No. 2600

Mu'adha al-'Adawiyya reported that she asked 'A'isha, the wife of the Prophet of Allaah (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam), whether the Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) observed fasts for three days during every month. She said: Yes I said to her: Which were (the particular) days of the month on which he observed fast? She said: He was not particular about the days of the month on which to observe fast.

No. 2601

'Imran b. Husain (Allaah be pleased with them) reported that the Prophet of Allaah (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) said to him (or he said to another person and he was listening to it): O, so and so, did you observe fast in the middle of the month? He said: No. Thereupon he (the Messenger of Allaah) said: When you break it, then observe fast for two days.

No. 2602

Abu Qatada reported that a person came to the Prophet of Allaah (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) and said: How do you observe fast? The Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) felt annoyed. 1560 When 'Umar (Allaah be pleased with him) noticed his annoyance, he said: We are well pleased with Allaah as our Lord, with Islam as our Code of Life, and with Muhammad as our Prophet. We seek refuge with Allaah from the anger of Allaah and that of His Messenger. 'Umar kept on repeating these words till his (the Prophet's) anger calmed down. Then Umar said: Messenger of Allaah. what is the position of one who perpetually observes fasts? Thereupon he said: He neither fasted nor broke it, or he said: He did not fast and he did not break it. He said: What about him who observes fast for two days and breaks one day. There- upon he said: Is anyone capable of doing it? He ('Umar) said: What is the position of him who observes fast for a day and breaks on the other day? Thereupon he (the Prophet) said: That is the fast of David (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam). He ('Umar) said: What about him who observes fast one day and breaks it for two days. Thereupon he (the Messenger of Allaah) said: I wish, I were given strength to observe that. Thereafter he said: The observance of three days' fast every Month and that of Ramadan every year is a perpetual fasting. I seek from Allaah that fasting on the day of 'Arafa may atone for the sins of the preceding and the coming years. and I seek from Allaah that fasting on the day of Ashura may atone for the sins of the preceding year.

No. 2603

Abu Qatada al-Ansari (Allaah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) was asked about his fasting. The Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) felt annoyed. Thereupon 'Umar (Allaah be pleased with him) said: We are pleased with Allaah as the Lord, with Islam as our Code of Life, with Muhammad as the Messenger and with our pledge (to you for willing and cheerful submission) as a (sacred) commitment. He was then asked about perpetual fasting, whereupon he said: He neither fasted nor did he break it, or he did not fast and he did not break it. He was then asked about fasting for two days and breaking one day. He (the Prophet) said: And who has strength enough to do it? He was asked about fasting for a day and breaking for two days, whereupon he said: May Allaah bestow upon us strength to do it. He was then asked about fasting for a day and breaking on the other, whereupon he said: That is the fasting of my brother David (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam). He was then asked about fasting on Monday, whereupon he said: It was the day on which I was born. on which I was commissioned with prophethood or revelation was sent to me, (and he further) said: Three days' fasting every month and of the whole of Ramadan every year is a perpetual fast. He was asked about fasting on the day of 'Arafa (9th of Dhu'I-Hijja), whereupon he said: It expiates the sins of the preceding year and the coming year. He was asked about fasting on the day of 'Ashura (10th of Muharram), whereupon be said: It expiates the sins of the preceding year. (Imam Muslim said that in this hadith there is a) narration of Imam Shu'ba that he was asked about fasting on Monday and Thursday, but we (Imam Muslim) did not mention Thursday for we found it as an error (in reporting).

No. 2604

This hadith has been narrated by Shu'ba with the same chain of transmitters.

No. 2605

This hadith has been narrated by Ghailan b. Jarir with the same chain of transmitters, but with one variation, that there has been made mention of Monday and not of Thursday.

No. 2606

Abu Qatada Ansari (Allaah be pleased with him) reported that Allaah's Massenger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) was asked about fasting on Monday, whereupon he said: It is (the day) when I was born and revelation was sent down to me.