Section: Fasting on Nayruz, Mihrjan, and similar festivals of the polytheists
As for Nayruz, Mihrjan, and the like among the polytheists’ festivals, whoever of our scholars and others does not deem fasting on Saturday itself disliked will likewise not consider fasting on such a festival day disliked; indeed, he may even regard it as recommended in order to differ from them. Yet the majority of our companions hold fasting on those days to be disliked.
Imam Ahmad said—according to the narration transmitted by his son ʿAbdullāh: “Wakiʿ related to us from Sufyān, from a man, from Anas—and al-Ḥasan—that they both disliked fasting on the day of Nayruz and Mihrjan.” My father said: “The man is Abān ibn Abī ʿAyāsh.”
The scholars have differed as to whether a report such as this indicates
(1) In MS D the wording is fa-man yakrah (“so whoever dislikes”).
(2) The word al-yawm (“the day”) is missing in MSS A, B, and T.
(3) MS B adds wa ghayruhum (“and others”).
(4) The verb haddathana (“he narrated to us”) is absent from MSS B and T; MS A instead reads wa Wakiʿ (“and Wakiʿ”).
(5) The printed edition has annahuma karaha (“that the two of them regarded it as disliked”).
(6) The word yawm (“day”) is omitted in MS A.
(7) Cf. Ibn Qudama, al-Mughni, and al-Sharh al-Kabir, 3:99 (cited in al-Mughni).
(8) MSS B and D read wa qala (“and he said”); the phrase is absent in T.
(9) The printed edition misprints the name as Aban ibn ʿAyash; the correct form is retained here.
(10) Aban ibn Abi ʿAyyash, Firuz al-Basri al-ʿAbdi, Abu Ismaʿil, is rated matruk (“unreliable”) in Ibn Hajar’s Taqrib. He died c. 140 AH; see Taqrib al-Tahdhib, 1:31, no. 164.