِ الشَّهْرِ كَانَ يَصُومُ؟ قَالَتْ: لَمْ يَكُنْ يُبَالِي مِنْ أَيِّ أَيَّام الشَّهْر يَصُوم. رَوَاهُ مُسلم

Mu'adha al-‘Adawiya said she asked ‘A'isha whether God’s messenger used to fast three days every month, and she replied that he did. She asked which days in the month he fasted, and she replied that he did not care which days of the month he fasted. Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي أَيُّوبَ الْأَنْصَارِيِّ أَنَّهُ حَدَّثَهُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «مَنْ صَامَ رَمَضَانَ ثُمَّ أَتْبَعَهُ سِتًّا مِنْ شَوَّال كَانَ كصيام الدَّهْر» . رَوَاهُ مُسلم

Abu Ayyub al-Ansari told that God’s messenger said, “If anyone fasts during Ramadan, then follows it with six days in Shawwal, it will be like a perpetual fast.” Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ قَالَ: نَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَنْ صَوْمِ يَوْمِ الْفِطْرِ وَالنَّحْرِ

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri said God’s messenger forbade fasting on the day of breaking the fast of Ramadan and on the day of sacrifice. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: " لَا صَوْم فِي يَوْمَيْنِ: الْفطر وَالضُّحَى "

He reported God’s messenger as saying, “No fast is to be observed on two days, al-Fitr and al-Adha.* *In this tradition I have used the Arabic words, but have translated them in the preceding tradition. In the preceding tradition an-nahr is used where al-Adha is used here. Al-Adha means literally the victims. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنْ نُبَيْشَةَ الْهُذَلِيِّ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «أَيَّامُ التَّشْرِيقِ أَيَّامُ أكل وَشرب وَذكر الله» . رَوَاهُ مُسلم

Nubaisha al-Hudhali reported God’s messenger as saying, “The days of at-tashriq* are days of eating, drinking, and remembrance of God.” *The three days after the sacrifice on the tenth of Dhul Hijja. The name is said to have been given because the flesh of the victims is cut into strips and put in the sun to dry; but other explanations are also given. Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «لَا يَصُومُ أَحَدُكُمْ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ إِلَّا أَن بِصَوْم قبله أَو بِصَوْم بعده»

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying. “None of you must fast on a Friday unless he fasts the day before or the day after.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «لَا تَخْتَصُّوا لَيْلَةَ الْجُمُعَةِ بِقِيَامٍ مِنْ بَيْنِ اللَّيَالِي وَلَا تَخْتَصُّوا يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ بِصِيَامٍ مِنْ بَيْنِ الْأَيَّامِ إِلَّا أَنْ يَكُونَ فِي صَوْمٍ يَصُومهُ أحدكُم» . رَوَاهُ مُسلم

He reported God’s messenger as saying, “Do not choose Thursday night as a particular night for prayer, and do not choose Friday as a particular day for fasting, unless it occurs during a fast one of you is observing.” Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَنْ صَامَ يَوْمًا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ بَعَّدَ اللَّهُ وَجْهَهُ عَنِ النَّارِ سَبْعِينَ خَرِيفًا»

Abu Sa‘id al-Khudri reported God’s messenger as saying, “If anyone fasts for a day while engaged in jihad, God will remove him* seventy years’ distance from hell.” *Literally, ‘his face’. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو بْنِ الْعَاصِ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ أَلَمْ أُخْبَرْ أَنَّكَ تَصُومُ النَّهَارَ وَتَقُومُ اللَّيْلَ؟» فَقُلْتُ: بَلَى يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ. قَالَ: «فَلَا تَفْعَلْ صُمْ وَأَفْطِرْ وَقُمْ وَنَمْ فَإِنَّ لِجَسَدِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا وَإِنَّ لِعَيْنِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا وَإِنَّ لِزَوْجِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا وَإِنَّ لِزَوْرِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا. لَا صَامَ مَنْ صَامَ الدَّهْرَ. صَوْمُ ثَلَاثَةِ أَيَّامٍ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ صَوْمُ الدَّهْرِ كُلِّهِ. صُمْ كُلَّ شَهْرٍ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ وَاقْرَأِ الْقُرْآنَ فِي كُلِّ شَهْرٍ» . قُلْتُ: إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ. قَالَ: " صُمْ أَفْضَلَ الصَّوْمِ صَوْمَ دَاوُدَ: صِيَامُ يَوْمٍ وَإِفْطَارُ يَوْمٍ. وَاقْرَأْ فِي كُلِّ سَبْعِ لَيَالٍ مَرَّةً وَلَا تَزِدْ عَلَى ذَلِكَ "

‘Abdallah b. ‘Amr b. al-‘As told of God’s messenger saying to him, “Have I not been informed, ‘Abdallah, that you fast during the day and get up at night for prayer?” When he replied that that was so, he said, “Do not do it. Fast and break your fast, get up for prayer and sleep, for you have a duty to your body, your eye, your wife, and your visitors. May he who observe a perpetual fast never fast!* Fasting three days every month is equivalent to a perpetual fast. Fast three days every month and recite the Qur'an every month.” When he replied that he was able to do more than that, he said, “Observe the most excellent fast, that of David, fasting every second day, and recite the Qur’an once every seven nights, but do no more than that.” * Cf. the similar phrase in the tradition of Abu Qatada (p.434). Some hold that the meaning here is, ‘He who observes a perpetual fast has not fasted.’ (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا قَالَتْ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَصُومُ الِاثْنَيْنِ وَالْخَمِيس. رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ وَالنَّسَائِيّ

‘A'isha said that God’s messenger used to fast on Mondays and Thursdays. Tirmidhi and Nasa’i transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «تُعْرَضُ الْأَعْمَالُ يَوْمَ الِاثْنَيْنِ وَالْخَمِيسِ فَأُحِبُّ أَنْ يُعْرَضَ عَمَلِي وَأَنَا صَائِمٌ» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “Men’s deeds are presented on Mondays and Thursdays, and I like mine to be presented when I am fasting.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «يَا أَبَا ذَرٍّ إِذَا صُمْتَ مِنَ الشَّهْرِ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ فَصُمْ ثَلَاثَ عَشْرَةَ وَأَرْبَعَ عَشْرَةَ وَخَمْسَ عَشْرَةَ» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ وَالنَّسَائِيّ

Abu Dharr reported God’s messenger as saying, “When you fast three days in the month, Abu Dharr, fast on the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth.” Tirmidhi and Nasa'i transmitted it.

وَعَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ قَالَ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَصُومُ مِنْ غُرَّةِ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ وَقَلَّمَا كَانَ يفْطر يَوْم الْجُمُعَةَ. رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَالنَّسَائِيُّ وَرَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُدَ إِلَى ثَلَاثَة أَيَّام

‘Abdallah b. Mas'ud said that God’s messenger used to fast the first three days every month, and he would seldom break his fast on a Friday. Tirmidhi and Nasa’i transmitted it, and Abu Dawud transmitted up to “three days every month.”

وَعَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا قَالَتْ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَصُومُ مِنَ الشَّهْرِ السَّبْتَ وَالْأَحَدَ وَالِاثْنَيْنِ وَمِنَ الشَّهْرِ الآخر الثُّلَاثَاء وَالْأَرْبِعَاء وَالْخَمِيس. رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ

‘A'isha said that God’s messenger used to fast on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday one month, and on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday the next. Tirmidhi transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ قَالَتْ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَأْمُرُنِي أَنْ أَصُومَ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ أَوَّلُهَا الِاثْنَيْنِ وَالْخَمِيس. رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد وَالنَّسَائِيّ

Umm Salama said that God’s messenger used to command her to fast three days every month beginning with Monday or Thursday. Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it.

وَعَن مُسلم الْقرشِي قَالَ: سَأَلت أَوْ سُئِلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَن صِيَام الدَّهْر فَقَالَ: «إِنَّ لِأَهْلِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا صُمْ رَمَضَانَ وَالَّذِي يَلِيهِ وَكُلَّ أَرْبِعَاءَ وَخَمِيسٍ فَإِذًا أَنْتَ قَدْ صُمْتَ الدَّهْرَ كُلَّهُ» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُدَ وَالتِّرْمِذِيُّ

Muslim al-Qurashi said that he or someone else asked God's messenger about perpetual fasting, and he replied, “You have a duty to your family. Fast during Ramadan and the following month, and every Wednesday and Thursday. You will then have observed a perpetual fast." Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: نَهَى عَنْ صَوْمِ يَوْمِ عَرَفَةَ بِعَرَفَةَ. رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

Abu Huraira said that God’s messenger prohibited fasting on the day of ‘Arafa at ‘Arafa. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

وَعَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ بُسْرٍ عَنْ أُخْتِهِ الصَّمَّاءِ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «لَا تَصُومُوا يَوْمَ السَّبْتِ إِلَّا فِيمَا افْتُرِضَ عَلَيْكُمْ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَجِدْ أَحَدُكُمْ إِلَّا لِحَاءَ عِنَبَةٍ أَوْ عُودَ شَجَرَةٍ فَلْيَمْضُغْهُ» . رَوَاهُ أَحْمَدُ وَأَبُو دَاوُدَ وَالتِّرْمِذِيُّ وَابْنُ مَاجَهْ والدارمي

‘Abdallah b. Busr, on the authority of his sister as-Samma’, reported God’s messenger as saying, “Do not fast on Saturday except during what has been made obligatory for you; and if one of you can get nothing but a grape skin or a piece of wood from a tree, he should chew it.” Ahmad, Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي أُمَامَةَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَنْ صَامَ يَوْمًا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ جَعَلَ اللَّهُ بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ النَّارِ خَنْدَقًا كَمَا بَيْنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ

Abu Umama reported God’s messenger as saying, "If anyone fasts for a day while on jihad,* God will put between him and hell a ditch as wide as the distance between heaven and earth." *Mirqat gives this meaning, but says it may refer to the hajj, the 'umra, seeking knowledge, or desiring to please God. The Arabic is 'in God’s way.' Tirmidhi transmitted it.

وَعَنْ عَامِرِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «الْغَنِيمَةُ الْبَارِدَةُ الشِّتَاءِ» . رَوَاهُ أَحْمَدُ وَالتِّرْمِذِيُّ وَقَالَ: هَذَا حَدِيثٌ مُرْسل

‘Amir b. Mas'ud reported God’s messenger as saying, “Fasting in winter is booty gained without trouble.”* *Literally, 'the cold booty.' The idea is that in winter one does not suffer from hunger and thirst as in summer. Ahmad and Tirmidhi transmitted it, the latter saying this is a mursal tradition.

وَذَكَرَ حَدِيثَ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ: «مَا مِنْ أَيَّامٍ أحب إِلَى الله» فِي بَاب الْأُضْحِية

The tradition of Abu Huraira, “No days are dearer to God”, has been mentioned in the chapter on the sacrifices.* *Reference to the first ten days of the month of Dhul Hijjah.

عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَدِمَ الْمَدِينَةِ فَوَجَدَ الْيَهُودَ صِيَامًا يَوْمَ عَاشُورَاءَ فَقَالَ لَهُمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَا هَذَا الْيَوْمُ الَّذِي تَصُومُونَهُ؟» فَقَالُوا: هَذَا يَوْمٌ عَظِيمٌ: أَنْجَى اللَّهُ فِيهِ مُوسَى وَقَوْمَهُ وَغَرَّقَ فِرْعَوْنَ وَقَوْمَهُ فَصَامَهُ مُوسَى شُكْرًا فَنَحْنُ نَصُومُهُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «فَنَحْنُ أَحَقُّ وَأَوْلَى بِمُوسَى مِنْكُمْ» فَصَامَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَأَمَرَ بصيامه

Ibn ‘Abbas said that God’s messenger came to Medina and found the Jews observing the fast on the day of ‘Ashura’, so he asked them what was the significance of that day which they were observing and they replied, “It is a great day on which God delivered Moses and his people and drowned Pharaoh and his people; so Moses observed it as a fast out of gratitude, and we do so also.” He said, “We have more right, and we have a closer connection with Moses than you have,” so God’s messenger observed it as a fast himself and gave orders that it should be observed. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

قَالَتْ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَصُومُ يَوْمَ السَّبْتِ وَيَوْمَ الْأَحَدِ أَكْثَرَ مَا يَصُومُ مِنَ الْأَيَّامِ وَيَقُولُ: «إِنَّهُمَا يَوْمَا عِيدٍ لِلْمُشْرِكِينَ فَأَنَا أُحِبُّ أَن أخالفهم» . رَوَاهُ أَحْمد

Umm Salama said that God's messenger used to fast on Saturdays and Sundays more than on other days, and he used to say, “They are days of festival for the polytheists, and I like to act contrary to them.” Ahmad transmitted it.

وَعَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ سَمُرَةَ قَالَ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَأْمُرُ بِصِيَامِ يَوْمِ عَاشُورَاءَ وَيَحُثُّنَا عَلَيْهِ وَيَتَعَاهَدُنَا عِنْدَهُ فَلَمَّا فُرِضَ رَمَضَانُ لَمْ يَأْمُرْنَا وَلَمْ يَنْهَنَا عَنْهُ وَلم يتعاهدنا عِنْده. رَوَاهُ مُسلم

Jabir b. Samura said, “God’s messenger used to command us to observe the day of ‘Ashura’ as a fast, urge us to observe it and pay attention to us when it came; but when Ramadan was made obligatory he neither commanded nor forbade us to observe it, nor did he pay attention to us when it came.” Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْ حَفْصَةَ قَالَتْ: أَرْبَعٌ لَمْ يَكُنْ يَدَعُهُنَّ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «صِيَامُ عَاشُورَاءَ وَالْعَشْرِ وَثَلَاثَةُ أَيَّامٍ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ وَرَكْعَتَانِ قبل الْفجْر» . رَوَاهُ النَّسَائِيّ

Hafsa said there were four things the Prophet never omitted: fasting on ‘Ashura’, the first ten days of Dhul Hijja* and three days every month, and praying two rak'as before dawn. *The Arabic has simply 'the ten', to be understood as translated above. Nasa’i transmitted it.

وَعَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لَا يُفْطِرُ أَيَّامَ الْبيض فِي حضر وَلَا فِي سفر. رَوَاهُ النَّسَائِيّ

Ibn ‘Abbas said that it was the custom of God’s messenger not to eat on the middle days* of the month whether travelling or not. *Literally, the days of the white (nights). These are the days following the thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth nights of the month, the nights when there is most moonlight. Nasa’i transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «لِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ زَكَاةٌ وَزَكَاةُ الْجَسَدِ الصَّوْمُ» . رَوَاهُ ابْن مَاجَه

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “There is zakat applicable to everything, and the zakat of the body is fasting.” Ibn Majah transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: كَانَ يَصُومُ يَوْمَ الِاثْنَيْنِ وَالْخَمِيسِ. فَقِيلَ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّكَ تَصُومُ يَوْمَ الِاثْنَيْنِ وَالْخَمِيسِ. فَقَالَ: " إِنَّ يَوْمَ الِاثْنَيْنِ وَالْخَمِيسِ يَغْفِرُ اللَّهُ فِيهِمَا لِكُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ إِلَّا ذَا هَاجِرَيْنِ يَقُولُ: دَعْهُمَا حَتَّى يصطلحا ". رَوَاهُ أَحْمد وَابْن مَاجَه

He said that the Prophet used to fast on Mondays and Thursdays, and when someone remarked on this to him he said, “On Monday and Thursday God forgives every Muslim except two who are at variance, for He says they must be left till they make peace with one another.” Ahmad and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَنْ صَامَ يَوْمًا ابْتِغَاءَ وَجْهِ اللَّهِ بَعَّدَهُ اللَّهُ مِنْ جَهَنَّمَ كَبُعْدِ غُرَابٍ طَائِرٍ وَهُوَ فرخ حَتَّى مَاتَ هرما» . رَوَاهُ أَحْمد وَرَوَى الْبَيْهَقِيُّ فِي شُعَبِ الْإِيمَانِ عَنْ سَلَمَةَ بن قيس

He reported God’s messenger as saying, “If anyone out of a desire to please God fasts for a day, God will remove him from jahannam as far as a crow flies from the time it is a young bird till it dies of old age.” Ahmad transmitted it, and Baihaqi transmitted it in Shu'ab al-iman from Salama b. Qais.

وَعَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا قَالَتْ: دَخَلَ عَلَيَّ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ فَقَالَ: «هَلْ عِنْدَكُمْ شَيْءٌ؟» فَقُلْنَا: لَا قَالَ: «فَإِنِّي إِذًا صَائِمٌ» . ثُمَّ أَتَانَا يَوْمًا آخَرَ فَقُلْنَا: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أُهْدِيَ لَنَا حَيْسٌ فَقَالَ: «أَرِينِيهِ فَلَقَدْ أَصْبَحْتُ صَائِمًا» فَأَكَلَ. رَوَاهُ مُسلم

‘A'isha said: The Prophet came to visit me one day and asked if I had anything . When I said I had nothing he replied, “Then I shall observe a fast.” When he came to me another day and I told him I had been given a present of some hais* he said, “Show me it, for I began the day fasting.” Then he ate. *A mixture of dates and clarified butter. Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَنَسٍ قَالَ: دَخَلَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَلَى أُمِّ سُلَيْمٍ فَأَتَتْهُ بِتَمْرٍ وَسَمْنٍ فَقَالَ: «أَعِيدُوا سَمْنَكُمْ فِي سِقَائِهِ وَتَمْرَكُمْ فِي وِعَائِهِ فَإِنِّي صَائِمٌ» . ثُمَّ قَامَ إِلَى نَاحِيَةٍ مِنَ الْبَيْتِ فَصَلَّى غَيْرَ الْمَكْتُوبَةِ فَدَعَا لأم سليم وَأهل بَيتهَا. رَوَاهُ البُخَارِيّ

Anas said that the Prophet visited Umm Sulaim, and when she brought him some dates and clarified butter he said, “Put your butter back in its container and your dates in their vessel, for I am fasting.” He then went to a separate part of the house and prayed a prayer which was not one of the prescribed prayers, and invoked a blessing on Umm Sulaim and the inhabitants of her house. Bukhari transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: " إِذَا دُعِيَ أَحَدُكُمْ إِلَى طَعَامٍ وَهُوَ صَائِمٌ فَلْيَقُلْ: إِنِّي صَائِمٌ ". وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ قَالَ: «إِذَا دُعِيَ أَحَدُكُمْ فَلْيُجِبْ فَإِنْ كَانَ صَائِمًا فَلْيُصَلِّ وَإِن كَانَ مُفطرا فيطعم» . رَوَاهُ مُسلم

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “When one of you is invited to a meal at a time when he is fasting he should say he is fasting.” In a version he said, “When one of you receives an invitation he should accept it. If he is fasting he should pray, but if not, he should eat.” Muslim transmitted it.

عَنْ أُمِّ هَانِئٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا قَالَتْ: لَمَّا كَانَ يَوْمُ الْفَتْحِ فَتْحِ مَكَّةَ جَاءَتْ فَاطِمَةُ فَجَلَسَتْ عَلَى يَسَارِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَأَمُّ هَانِئٍ عَنْ يَمِينِهِ فَجَاءَتِ الْوَلِيدَةُ بِإِنَاءٍ فِيهِ شَرَابٌ فَنَاوَلَتْهُ فَشَرِبَ مِنْهُ ثُمَّ نَاوَلَهُ أُمَّ هَانِئٍ فَشَرِبَتْ مِنْهُ فَقَالَتْ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ لَقَدْ أَفْطَرْتُ وَكُنْتُ صَائِمَةً فَقَالَ لَهَا: «أَكُنْتِ تَقْضِينَ شَيْئًا؟» قَالَتْ: لَا. قَالَ: «فَلَا يَضُرُّكِ إِنْ كَانَ تَطَوُّعًا» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُدَ وَالتِّرْمِذِيُّ وَالدَّارِمِيُّ وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ لِأَحْمَدَ وَالتِّرْمِذِيِّ نَحْوُهُ وَفِيهِ فَقَالَتْ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَمَا إِنِّي كُنْتُ صَائِمَةً فَقَالَ: «الصَّائِم أَمِيرُ نَفْسِهِ إِنْ شَاءَ صَامَ وَإِنْ شَاءَ أفطر»

Umm Hani’ said that on the day of the conquest of Mecca Fatima came and sat on God’s messenger’s left and Umm Hani on his right, and when the maidservant brought a vessel containing; drinking water and handed it to him, he drank some of it and handed it to Umm Hani’ who drank some of it. She then said, “Messenger of God, I was fasting and I have broken my fast.” He asked if she was making up for anything, and when she replied that she was not, he said, “It will not harm you if it was a voluntary fast.” Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi and Darimi transmitted it. A version by Ahmad and Tirmidhi has something similar. In it she said, “Messenger of God, I was fasting,” and he replied, “The one who observes a voluntary fast is his own master; if he wishes he may fast, and if he wishes he may break it.”

وَعَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ عَنْ عُرْوَةَ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ قَالَتْ: كُنْتُ أَنَا وَحَفْصَةُ صَائِمَتَيْنِ فَعَرَضَ لَنَا طَعَامٌ اشْتَهَيْنَاهُ فَأَكَلَنَا مِنْهُ فَقَالَتْ حَفْصَةُ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّا كُنَّا صَائِمَتَيْنِ فَعُرِضَ لَنَا طَعَامٌ اشْتَهَيْنَاهُ فَأَكَلَنَا مِنْهُ. قَالَ: «اقْضِيَا يَوْمًا آخَرَ مَكَانَهُ» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَذَكَرَ جَمَاعَةً مِنَ الْحُفَّاظِ رَوَوْا عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ مُرْسَلًا وَلَمْ يذكرُوا فِيهِ عَن عُرْوَة وَهَذَا أصح وَرَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُدَ عَنْ زُمَيْلٍ مَوْلَى عُرْوَةَ عَن عُرْوَة عَن عَائِشَة

Zuhri reported on ‘Urwa’s authority that ‘A'isha said: When Hafsa and I were fasting we were offered food which we liked very much and ate some of it. Hafsa told God’s messenger of this, and he said, “Make up for it by fasting on another day.” Tirmidhi transmitted it, but he mentioned a number of huffaz* who transmitted on the authority of Zuhri on the authority of ‘A'isha in mursal form, omitting to mention ‘Urwa’s authority, and this is sounder. Abu Dawud transmitted it from Zumail the client of ‘Urwa from ‘Urwa from ‘A'isha. *Traditionists who have a reputation for their accurate memory.

وَعَن أم عمَارَة بنت كَعْب إِنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ دَخَلَ عَلَيْهَا فَدَعَتْ لَهُ بِطَعَامٍ فَقَالَ لَهَا: «كُلِي» . فَقَالَتْ: إِنِّي صَائِمَةٌ. فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «إِنَّ الصَّائِمَ إِذَا أُكِلَ عِنْدَهُ صَلَّتْ عَلَيْهِ الْمَلَائِكَةُ حَتَّى يَفْرَغُوا» . رَوَاهُ أَحْمَدُ وَالتِّرْمِذِيّ وَابْن مَاجَه والدارمي

Umm ‘Umara, daughter of Ka‘b, said that once when the Prophet visited her and she called for food for him, he told her that she must eat also; but when she replied that she was fasting he said, “When people eat beside one who is fasting the angels invoke blessings on him till they finish eating.” Ahmad, Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it.

عَن بُرَيْدَة قَالَ: دَخَلَ بِلَالٌ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَهُوَ يَتَغَدَّى فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «الْغَدَاءَ يَا بِلَالُ» . قَالَ: إِنِّي صَائِمٌ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «نَأْكُلُ رِزْقَنَا وَفَضْلُ رِزْقِ بِلَالٍ فِي الْجَنَّةِ أشعرت يَا بِلَال أَن الصَّائِم نُسَبِّح عِظَامه وَتَسْتَغْفِر لَهُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ مَا أَكَلَ عِنْدَهُ؟» . رَوَاهُ الْبَيْهَقِيُّ فِي شعب الْإِيمَان

Buraida said that once when Bilal went in to visit God’s messenger while he was having his morning meal he invited him to join him, and when Bilal replied that he was fasting, he said, “We are eating our provision and Bilal’s superior provision is in paradise. Did you know, Bilal, that the bones of one who fasts extol God and that the angels ask forgiveness for him as long as people eat beside him?” Baihaqi transmitted it in Shu'ab al-iman.

وَعَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا قَالَتْ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «تَحَرَّوْا لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ فِي الْوِتْرِ مِنَ الْعَشْرِ الْأَوَاخِرِ من رَمَضَان» . رَوَاهُ البُخَارِيّ

‘A'isha reported God's messenger as saying, “Seek lailat al-qadr on an old number night among the last ten in Ramadan.” Bukhari transmitted it.

وَعَن ابْن عمر قَالَ: أَنَّ رَجُلًا مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أُرُوا لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ فِي الْمَنَامِ فِي السَّبْعِ الْأَوَاخِرِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «أَرَى رُؤْيَاكُمْ قَدْ تَوَاطَأَتْ فِي السَّبْعِ الْأَوَاخِرِ فَمَنْ كَانَ مُتَحَرِّيهَا فَلْيَتَحَرَّهَا فِي السَّبْعِ الْأَوَاخِر»

Ibn ‘Umar said that some of the Prophet’s companions had a dream that lailat al-qadr was among the last seven nights, so God’s messenger said, “ I see that your dreams agree regarding the last seven nights, so if anyone seeks it he should do so during the last seven nights.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: الْتَمِسُوهَا فِي الْعَشْرِ الْأَوَاخِرِ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ: فِي تَاسِعَةٍ تَبْقَى فِي سَابِعَةٍ تَبْقَى فِي خَامِسَةٍ تَبْقَى. رَوَاهُ البُخَارِيّ

Ibn ‘Abbas reported the Prophet as saying, “Seek lailat al-qadr in the last ten nights of Ramadan, on the twenty-first, twenty-third and twenty-fifth.” Bukhari transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ اعْتَكَفَ الْعَشْرَ الْأَوَّلَ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ ثُمَّ اعْتَكَفَ الْعَشْرَ الْأَوْسَطَ فِي قُبَّةٍ تُرْكِيَّةٍ ثُمَّ أَطْلَعَ رَأسه. فَقَالَ: «إِنِّي اعتكفت الْعشْر الأول ألتمس هَذِه اللَّيْلَة ثمَّ اعتكفت الْعَشْرَ الْأَوْسَطَ ثُمَّ أُتِيتُ فَقِيلَ لِي إِنَّهَا فِي الْعشْر الْأَوَاخِر فَمن اعْتَكَفْ مَعِي فَلْيَعْتَكِفِ الْعَشْرَ الْأَوَاخِرَ فَقَدْ أُرِيتُ هَذِهِ اللَّيْلَةَ ثُمَّ أُنْسِيتُهَا وَقَدْ رَأَيْتُنِي أَسْجُدُ فِي مَاءٍ وَطِينٍ مِنْ صَبِيحَتِهَا فَالْتَمِسُوهَا فِي الْعَشْرِ الْأَوَاخِرِ وَالْتَمِسُوهَا فِي كُلِّ وِتْرٍ» . قَالَ: فَمَطَرَتِ السَّمَاءُ تِلْكَ اللَّيْلَةَ وَكَانَ الْمَسْجِدُ عَلَى عَرِيشٍ فَوَكَفَ الْمَسْجِدُ فَبَصُرَتْ عَيْنَايَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَعَلَى جَبْهَتِهِ أَثَرُ المَاء والطين وَالْمَاء مِنْ صَبِيحَةِ إِحْدَى وَعِشْرِينَ. مُتَّفَقٌ عَلَيْهِ فِي الْمَعْنَى وَاللَّفْظُ لِمُسْلِمٍ إِلَى قَوْلِهِ: " فَقِيلَ لِي: إِنَّهَا فِي الْعشْر الْأَوَاخِر ". وَالْبَاقِي للْبُخَارِيّ وَفِي رِوَايَةِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أُنَيْسٍ قَالَ: «لَيْلَة ثَلَاث وَعشْرين» . رَوَاهُ مُسلم

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri said: God’s messenger spent the first ten nights of Ramadan in devotion, and spent the middle ten nights in devotion in a round Turkish tent, after which he raised his head and said, “I have spent the first ten nights in devotion seeking this night, then I spent the middle ten nights in devotion, and after that I had a heavenly visitant and was told that it is in the last ten, so he who has engaged in devotion along with me should do so during the last ten nights, for I was shown this nights, then was caused to forget it, but I have seen myself prostrating in water and clay on the morning following, so seek it among the last ten and seek it in every night with an odd number.” He said: Rain fell that night, the mosque which was a thatched building dripped, and my eyes saw God’s messenger with traces of water and clay on his forehead on the morning after the twenty-first night. Bukhari and Muslim agree on the subject-matter, the wording being Muslim's up to “and was told it is it the last ten”, the remainder being Bukhari's. In the version of ‘Abdallah b. Unais he said it was the twenty-third night. Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْ زِرِّ بْنِ حُبَيْشٍ قَالَ: سَأَلْتُ أُبَيَّ بْنَ كَعْبٍ فَقُلْتُ إِنَّ أَخَاكَ ابْنَ مَسْعُودٍ يَقُولُ: مَنْ يَقُمِ الْحَوْلَ يُصِبْ لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ. فَقَالَ C أَرَادَ أَنْ لَا يَتَّكِلَ النَّاسُ أَمَا إِنَّهُ قَدْ عَلِمَ أَنَّهَا فِي رَمَضَانَ وَأَنَّهَا فِي الْعَشْرِ الْأَوَاخِرِ وَأَنَّهَا لَيْلَةُ سَبْعٍ وَعِشْرِينَ ثُمَّ حَلَفَ لَا يَسْتَثْنِي أَنَّهَا لَيْلَةُ سَبْعٍ وَعِشْرِينَ. فَقُلْتُ: بِأَيِّ شَيْءٍ تَقُولُ ذَلِكَ يَا أَبَا الْمُنْذِرِ؟ قَالَ: بِالْعَلَامَةِ أَوْ بِالْآيَةِ الَّتِي أَخْبَرَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِنَّهَا تَطْلُعُ يَوْمَئِذٍ لَا شُعَاعَ لَهَا. رَوَاهُ مُسْلِمٌ

Zirr b. Hubaish said: I questioned Ubayy b. Ka'b about a statement by his brother ” he replied, “By the indication (or sign)* of which God’s messenger informed us, viz. that the sun rises on that day without rays.” *An alternative, the transmitter not being sure which word was used. *An alternative, the transmitter not being sure which word was used. Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا قَالَتْ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَجْتَهِدُ فِي الْعَشْرِ الْأَوَاخِرِ مَا لَا يَجْتَهِدُ فِي غَيره. رَوَاهُ مُسلم

‘A'isha said that God’s messenger used to exert himself in devotion during the last ten nights to a greater extent than at any other time. Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا قَالَتْ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا دَخَلَ الْعَشْرُ شَدَّ مِئْزَرَهُ وَأَحْيَا ليله وَأَيْقَظَ أَهله

She said that when the last ten nights began God’s messenger prepared himself for religious exercises, stayed awake at night and wakened his family. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا قَالَتْ: قُلْتُ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ عَلِمْتُ أَيُّ لَيْلَةٍ الْقَدْرِ مَا أَقُولُ فِيهَا؟ قَالَ: " قُولِي: اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعَفُ عَنِّي ". رَوَاهُ أَحْمد وَابْن مَاجَه وَالتِّرْمِذِيّ وَصَححهُ

‘A'isha said she asked God’s messenger to tell her what prayers to say on lailat al-qadr if she knew which night it was, and he told her to say, “O God, Thou art forgiving and lovest forgiveness, so forgive me.” Ahmad, Ibn Majah, and Tirmidhi transmitted it, and Tirmidhi declared it to be sound.

وَعَنْ أَبِي بَكْرَةَ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: «الْتَمِسُوهَا يَعْنَى لَيْلَة الْقدر فِي تسع بَقينَ أَو فِي سبع بَقينَ أَو فِي خمس بَقينَ أَوْ ثَلَاثٍ أَوْ آخِرِ لَيْلَةٍ» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ

Abu Bakra said he heard God’s messenger say, “Seek it (meaning lailat al-qadr), on the twenty-first, twenty-third, twenty-fifth, twentyseventh, or on the last night.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

وَعَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ: سُئِلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَنْ لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ فَقَالَ: «هِيَ فِي كُلِّ رَمَضَانَ» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد وَقَالَ: رَوَاهُ سُفْيَان وَشعْبَة عَن أبي إِسْحَق مَوْقُوفا على ابْن عمر

Ibn ‘Umar said God’s messenger was asked about lailat al-qadr and replied, “It occurs every Ramadan.” Abu Dawud transmitted it and said that Sufyan and Shu'ba transmitted it on the authority of Abu Ishaq tracing it no farther back than Ibn ‘Umar.

وَعَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أُنَيْسٍ قَالَ: قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ لِي بَادِيَةً أَكُونُ فِيهَا وَأَنا أُصَلِّي فِيهَا بِحَمْد الله فَمُرْنِي بِلَيْلَةٍ أَنْزِلُهَا إِلَى هَذَا الْمَسْجِدِ فَقَالَ: «انْزِلْ لَيْلَة ثَلَاث وَعشْرين» . قيل لِابْنِهِ: كَيْفَ كَانَ أَبُوكَ يَصْنَعُ؟ قَالَ: كَانَ يَدْخُلُ الْمَسْجِدَ إِذَا صَلَّى الْعَصْرَ فَلَا يَخْرُجُ مِنْهُ لِحَاجَةٍ حَتَّى يُصَلِّيَ الصُّبْحَ فَإِذَا صَلَّى الصُّبْحَ وَجَدَ دَابَّتَهُ عَلَى بَابِ الْمَسْجِدِ فَجَلَسَ عَلَيْهَا وَلحق بباديته. رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

‘Abdallah b. Unais told that he said, “Messenger of God, I have a place in the desert where I live and in which I pray praising God, but give me command about a night when I may leave it and come to this mosque.” He replied, “Come on the twenty-third night.” His son was asked how his father used to act and said he used to enter the mosque when he had prayed the afternoon prayer and not leave it for any purpose till he prayed the morning prayer. Then when he had prayed the morning prayer he found his beast at the door of the mosque, mounted it and got back to his desert region. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

عَنْ عُبَادَةَ بْنِ الصَّامِتِ قَالَ: خَرَجَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لِيُخْبِرَنَا بِلَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ فَتَلَاحَى رَجُلَانِ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ فَقَالَ: «خَرَجْتُ لِأُخْبِرَكُمْ بِلَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ فَتَلَاحَى فُلَانٌ وَفُلَانٌ فَرُفِعَتْ وَعَسَى أَنْ يَكُونَ خَيْرًا لَكُمْ فَالْتَمِسُوهَا فِي التَّاسِعَةِ وَالسَّابِعَة وَالْخَامِسَة» . رَوَاهُ البُخَارِيّ

‘Ubada b. as-Samit said that the Prophet came out to inform them about lailat al-qadr, but finding two Muslims disputing together he said, “I came out to inform you about lailat al-qadr, but so and so and so and so had a dispute, and the knowledge of it has been withdrawn. That, however, may perhaps be better for you, so seek it on the ninth, the seventh and the fifth.”* *i.e. the twenty-ninth, twenty-seventh, and twenty-fifth. Bukhari transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَنَسٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: " إِذَا كَانَ لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ نزل جِبْرِيل عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام فِي كُبْكُبَةٍ مِنَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى كُلِّ عَبْدٍ قَائِمٍ أَوْ قَاعِدٍ يَذْكُرُ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فَإِذَا كَانَ يَوْمُ عِيدِهِمْ يَعْنِي يَوْمَ فِطْرِهِمْ بَاهَى بِهِمْ مَلَائِكَتَهُ فَقَالَ: يَا مَلَائِكَتِي مَا جَزَاءُ أَجِيرٍ وَفَّى عَمَلَهُ؟ قَالُوا: رَبَّنَا جَزَاؤُهُ أَنْ يُوَفَّى أَجْرَهُ. قَالَ: مَلَائِكَتِي عَبِيدِي وَإِمَائِي قَضَوْا فَرِيضَتِي عَلَيْهِمْ ثُمَّ خَرَجُوا يَعُجُّونَ إِلَى الدُّعَاءِ وَعِزَّتِي وَجَلَالِي وَكَرَمِي وَعُلُوِّي وَارْتِفَاعِ مَكَاني لأجيبنهم. فَيَقُول: ارْجعُوا فقد غَفَرْتُ لَكُمْ وَبَدَّلْتُ سَيِّئَاتِكُمْ حَسَنَاتٍ. قَالَ: فَيَرْجِعُونَ مَغْفُورًا لَهُمْ ". رَوَاهُ الْبَيْهَقِيُّ فِي شُعَبِ الْإِيمَانِ

Anas reported God's messenger as saying that when lailat al-qadr comes Gabriel descends with a company of angels who invoke blessings on everyone who is standing or sitting and remembering God who is great and glorious. Then when their festival day comes, i.e. the day when they break their fast, God speaks proudly of them to His angels saying, “My angels, what is the reward of a hired servant who has fully accomplished his work?” They reply, “Our Lord, his reward is that he should be paid his wage in full.” He says, “My angels, my male and female servants have fulfilled what I have made obligatory for them, and then have come out raising their voices in supplication. By my might, glory, honour, high dignity, and exalted station, I will certainly answer them.” Then He says, “Return, for I have forgiven you and changed your evil deeds into good deeds.” He said that they then return having received forgiveness. Baihaqi transmitted it in Shu'ab al-iman.

وَعَنْ عَائِشَةَ: أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَانَ يَعْتَكِفُ الْعَشْرَ الْأَوَاخِرَ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ حَتَّى تَوَفَّاهُ اللَّهُ ثُمَّ اعْتَكَفَ أَزْوَاجُهُ مِنْ بعده

‘A'isha said that the Prophet used to engage in private devotions in the mosque during the last ten nights of Ramadan till God took him, and then his wives followed this practice after his death.* *Mirqat says that the Prophet’s wives observed periods of seclusion for devotion, not in the mosque but in their houses. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَجْوَدَ النَّاسِ بِالْخَيْرِ وَكَانَ أَجْوَدَ مَا يَكُونُ فِي رَمَضَان وَكَانَ جِبْرِيلُ يَلْقَاهُ كُلَّ لَيْلَةٍ فِي رَمَضَانَ يَعْرِضُ عَلَيْهِ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ الْقُرْآنَ فَإِذَا لَقِيَهُ جِبْرِيلُ كَانَ أَجْوَدُ بِالْخَيْرِ مِنَ الرّيح الْمُرْسلَة

Ibn ‘Abbas said that God’s messenger was the most generous of men, and he was as generous as possible in Ramadan. Gabriel used to meet him every night in Ramadan and the Prophet would go over the Qur’an to him. When Gabriel met him he was more generous than the wind which blows freely. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَن أبي هُرَيْرَة قَالَ: كَانَ يعرض على النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ الْقُرْآنَ كُلَّ عَامٍ مَرَّةً فَعَرَضَ عَلَيْهِ مَرَّتَيْنِ فِي الْعَامِ الَّذِي قُبِضَ وَكَانَ يَعْتَكِفُ كُلَّ عَامٍ عَشْرًا فَاعْتَكَفَ عِشْرِينَ فِي الْعَامِ الَّذِي قُبِضَ. رَوَاهُ البُخَارِيّ

Abu Huraira said that the Qur’an was gone over* to the Prophet once annually, but that this was done twice in the year in which he died. He used to engage in private devotions in the mosque during ten nights every year, but he did this during twenty nights in the year in which he died. *Mirqat remarks that some expositors say the passive is used here because the person who went over the Quran to the Prophet was well-known, viz. Gabriel. Bukhari transmitted it.

وَعَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا قَالَتْ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا اعْتَكَفَ أَدْنَى إِلَيَّ رَأَسَهِ وَهُوَ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ فَأُرَجِّلُهُ وَكَانَ لَا يَدْخُلُ الْبَيْتَ إِلَّا لحَاجَة الْإِنْسَان "

‘A'isha said, “During his private devotional exercises God’s messenger would put his head near me when he was in the mosque, and I would comb it; and he entered the house only to relieve himself.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ: أَنَّ عُمَرَ سَأَلَ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: " كُنْتُ نَذَرْتُ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ أَنْ أَعْتَكِفَ لَيْلَةً فِي الْمَسْجِد الْحَرَام؟ قَالَ: «فأوف بِنَذْرِك»

Ibn ‘Umar said that when ‘Umar consulted the Prophet about a vow he had made in the pre-Islamic period to spend a night in devotion in the sacred mosque, he said, “Fulfill your vow.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

عَنْ أَنَسٍ قَالَ: كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَعْتَكِفُ فِي الْعَشْرِ الْأَوَاخِرِ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ فَلَمْ يَعْتَكِفْ عَامًا. فَلَمَّا كَانَ الْعَامُ الْمقبل اعْتكف عشْرين. رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ وَرَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُدَ وَابْنُ مَاجَهْ عَنْ أَبِي بن كَعْب

Anas said that the Prophet was accustomed to engage in private devotion in the mosque during the last ten nights of Ramadan; but one year he omitted it and he engaged in it during twenty nights the next year. Tirmidhi transmitted it, and Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it from Ubayy b. Ka'b.

وَعَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا قَالَتْ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا أَرَادَ أَنْ يَعْتَكِفَ صَلَّى الْفَجْرَ ثُمَّ دَخَلَ فِي مُعْتَكَفِهِ. رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُدَ وَابْنُ مَاجَهْ

‘A'isha said that when God’s messenger intended to engage in private devotion in the mosque he prayed the dawn prayer and then entered his place of seclusion. Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

وَعَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا قَالَتْ: كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَعُودُ الْمَرِيضَ وَهُوَ مُعْتَكِفٌ فَيَمُرُّ كَمَا هُوَ فَلَا يُعَرِّجُ يَسْأَلُ عَنْهُ. رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُدَ وَابْنُ مَاجَهْ

She said that the Prophet used to visit the sick while engaged in a period of private devotion in the mosque and he would pass on straight ahead without pausing and ask for him. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

وَعَن عَائِشَة رَضِي الله عَنْهَا قَالَتْ: السُّنَّةُ عَلَى الْمُعْتَكِفِ أَنْ لَا يَعُودَ مَرِيضًا وَلَا يَشْهَدُ جِنَازَةً وَلَا يَمَسُّ الْمَرْأَةَ وَلَا يُبَاشِرُهَا وَلَا يَخْرُجُ لِحَاجَةٍ إِلَّا لِمَا لابد مِنْهُ وَلَا اعْتِكَافَ إِلَّا بِصَوْمٍ وَلَا اعْتِكَافَ إِلَّا فِي مَسْجِدٍ جَامِعٍ. رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُدَ

She said that the sunna for one who is observing a period of private devotion in a mosque is not to visit an invalid, or attend a funeral, or touch or embrace one’s wife, or go out for anything but necessary purposes. There is no period of private devotion in a mosque without fasting, and it must be carried out in a congregational mosque. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنَّهُ كَانَ إِذَا اعْتَكَفَ طُرِحَ لَهُ فِرَاشُهُ أَوْ يُوضَعُ لَهُ سَرِيرُهُ وَرَاءَ أسطوانه التَّوْبَة. رَوَاهُ ابْن مَاجَه

Ibn ‘Umar said that when the Prophet observed a period of private devotion in the mosque his bedding was placed for him, or a couch was put down for him, behind the column of repentance.* *A column in the Prophet's mosque in Medina, said to have got this name because the repentance of Abu Lubaba was accepted beside it. Ibn Majah transmitted it.

وَعَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ: أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ فِي الْمُعْتَكَفِ: «هُوَ يَعْتَكِفُ الذُّنُوبَ وَيُجْرَى لَهُ مِنَ الْحَسَنَاتِ كَعَامِلِ الْحَسَنَات كلهَا» . رَوَاهُ ابْن مَاجَه

Ibn ‘Abbas reported God’s messenger as saying about one who observes a period of private devotion in a mosque, “He turns away from sins and he is rewarded for good deeds like one who does all good deeds.” Ibn Majah transmitted it.