and if anyone should curse him, let him reply, “I am fasting.” The Ẓāhirī school, however, holds that lewd speech (rafath) itself breaks the fast—an opinion regarded as anomalous.
These, then, are the most widely known questions concerning the obligatory fast. What remains is to address the recommended fasts, which constitute the second part of this book.
Book of Fasting — Part Two
The Recommended Fasts
Our study of recommended fasting follows the same three pillars discussed earlier, together with the ruling on breaking such fasts.
First Pillar: The Days on Which Recommended Fasting Occurs
These days fall into three categories:
- Days on which fasting is encouraged;
- Days on which fasting is forbidden;
- Days about which the Law is silent.
Within these categories some matters are disputed while others are unanimously agreed upon.
I. Unanimously Encouraged
• Fasting on the day of ʿĀshūrāʾ.
II. Disputed
• Fasting on the Day of ʿArafah;
• The six days of Shawwāl;
• The “white days” (al-ghurar) of every lunar month, namely the thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth.
Fasting on ʿĀshūrāʾ
It is established that the Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—fasted this day, instructed others to do so, and declared:
“Whoever began the day fasting, let him complete his fast; and whoever began it not fasting, let him abstain for the remainder of the day.”
The scholars differed: is ʿĀshūrāʾ the ninth of Muḥarram or the tenth? The divergence arises from varying reports. Muslim narrates on the authority of Ibn ʿAbbās:
“When you sight the crescent of Muḥarram, count the days and fast on the ninth.” I asked, “Is this how Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah—peace be upon him—observed it?” He replied, “Yes.”
Another report states that when the Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—fasted ʿĀshūrāʾ and ordered the people to fast it, they said, “Messenger of Allah, it is a day venerated by the Jews and Christians.” He replied, “If next year comes—God willing—we shall fast the ninth as well.” The following year, however, did not arrive before the Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—passed away.
The Day of ʿArafah
The difference of opinion here stems from the fact that the Prophet—upon him be peace—broke his fast while standing at ʿArafah, yet also said:
“Fasting on the Day of ʿArafah expiates the sins of the previous year and the coming year.”
For this reason the scholars disagreed. Al-Shāfiʿī ruled that the pilgrim should not fast on that day, whereas the non-pilgrim should, thereby reconciling the two reports.