The Book of Fasting

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص إِذَا صَامَ فَلَمْ يَجِدِ الْحَلْوَاءَ أَفْطَرَ عَلَى الْمَاءِ.

“If the Messenger of Allah (sw) was fasting and he did not find Halwa (a special type of sweet), he would break his fast with water.”

إِذَا أَفْطَرَ الرَّجُلُ عَلَى الْمَاءِ الْفَاتِرِ نَقَّى كَبِدَهُ‌[2] وَ غَسَلَ الذُّنُوبَ مِنَ الْقَلْبِ وَ قَوَّى الْبَصَرَ وَ الْحَدَقَ.

”If one breaks his fast with water, it cleanses his liver, washes off sins from the heart, and strengthens the eyesight and the pupil of the eyes.”

الْإِفْطَارُ عَلَى الْمَاءِ يَغْسِلُ الذُّنُوبَ مِنَ الْقَلْبِ.

”Breaking the fast with water washes off sins from the heart.”

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص إِذَا أَفْطَرَ بَدَأَ بِحَلْوَاءَ يُفْطِرُ عَلَيْهَا فَإِنْ لَمْ يَجِدْ فَسُكَّرَةٍ أَوْ تَمَرَاتٍ فَإِذَا أَعْوَزَ ذَلِكَ كُلُّهُ‌[1] فَمَاءٍ فَاتِرٍ وَ كَانَ يَقُولُ يُنَقِّي الْمَعِدَةَ وَ الْكَبِدَ وَ يُطَيِّبُ النَّكْهَةَ[2] وَ الْفَمَ وَ يُقَوِّي الْأَضْرَاسَ وَ يُقَوِّي الْحَدَقَ وَ يَجْلُو النَّاظِرَ وَ يَغْسِلُ الذُّنُوبَ غَسْلًا وَ يُسَكِّنُ الْعُرُوقَ الْهَائِجَةَ وَ الْمِرَّةَ الْغ

4. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from those whom he has mentioned (in his book) from Mansur ibn al-‘ Abbas from Safwan ibn Yahya from ‘Abd Allah ibn Muskan who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhamm

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص يُفْطِرُ عَلَى التَّمْرِ فِي زَمَنِ التَّمْرِ وَ عَلَى الرُّطَبِ فِي زَمَنِ الرُّطَبِ.

”The Messenger of Allah (sw) would use dates to break his fast during the season of dates, or fresh dates during the season of fresh dates.”

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص أَوَّلُ مَا يُفْطِرُ عَلَيْهِ فِي زَمَنِ الرُّطَبِ الرُّطَبُ وَ فِي زَمَنِ التَّمْرِ التَّمْرُ.

"The Messenger of Allah (sw) would first break his fast during the season of fresh dates with fresh dates, and during the season of dates, he would use dates.”

الْغُسْلُ فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ عِنْدَ وُجُوبِ الشَّمْسِ قُبَيْلَهُ ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي ثُمَّ يُفْطِرُ.

”Ghusl (bath) in the month of Ramadan is just before sunset, thereafter one performs salat (prayer) and then breaks his fast.”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع كَمْ أَغْتَسِلُ فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ لَيْلَةً قَالَ لَيْلَةَ تِسْعَ عَشْرَةَ وَ لَيْلَةَ إِحْدَى وَ عِشْرِينَ وَ ثَلَاثٍ وَ عِشْرِينَ قَالَ قُلْتُ فَإِنْ شَقَّ عَلَيَّ قَالَ فِي إِحْدَى وَ عِشْرِينَ وَ ثَلَاثٍ وَ عِشْرِينَ قُلْتُ فَإِنْ شَقَّ عَلَيَّ قَالَ حَسْبُكَ الْآنَ.

“I once asked abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), on how many nights should one take a shower in the month of Ramadan?’ He (the Imam) replied, ‘It is on the nineteenth, twenty- first and twenty-third nights.’ I then said, ‘What if even this much becomes difficult for me?’ He then said, ‘Take a shower on the twenty- first and twent

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ اللَّيْلَةِ الَّتِي يُطْلَبُ فِيهَا مَا يُطْلَبُ مَتَى الْغُسْلُ فَقَالَ مِنْ أَوَّلِ اللَّيْلِ وَ إِنْ شِئْتَ حَيْثُ تَقُومُ مِنْ آخِرِهِ وَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الْقِيَامِ فَقَالَ تَقُومُ فِي أَوَّلِهِ وَ آخِرِهِ.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the night during which one can appeal before Allah for one’s needs when it is the time for a shower. He (the Imam) replied, ‘It is at the beginning of the night, or if you like, at the end of the night as you wake up.’ I then asked about al-Qiyam (rising up) (for salat [prayer

الْغُسْلُ فِي لَيَالٍ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ فِي تِسْعَ عَشْرَةَ وَ إِحْدَى وَ عِشْرِينَ وَ ثَلَاثٍ وَ عِشْرِينَ وَ أُصِيبَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ فِي لَيْلَةِ تِسْعَ عَشْرَةَ وَ قُبِضَ فِي لَيْلَةِ إِحْدَى وَ عِشْرِينَ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ قَالَ وَ الْغُسْلُ فِي أَوَّلِ لَيْلَةٍ وَ هُوَ يُجْزِئُ إِلَى آخِرِهِ.

“One of the two Imam, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, has said, ‘One should take a shower in the nineteenth, twenty-first and twenty-third nights of the month of Ramadan. ’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), sustained a mortal wound by an assassin in the nineteenth night. He (the Imam) passed away on the twenty-first night of the month of Ram

دَخَلْنَا عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو بَصِيرٍ مَا تَقُولُ فِي الصَّلَاةِ فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ فَقَالَ لِشَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ حُرْمَةٌ وَ حَقٌّ لَا يَشْبَهُهُ شَيْ‌ءٌ مِنَ الشُّهُورِ صَلِّ مَا اسْتَطَعْتَ فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ تَطَوُّعاً بِاللَّيْلِ وَ النَّهَارِ فَإِنِ اسْتَطَعْتَ أَنْ تُصَلِّيَ فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ وَ لَيْلَةٍ أَلْفَ رَكْعَةٍ فَافْعَلْ إِنَّ عَلِيّاً ع فِي آخِرِ عُمُرِهِ كَانَ يُصَلِّي فِ

“Once we visited abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), and abu Basir asked, ’What do you say about al- salat (prayer) during the month of Ramadan?’ He (the Imam) replied, ’The month of Ramadan has a special respect and right, unlike the other months. You should perform salat (prayer) as much as you can in optional forms during the n

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص يَزِيدُ فِي صَلَاتِهِ فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ إِذَا صَلَّى الْعَتَمَةَ صَلَّى بَعْدَهَا فَيَقُومُ النَّاسُ خَلْفَهُ فَيَدْخُلُ وَ يَدَعُهُمْ ثُمَّ يَخْرُجُ‌ أَيْضاً فَيَجِيئُونَ وَ يَقُومُونَ خَلْفَهُ فَيَدَعُهُمْ وَ يَدْخُلُ مِرَاراً قَالَ وَ قَالَ لَا تُصَلِّ بَعْدَ الْعَتَمَةِ فِي غَيْرِ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, would increase his salat (prayer) during the month of Ramadan. After al-‘Atmah (late evening salat [prayer]), he would perform more prayers. People behind would st

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص إِذَا دَخَلَ الْعَشْرُ الْأَوَاخِرُ شَدَّ الْمِئْزَرَ وَ اجْتَنَبَ النِّسَاءَ وَ أَحْيَا اللَّيْلَ وَ تَفَرَّغَ لِلْعِبَادَةِ[1].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, during the last ten days of the month of Ramadan would prepare himself well, stay away from women, stay awake the whole night, and free himself for worship.’”

قَالَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ ع‌ صَلِّ لَيْلَةَ إِحْدَى وَ عِشْرِينَ وَ لَيْلَةَ ثَلَاثٍ وَ عِشْرِينَ مِائَةَ رَكْعَةٍ تَقْرَأُ فِي كُلِّ رَكْعَةٍ- قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ عَشْرَ مَرَّاتٍ.

“Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), has said, ‘In the twenty- first and twenty-third nights, you should perform salat (prayer) of one hundred Rak’ats and in each Rak’at read Chapter 112 of the Holy Quran ten times.’”

كَانَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع إِذَا كَانَتْ لَيْلَةُ إِحْدَى وَ عِشْرِينَ وَ لَيْلَةُ ثَلَاثٍ وَ عِشْرِينَ أَخَذَ فِي الدُّعَاءِ حَتَّى يَزُولَ اللَّيْلُ فَإِذَا زَالَ اللَّيْلُ صَلَّى.

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), during the twenty-first and twenty-third nights, would pray until the end of the night, then perform (the obligatory) salat (prayer).”

أَنَّهُ كَتَبَ إِلَى أَبِي مُحَمَّدٍ ع يُخْبِرُهُ بِمَا جَاءَتْ بِهِ الرِّوَايَةُ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ص كَانَ يُصَلِّي فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ وَ غَيْرِهِ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ ثَلَاثَ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً مِنْهَا الْوَتْرُ وَ رَكْعَتَا الْفَجْرِ فَكَتَبَ ع فَضَّ اللَّهُ فَاهُ‌[3] صَلَّى مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ فِي عِشْرِينَ لَيْلَةً كُلَّ لَيْلَةٍ عِشْرِينَ رَكْعَةً ثَمَانِيَ بَعْدَ الْمَغْرِبِ وَ اثْنَتَيْ عَشْرَةَ بَعْدَ الْعِشَاءَ

It said that he (the Prophet) performed thirteen Rak‘at prayers including al-Witr and the two Rak‘at morning prayer during the nights in the month of Ramadan. He (the Imam) wrote, ‘May Allah break his (narrator’s) mouth. He (the Prophet), during the month of Ramadan in the first twenty nights, performed twenty Rak‘ats

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ فَقَالَ الْتَمِسْهَا فِي لَيْلَةِ إِحْدَى وَ عِشْرِينَ أَوْ لَيْلَةِ ثَلَاثٍ وَ عِشْرِينَ.

“I once asked abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about the night of destiny. He replied, ‘You should try to find it in the twenty- first or twenty-third nights (of the month of Ramadan).”’

كُنْتُ عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو بَصِيرٍ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ اللَّيْلَةُ الَّتِي يُرْجَى فِيهَا مَا يُرْجَى‌[1] فَقَالَ فِي إِحْدَى وَ عِشْرِينَ أَوْ ثَلَاثٍ وَ عِشْرِينَ قَالَ فَإِنْ لَمْ أَقْوَ عَلَى كِلْتَيْهِمَا فَقَالَ مَا أَيْسَرَ لَيْلَتَيْنِ فِيمَا تَطْلُبُ قُلْتُ فَرُبَّمَا رَأَيْنَا الْهِلَالَ عِنْدَنَا وَ جَاءَنَا مَنْ يُخْبِرُنَا بِخِلَافِ ذَلِكَ مِنْ أَرْضٍ أُخْرَى فَقَالَ مَا أَيْسَر

“Once I was in the presence of abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.), when abu Basir asked him, ‘May I be sacrificed for you, when is the night during which one may hope that his wishes will come true?’ He (the Imam) replied, ‘It is in the twenty-first or twenty-third nights.’ He (abu Basir) then asked, ‘What happens if I cannot (stay

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ عَلَامَةِ لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ فَقَالَ عَلَامَتُهَا أَنْ تَطِيبَ رِيحُهَا وَ إِنْ كَانَتْ فِي بَرْدٍ دَفِئَتْ‌[2] وَ إِنْ كَانَتْ فِي حَرٍّ بَرَدَتْ فَطَابَتْ قَالَ وَ سُئِلَ عَنْ لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ فَقَالَ تَنْزِلُ فِيهَا الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَ الْكَتَبَةُ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ الدُّنْيَا فَيَكْتُبُونَ مَا يَكُونُ فِي أَمْرِ السَّنَةِ وَ مَا يُصِيبُ الْعِبَادَ وَ أَمْرُهُ عِنْدَهُ مَوْقُوفٌ لَهُ وَ فِيهِ الْمَشِ

“Once I asked one of the two Imam, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, about signs of the night of destiny. He replied, ‘One of the signs of this night is sweet fragrance; during the cold season it is warm, and during the hot season it is cool and pleasant.’ Someone asked him about the night of destiny. He (the Imam) replied, ‘The ange

لَهُ بَعْضُ أَصْحَابِنَا قَالَ وَ لَا أَعْلَمُهُ إِلَّا سَعِيداً السَّمَّانَ كَيْفَ يَكُونُ لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ خَيْراً مِنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ قَالَ الْعَمَلُ فِيهَا خَيْرٌ مِنَ الْعَمَلِ فِي أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ لَيْسَ فِيهَا لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ.

“Certain individuals of our people - the only one of these people I know is Sa‘id al-Samman- asked abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘Why is it that the night of destiny is better than one thousand months?‘ He (the Imam) replied, ‘It is because doing good deeds during this night is better than doing good deeds in one thousand mo

نَزَلَتِ التَّوْرَاةُ فِي سِتٍّ مَضَتْ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ وَ نَزَلَ الْإِنْجِيلُ فِي اثْنَتَيْ عَشْرَةَ لَيْلَةً مَضَتْ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ وَ نَزَلَ الزَّبُورُ فِي لَيْلَةِ ثَمَانِيَ عَشَرَةَ مَضَتْ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ وَ نَزَلَ الْقُرْآنُ‌ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that Torah was revealed during the sixth night of the month of Ramadan. Injil (New Testament) was revealed during the twelfth night of the month of Ramadan. Al-Zabbur, (Psalms) was revealed during the eighteenth night of the month of Ramadan; and the Holy Quran was revealed during the n

نَعَمْ لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ وَ هِيَ فِي كُلِّ سَنَةٍ فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ فِي الْعَشْرِ الْأَوَاخِرِ فَلَمْ يُنْزَلِ الْقُرْآنُ إِلَّا فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- فِيها يُفْرَقُ كُلُّ أَمْرٍ حَكِيمٍ‌[4] قَالَ يُقَدَّرُ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ كُلُّ شَيْ‌ءٍ يَكُونُ فِي تِلْكَ السَّنَةِ إِلَى مِثْلِهَا مِنْ قَابِلٍ خَيْرٍ وَ شَرٍّ- وَ طَاعَةٍ وَ مَعْصِيَةٍ وَ مَوْلُودٍ وَ أَجَلٍ أَوْ رِزْقٍ فَمَا

“I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about the following words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious: ‘We have revealed it during the blessed night.’ (44:3) He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, it is the night of destiny. Every year this night is during the last ten days in the month of Ramadan. It was the night of destiny a

سَمِعْتُ رَجُلًا يَسْأَلُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع- عَنْ لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ فَقَالَ أَخْبِرْنِي عَنْ لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ كَانَتْ أَوْ تَكُونُ فِي كُلِّ عَامٍ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع لَوْ رُفِعَتْ لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ لَرُفِعَ الْقُرْآنُ‌[3]

“I once heard a man asking abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the night of destiny, saying, ‘Please tell me about the night of destiny. Was it only just for one night, or it comes every year?’ Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), replied, ‘Had the night of destiny been removed, most certainly, the Holy Quran would also had been removed.’”

سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ وَ نَاسٌ يَسْأَلُونَهُ يَقُولُونَ الْأَرْزَاقُ تُقَسَّمُ لَيْلَةَ النِّصْفِ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ قَالَ فَقَالَ لَا وَ اللَّهِ مَا ذَاكَ إِلَّا فِي لَيْلَةِ تِسْعَ عَشْرَةَ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ وَ إِحْدَى وَ عِشْرِينَ وَ ثَلَاثٍ وَ عِشْرِينَ فَإِنَّ فِي لَيْلَةِ تِسْعَ عَشْرَةَ يَلْتَقِي الْجَمْعَانِ وَ فِي لَيْلَةِ إِحْدَى وَ عِشْرِينَ يُفْرَقُ كُلُّ أَمْرٍ حَكِيمٍ وَ فِي لَيْلَةِ ثَلَاثٍ وَ عِشْرِينَ ي

“I heard him (the Imam) say- when people said, “Sustenance is divided during the night in the middle of the month of Sha‘ban”-, ‘No, by Allah, that is in no other time besides the nineteenth night of the month of Ramadan, or the twenty-first or twenty-third night of this month. During the nineteenth night of this month

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ التَّقْدِيرُ فِي لَيْلَةِ تِسْعَ عَشْرَةَ وَ الْإِبْرَامُ فِي لَيْلَةِ إِحْدَى وَ عِشْرِينَ وَ الْإِمْضَاءُ فِي لَيْلَةِ ثَلَاثٍ وَ عِشْرِينَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Measurement and determination is on the night of the nineteenth, verification is on the twenty- first night and final approval is on the twenty-third night.’”

رَأَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص فِي مَنَامِهِ بَنِي أُمَيَّةَ يَصْعَدُونَ عَلَى مِنْبَرِهِ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ وَ يُضِلُّونَ النَّاسَ عَنِ الصِّرَاطِ الْقَهْقَرَى فَأَصْبَحَ كَئِيباً حَزِيناً قَالَ فَهَبَطَ عَلَيْهِ جَبْرَئِيلُ ع فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَا لِي أَرَاكَ كَئِيباً حَزِيناً قَالَ يَا جَبْرَئِيلُ إِنِّي رَأَيْتُ بَنِي أُمَيَّةَ فِي لَيْلَتِي هَذِهِ يَصْعَدُونَ مِنْبَرِي مِنْ بَعْدِي وَ يُضِلُّونَ النَّاسَ عَنِ الصّ

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that in his dream, the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, saw banu ‘Umayyah climb on his pulpit after him and mislead people from the right path and take them backward. He remained sad and depressed. Jibril

لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ هِيَ أَوَّلُ السَّنَةِ وَ هِيَ آخِرُهَا[1].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the night of destiny is the beginning of the year, and it also is the end of it (the year before).”

فِي لَيْلَةِ تِسْعَ عَشْرَةَ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ التَّقْدِيرُ وَ فِي لَيْلَةِ إِحْدَى وَ عِشْرِينَ الْقَضَاءُ وَ فِي لَيْلَةِ ثَلَاثٍ وَ عِشْرِينَ إِبْرَامُ مَا يَكُونُ فِي السَّنَةِ إِلَى مِثْلِهَا لِلَّهِ جَلَّ ثَنَاؤُهُ يَفْعَلُ مَا يَشَاءُ فِي خَلْقِهِ‌[2].

“In the nineteenth night of the month of Ramadan is measurement and determination; in the twenty-first night is decision; and in the twenty-third night is verification of what has to take place during the coming year up to the next night of destiny. Allah, glorious is his praise, does whatever He wills about His creati

تَقُولُ فِي الْعَشْرِ الْأَوَاخِرِ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ فِي كُلِّ لَيْلَةٍ- أَعُوذُ بِجَلَالِ وَجْهِكَ الْكَرِيمِ أَنْ يَنْقَضِيَ عَنِّي شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ أَوْ يَطْلُعَ الْفَجْرُ مِنْ لَيْلَتِي هَذِهِ وَ لَكَ قِبَلِي ذَنْبٌ أَوْ تَبِعَةٌ تُعَذِّبُنِي عَلَيْهِ.

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that during the last ten nights of the month of Ramadan, you should say the following prayer. ‘O Allah, I seek refuge with the glory of Your honorable face against the condition in which the month of Ramadan will pass or this night will dawn while I may have committed sins or such deed

أَنْ تُصَلِّيَ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ عَلَى أَهْلِ بَيْتِهِ وَ أَنْ تَجْعَلَ اسْمِي فِي هَذِهِ اللَّيْلَةِ فِي السُّعَدَاءِ- وَ رُوحِي مَعَ الشُّهَدَاءِ وَ إِحْسَانِي فِي عِلِّيِّينَ وَ إِسَاءَتِي مَغْفُورَةً وَ أَنْ تَهَبَ لِي يَقِيناً تُبَاشِرُ بِهِ قَلْبِي وَ إِيمَاناً يَذْهَبُ بِالشَّكِّ عَنِّي وَ تُرْضِيَنِي بِمَا قَسَمْتَ لِي وَ آتِنا فِي الدُّنْيا حَسَنَةً وَ فِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَ قِنَا عَذَابَ الْحَرِيقِ وَ

2. Ahmad ibn Muhammad has narrated from Ali ibn al-Husayn from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Ayyub ibn Yaqtin or others from ’A’immah, recipients of divine supreme covenant, who have said the following: “During the first night of the last ten nights of the month of Ramadan, recite this prayer. ‘O the One, (You have the power)

فِي الدُّعَاءِ فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ فِي كُلِّ لَيْلَةٍ تَقُولُ- اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ فِيمَا تَقْضِي وَ تُقَدِّرُ مِنَ الْأَمْرِ الْمَحْتُومِ فِي الْأَمْرِ الْحَكِيمِ مِنَ الْقَضَاءِ الَّذِي لَا يُرَدُّ وَ لَا يُبَدَّلُ أَنْ تَكْتُبَنِي مِنْ حُجَّاجِ بَيْتِكَ الْحَرَامِ الْمَبْرُورِ حَجُّهُمْ الْمُكَفَّرِ عَنْهُمْ سَيِّئَاتُهُمْ الْمَغْفُورِ ذُنُوبُهُمْ الْمَشْكُورِ سَعْيُهُمْ وَ أَنْ تَجْعَلَ فِي مَا تَقْضِي

‘O Allah, I appeal before You in the case of whatever You decide and measure of the inevitable issues of the matters of wisdom, of the destiny that does not change or alter, to list my name among those who perform Hajj of Your respected House, with virtuous Hajj, expatiated wickedness, forgiven sins and appreciated eff

تُكَرِّرُ فِي لَيْلَةِ ثَلَاثٍ وَ عِشْرِينَ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ هَذَا الدُّعَاءَ سَاجِداً وَ قَائِماً وَ قَاعِداً وَ عَلَى كُلِّ حَالٍ وَ فِي الشَّهْرِ كُلِّهِ وَ كَيْفَ أَمْكَنَكَ وَ مَتَى حَضَرَكَ مِنْ دَهْرِكَ تَقُولُ بَعْدَ تَحْمِيدِ اللَّهِ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى وَ الصَّلَاةِ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ ص- اللَّهُمَّ كُنْ لِوَلِيِّكَ فُلَانِ بْنِ فُلَانٍ فِي هَذِهِ السَّاعَةِ وَ فِي كُلِّ سَاعَةٍ وَلِيّاً وَ حَافِظاً وَ

4. Muhammad ibn ‘Isa has narrated through the chain of his narrators who has narrated the following:: “The virtuous ones, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, have said the following that you should repeat this prayer during the twenty-third night of the month of Ramadan, while in prostration, standing, sitting and in all conditions and

إِذَا كَانَتْ آخِرُ لَيْلَةٍ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ فَقُلِ اللَّهُمَّ هَذَا شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِي أَنْزَلْتَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنَ وَ قَدْ تَصَرَّمَ‌[1] وَ أَعُوذُ بِوَجْهِكَ الْكَرِيمِ يَا رَبِّ أَنْ يَطْلُعَ الْفَجْرُ مِنْ لَيْلَتِي هَذِهِ أَوْ يَتَصَرَّمَ شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ وَ لَكَ قِبَلِي تَبِعَةٌ أَوْ ذَنْبٌ تُرِيدُ أَنْ تُعَذِّبَنِي بِهِ يَوْمَ أَلْقَاكَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that during the last night of the month of Ramadan, say this prayer. ‘O Allah, this is the month of Ramadan when You revealed the Holy Quran, and now it has ended. I seek refuge with Your honorable face, against my remaining in a condition, O Lord, that this night ends up with dawn or t

فِي وَدَاعِ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ- اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ قُلْتَ فِي كِتَابِكَ الْمُنْزَلِ- شَهْرُ رَمَضانَ الَّذِي أُنْزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ‌ وَ هَذَا شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ وَ قَدْ تَصَرَّمَ فَأَسْأَلُكَ بِوَجْهِكَ الْكَرِيمِ وَ كَلِمَاتِكَ التَّامَّةِ إِنْ كَانَ بَقِيَ عَلَيَّ ذَنْبٌ لَمْ تَغْفِرْهُ لِي أَوْ تُرِيدُ أَنْ تُعَذِّبَنِي عَلَيْهِ أَوْ تُقَايِسَنِي بِهِ أَنْ يَطْلُعَ‌[2] فَجْرُ هَذِهِ اللَّيْلَةِ أَوْ يَتَصَرَّمَ هَذ

6. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Ahmad ibn Ishaq from Sa‘dan ibn Muslim from abu Basir who has said the following: “Abu ‘ Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said that to say farewell to the month of Ramadan say this. ‘O Allah, You have said in Your book, “The month of Ramadan is that when the Holy Quran was re

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع لِي‌ أَمَا إِنَّ فِي الْفِطْرِ تَكْبِيراً وَ لَكِنَّهُ مَسْتُورٌ-[2] قَالَ قُلْتُ وَ أَيْنَ هُوَ قَالَ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْفِطْرِ فِي الْمَغْرِبِ وَ الْعِشَاءِ الْآخِرَةِ وَ فِي صَلَاةِ الْفَجْرِ وَ فِي صَلَاةِ الْعِيدِ ثُمَّ يُقْطَعُ قَالَ قُلْتُ كَيْفَ أَقُولُ قَالَ تَقُولُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ وَ لِلَّهِ الْحَمْدُ

“Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) said to me, ‘On al-Fitr (first day of the month of Shawwal), there is Takbir (saying ‘Allah is greater than what can be described’), but it is concealed.’ I (the narrator) then asked, ‘Where is it?’ He (the Imam) replied, ‘It is during the night of al-Fitr, in Maghrib and the last ‘Isha’, and in t

تُكَبِّرُ لَيْلَةَ الْفِطْرِ وَ صَبِيحَةَ الْفِطْرِ كَمَا تُكَبِّرُ فِي الْعَشْرِ.

"You should say Takbir in the night of al-Fitr and in the morning of al-Fitr, just as you say Takbir during the tenth (day of the month of Dhu al-Hajjah).”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنَّ النَّاسَ يَقُولُونَ إِنَّ الْمَغْفِرَةَ تَنْزِلُ عَلَى مَنْ صَامَ- شَهْرَ رَمَضَانَ لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ فَقَالَ يَا حَسَنُ إِنَّ الْقَارِيجَارَ[3] إِنَّمَا يُعْطَى أُجْرَتَهُ عِنْدَ فَرَاغِهِ ذَلِكَ لَيْلَةَ الْعِيدِ قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ فَمَا يَنْبَغِي لَنَا أَنْ نَعْمَلَ فِيهَا فَقَالَ إِذَا غَرَبَتِ الشَّمْسُ فَاغْتَسِلْ وَ إِذَا صَلَّيْتَ الثَّلَاثَ الْمَغْرِبِ فَارْفَعْ يَ

“I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘People say that forgiveness descends upon the fasting people during the month of Ramadan in the night of destiny.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘O al- Hassan, al-Qarijar (a worker) receives his wages upon completion of his task on the night of ‘Id (first of Shawwal).’ I then said, ‘I pray

اطْعَمْ‌[1] يَوْمَ الْفِطْرِ قَبْلَ أَنْ تَخْرُجَ إِلَى الْمُصَلَّى.

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that you should take food, on the day of al-Fitr before going to the prayer place.”

لِيَطْعَمْ يَوْمَ الْفِطْرِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُصَلِّيَ وَ لَا يَطْعَمْ يَوْمَ أَضْحًى حَتَّى يَنْصَرِفَ الْإِمَامُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that on the day of al-Fitr, one should have food before salat (prayer); however, on the day of Adha’, one should not have any food until after the prayer leader leaves.”

قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ص‌ إِذَا كَانَ أَوَّلُ يَوْمٍ مِنْ شَوَّالٍ نَادَى مُنَادٍ أَيُّهَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ اغْدُوا إِلَى جَوَائِزِكُمْ ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا جَابِرُ جَوَائِزُ اللَّهِ لَيْسَتْ بِجَوَائِزِ هَؤُلَاءِ الْمُلُوكِ ثُمَّ قَالَ هُوَ يَوْمُ الْجَوَائِزِ.

‘The Holy Prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, “When it is the first day of the month of Shawwal, an announcer announces, ‘O believers, come to receive your presents.”” He (the Imam) then said, ‘O Jabir, presents that Allah gives away are not

إِذَا كَانَ صَبِيحَةُ يَوْمِ الْفِطْرِ نَادَى مُنَادٍ اغْدُوا إِلَى جَوَائِزِكُمْ‌[2].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that when it is the morning of the day of al-Fitr, an announcer announces, ‘Come to receive your presents.’”

إِذَا شَهِدَ عِنْدَ الْإِمَامِ شَاهِدَانِ أَنَّهُمَا رَأَيَا الْهِلَالَ مُنْذُ ثَلَاثِينَ يَوْماً أَمَرَ الْإِمَامُ بِالْإِفْطَارِ وَ صَلَّى فِي ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ إِذَا كَانَا شَهِدَا قَبْلَ زَوَالِ الشَّمْسِ فَإِنْ شَهِدَا بَعْدَ زَوَالِ الشَّمْسِ أَمَرَ الْإِمَامُ بِإِفْطَارِ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ وَ أَخَّرَ الصَّلَاةَ إِلَى الْغَدِ فَصَلَّى بِهِمْ.

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘If two witnesses testify before the Imam to their seeing the new moon after thirty days, the Imam issues a commandment to discontinue fasting. He (the Imam) performs Salat (prayer) on that day if they have seen it before Zawal (declining of the sun toward the west at noontime), but if the

إِذَا أَصْبَحَ النَّاسُ صِيَاماً وَ لَمْ يَرَوُا الْهِلَالَ وَ جَاءَ قَوْمٌ عُدُولٌ يَشْهَدُونَ عَلَى الرُّؤْيَةِ فَلْيُفْطِرُوا وَ لْيَخْرُجُوا مِنَ الْغَدِ أَوَّلَ النَّهَارِ إِلَى عِيدِهِمْ.

2. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn Ahmad in a marfu‘ manner who has said the following: “He (the Imam) (a.s.), has said, ‘If people are fasting and have not seen the new moon, then a just people come and testify to their seeing the new moon they must discontinue fasting and on the morning of the next

قُلْتُ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ مَا تَقُولُ فِي الصَّوْمِ فَإِنَّهُ قَدْ رُوِيَ أَنَّهُمْ لَا يُوَفَّقُونَ لِصَوْمٍ فَقَالَ أَمَا إِنَّهُ قَدْ أُجِيبَتْ دَعْوَةُ الْمَلَكِ فِيهِمْ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ وَ كَيْفَ ذَلِكَ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ قَالَ إِنَّ النَّاسَ لَمَّا قَتَلُوا الْحُسَيْنَ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ أَمَرَ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى مَلَكاً يُنَادِي أَيَّتُهَا الْأُمَّةُ الظَّالِمَةُ الْقَاتِلَةُ عِتْرَةَ نَبِيِّ

“I once asked abu Ja‘far, the 2nd (a.s.), ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, what do you say about fasting? It is narrated that they never unite in the matter of fasting? He (the Imam) said, ‘It is because the prayer of the angel is answered about them? I (the narrator) then asked, ‘How is that

قَالَ: يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ مَا مِنْ عِيدٍ لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ- أَضْحًى وَ لَا فِطْرٍ إِلَّا وَ هُوَ يُجَدِّدُ لآِلِ مُحَمَّدٍ فِيهِ حُزْناً قُلْتُ وَ لِمَ ذَاكَ قَالَ لِأَنَّهُمْ يَرَوْنَ حَقَّهُمْ فِي يَدِ غَيْرِهِمْ.

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘O ‘Abdullah, there is no ‘Id for the Muslims, neither al-Adha’ nor al-Fitr, except that it renews sadness for the family of Muhammad.’ I then asked, ‘Why is it so?’ He (the Imam) replied, ‘Because they see their rights in the hands of others.”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ لَمَّا ضُرِبَ الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ ع بِالسَّيْفِ فَسَقَطَ رَأْسُهُ ثُمَ‌[1] ابْتُدِرَ لِيُقْطَعَ رَأْسُهُ نَادَى مُنَادٍ مِنْ بُطْنَانِ الْعَرْشِ أَلَا أَيَّتُهَا الْأُمَّةُ الْمُتَحَيِّرَةُ الضَّالَّةُ بَعْدَ نَبِيِّهَا لَا وَفَّقَكُمُ اللَّهُ لِأَضْحًى وَ لَا لِفِطْرٍ قَالَ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَلَا جَرَمَ وَ اللَّهِ مَا وُفِّقُوا وَ لَا يُوَفَّقُونَ حَتَّى يَثْأَرَ

‘When al-Husayn ibn Ali (a.s.) was hit with the sword and his head fell, and they were about to sever his head, an announcer announced from the depth of the Throne, “O straying nation in confusion after its Prophet, Allah will not unite you in al-Adha’ and in al-Fitr!” He (the narrator) said that abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) t

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع إِنِّي أَفْطَرْتُ يَوْمَ الْفِطْرِ عَلَى تِينٍ وَ تَمْرَةٍ فَقَالَ لِي جَمَعْتَ بَرَكَةً وَ سُنَّةً.

“I once said to abu al-Hassan (a.s.), ‘I used fig and dates for breaking my fast on the day of Fitr.' He (the Imam) said, ‘You have brought together blessing and a noble tradition.'”

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص إِذَا أُتِيَ بِطِيبٍ يَوْمَ الْفِطْرِ بَدَأَ بِنِسَائِهِ.

“If the Messenger of Allah (sw) would receive any perfumes on the day of al-Fitr, he would first present it to his wives.“

كُلُّ مَنْ ضَمَمْتَ إِلَى عِيَالِكَ مِنْ حُرٍّ أَوْ مَمْلُوكٍ فَعَلَيْكَ أَنْ تُؤَدِّيَ الْفِطْرَةَ عَنْهُ‌[4] قَالَ وَ إِعْطَاءُ الْفِطْرَةِ قَبْلَ الصَّلَاةِ أَفْضَلُ وَ بَعْدَ الصَّلَاةِ صَدَقَةٌ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Whomever you include in you dependents, free people or slaves it then is obligatory upon you to pay al-Fitrah for them.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Paying al- Fitrah before Salat (prayer) is better and after Salat (prayer) it is charity.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الْفِطْرَةِ فَقَالَ عَلَى الصَّغِيرِ وَ الْكَبِيرِ وَ الْحُرِّ وَ الْعَبْدِ عَنْ كُلِّ إِنْسَانٍ صَاعٌ مِنْ حِنْطَةٍ أَوْ صَاعٌ مِنْ تَمْرٍ أَوْ صَاعٌ مِنْ زَبِيبٍ.

‘It is obligatory upon small, grown up people, free and slaves. The amount of al-Fitrah for every human being is one Sa‘ (three kilograms). It can be paid from wheat or dates or raisins.’”