Iqtiḍāʾ al-Ṣirāṭ al-Mustaqīm - Ibn Taimiya - (2/79)

The ḥadīth masters take this report as clear evidence that fasting on the disbelievers’ festival day is recommended precisely in order to differ from them.

It is likewise narrated from ʿĀʾishah (may Allah be pleased with her) that she said:

“The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) used to fast during one month on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, and during the next month on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.”

Al-Tirmidhī transmitted this ḥadīth and remarked, “A ḥasan (good) report.” He added, “Ibn Mahdī related it from Sufyān without ascribing it to the Prophet.”

These two reports, however, are not a conclusive proof against those who deem fasting Saturday by itself disliked. Their rationale is that the Jews abstain from work on that day, and fasting may be viewed as part of that abstention. When one fasts Saturday together with Sunday, the objectionable singling-out disappears, and the desired opposition to them is still achieved by fasting on their day of rest.

(1) Al-Hakim includes the report in al-Mustadrak, 1:109, and states that its chain of transmission is sound; Ibn Khuzayma records it in his Sahih, 3:318. Al-Albani judges the isnad hasan, and Ibn Hibban also authenticated it. (2) The word “fasting” is absent from ms. B. (3) Ms. A reads: “as though it were: fadl (merit).” (4) Sunan al-Tirmidhi, Book of Fasting, chapter “What is reported about fasting on Monday and Thursday,” hadith no. 746, 3:121–22. (5) Ibid. (6) All the manuscript copies read exactly so. The intended phrase is “fasting on Saturday,” which the printed edition therefore supplies.

الحفاظ (١) . وهذا نص في استحباب صوم (٢) يوم عيدهم لأجل قصد (٣) مخالفتهم. وقد روي عن عائشة رضي الله عنها قالت: «كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يصوم من الشهر: السبت والأحد والاثنين، ومن الشهر الآخر الثلاثاء والأربعاء والخميس» رواه الترمذي، وقال: " حديث حسن " (٤) قال: " وقد روى ابن مهدي هذا الحديث عن سفيان ولم يرفعه " (٥) وهذان الحديثان ليسا بحجة على من كره (٦) صوم يوم السبت وحده، وعلل ذلك بأنهم يتركون فيه العمل والصوم مظنة ذلك، فإنه إذا صام السبت والأحد زال الإفراد المكروه، وحصلت المخالفة بصوم يوم فطرهم.

(١) كالحاكم في المستدرك (١ / ١٠٩) حيث ذكر أنه صحيح الإسناد، وأخرجه ابن خزيمة في صحيحه (٣ / ٣١٨) . وقال الألباني: إسناده حسن، وصححه ابن حبان. (٢) صوم: ساقطة من (ب) . (٣) في (أ) : كأنها: فضل. (٤) سنن الترمذي، كتاب الصوم، باب ما جاء في صوم يوم الاثنين والخميس، الحديث رقم (٧٤٦) ، (٣ / ١٢١، ١٢٢) . (٥) نفس المرجع السابق. (٦) كذا في جميع النسخ المخطوطة. والمقصود (صوم يوم السبت) ، لذلك زادها في المطبوعة.