Category: Q n A

Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) was informed about my fasts, and he came to me and I spread for him a leather
cushion stuffed with palm fires, but he sat on the ground and the cushion remained between me and
him, and then he said, “Isn’t it sufficient for you to fast three days a month?” I replied, “O Allah’s
Apostle! (I can fast more).” He said, “Five?” I replied, “O Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)! (I can fast more).” He said,
“Seven?” I replied, “O Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)! (I can fast more).” He said, “Nine (days per month)?” I
replied, “O Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)! (I can fast more)” He said, “Eleven (days per month)?” And then the
Prophet said, “There is no fast superior to that of the Prophet (ﷺ) David it was for half of the year. So, fast
on alternate days.”

My friend (the Prophet (ﷺ) ) advised me to observe three things:
(1) to fast three days a month;
(2) to pray two rak`at of Duha prayer (forenoon prayer); and
(3) to pray witr before sleeping.

The Prophet (ﷺ) paid a visit to Um-Sulaim and she placed before him dates and ghee. The Prophet (ﷺ) said,
“Replace the ghee and dates in their respective containers for I am fasting.” Then he stood somewhere
in her house and offered an optional prayer and then he invoked good on Um-Sulaim and her family.
Then Um-Sulaim said, “O Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)! I have a special request (today).” He said, “What is it?”
She replied, “(Please invoke for) your servant Anas.” So Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) did not leave anything good
in the world or the Hereafter which he did not invoke (Allah to bestow) on me and said, “O Allah!
Give him (i.e. Anas) property and children and bless him.” Thus I am one of the richest among the
Ansar and my daughter Umaina told me that when Al-Hajjaj came to Basra, more than 120 of my
offspring had been buried.

That the Prophet (ﷺ) asked him (Imran) or asked a man and `Imran was listening, “O Abu so-and-so!
Have you fasted the last days of this month?” (The narrator thought that he said, “the month of
Ramadan”). The man replied, “No, O Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)!” The Prophet (ﷺ) said to him, “When you finish
your fasting (of Ramadan) fast two days (in Shawwal).” Through another series of narrators `Imran
said, “The Prophet (ﷺ) said, ‘(Have you fasted) the last days of Sha’ban?”

The Prophet (ﷺ) made a bond of brotherhood between Salman and Abu Ad-Darda.’ Salman paid a visit to
Abu Ad-Darda’ and found Um Ad-Darda’ dressed in shabby clothes and asked her why she was in that
state. She replied, “Your brother Abu Ad-Darda’ is not interested in (the luxuries of) this world.” In
the meantime Abu Ad-Darda’ came and prepared a meal for Salman. Salman requested Abu Ad-
Darda’ to eat (with him), but Abu Ad-Darda’ said, “I am fasting.” Salman said, “I am not going to eat
unless you eat.” So, Abu Ad-Darda’ ate (with Salman). When it was night and (a part of the night
passed), Abu Ad-Darda’ got up (to offer the night prayer), but Salman told him to sleep and Abu Ad-
Darda’ slept. After sometime Abu Ad-Darda’ again got up but Salman told him to sleep. When it was
the last hours of the night, Salman told him to get up then, and both of them offered the prayer.
Salman told Abu Ad-Darda’, “Your Lord has a right on you, your soul has a right on you, and your
family has a right on you; so you should give the rights of all those who has a right on you.” Abu Ad-
Darda’ came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and narrated the whole story. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Salman has spoken the
truth.”

I asked Jabir “Did the Prophet (ﷺ) forbid fasting on Fridays?” He replied, “Yes.” (Other narrators added,
“If he intends to fast only that day.”)

Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) used to fast till one would say that he would never stop fasting, and he would abandon
fasting till one would say that he would never fast. I never saw Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) fasting for a whole
month except the month of Ramadan, and did not see him fasting in any month more than in the
month of Sha’ban.

I heard the Prophet (ﷺ) saying, “None of you should fast on Friday unless he fasts a day before or after it.”

The Prophet (ﷺ) never fasted in any month more than in the month of Sha’ban. He used to say, “Do those
deeds which you can do easily, as Allah will not get tired (of giving rewards) till you get bored and
tired (of performing religious deeds).” The most beloved prayer to the Prophet (ﷺ) was the one that was
done regularly (throughout the life) even if it were little. And whenever the Prophet (ﷺ) offered a prayer
he used to offer it regularly .

The Prophet (ﷺ) visited her (Juwairiya) on a Friday and she was fasting. He asked her, “Did you fast
yesterday?” She said, “No.” He said, “Do you intend to fast tomorrow?” She said, “No.” He said,
“Then break your fast.” Through another series of narrators, Abu Aiyub is reported to have said, “He
ordered her and she broke her fast.”