Is it correct to keep fasts for ten days from the start of Dhu'l-Hijjah month?
ShafiqAnswer:
In Arab nations, the widespread practice of fasting the first nine days starting from the month of Dhu’l-Hijjah is observed. There is a hadith referring in this opinion that Prophet Muhammad (saws) would not fail to keep these fasts.
أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي النَّضْرِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو إِسْحَاقَ الأَشْجَعِيُّ، - كُوفِيٌّ - عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ قَيْسٍ الْمُلاَئِيِّ، عَنِ الْحُرِّ بْنِ الصَّيَّاحِ، عَنْ هُنَيْدَةَ بْنِ خَالِدٍ الْخُزَاعِيِّ، عَنْ حَفْصَةَ، قَالَتْ أَرْبَعٌ لَمْ يَكُنْ يَدَعُهُنَّ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم صِيَامَ عَاشُورَاءَ وَالْعَشْرَ وَثَلاَثَةَ أَيَّامٍ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ وَرَكْعَتَيْنِ قَبْلَ الْغَدَاةِ .
It was narrated that Hafsah said:
"There are four things which the Prophet never gave up: Fasting 'Ashura', (fasting during) the ten days, (fasting) three days of each month, and praying two Rak'ahs before Al-Ghadah (Fajr)."
Grade : Hasan (Darussalam)
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 2416
In-book reference : Book 22, Hadith 327
English translation : Vol. 3, Book 22, Hadith 2418
URL reference : http://sunnah.com/nasai/22/327
Also, this report is published in Ibn Hibban, Musnad Ahmad, Tabrani books. Basing on this report, they keep the fasts. This is a weak report.
The person called Abu Ishaq Al Ashjayi is found in the reporting chain of this hadith. None of the scholars have given credence to him of being reliable. For the reason that his reliability not being proven, this is a weak report.
Although this specific report is weak, there is another proven report about keeping fasts in this manner.
Prophet Muhammad (saws) has said that compared to other days, the righteous deeds that are performed specifically in these first nine days of Dhu'l-Hijjah month are ones which are most liked by the Creator.
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَرْعَرَةَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ، عَنْ مُسْلِمٍ الْبَطِينِ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَّهُ قَالَ " مَا الْعَمَلُ فِي أَيَّامِ الْعَشْرِ أَفْضَلَ مِنَ الْعَمَلِ فِي هَذِهِ ". قَالُوا وَلاَ الْجِهَادُ قَالَ " وَلاَ الْجِهَادُ، إِلاَّ رَجُلٌ خَرَجَ يُخَاطِرُ بِنَفْسِهِ وَمَالِهِ فَلَمْ يَرْجِعْ بِشَىْءٍ ".
Narrated Ibn `Abbas:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "No good deeds done on other days are superior to those done on these (first ten days of Dhul Hijja)." Then some companions of the Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Not even Jihad?" He replied, "Not even Jihad, except that of a man who does it by putting himself and his property in danger (for Allah's sake) and does not return with any of those things."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 969
In-book reference : Book 13, Hadith 18
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 2, Book 15, Hadith 86
(deprecated numbering scheme)
URL reference : http://sunnah.com/bukhari/13/18
This report does not mention fasting alone, but all righteous deeds including fasting is mentioned. Prayer, dhikr (remembrance), charity and such righteous deeds as well have special significance in these specific days.
Therefore, based on this common proof if one keeps fasts on these days, then one cannot call it it to be wrong.
The report from Aisha (ra) informing that she never found Prophet Muhammad (saws) to be fasting on these days would not contradict or go against this.
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَأَبُو كُرَيْبٍ وَإِسْحَاقُ قَالَ إِسْحَاقُ أَخْبَرَنَا وَقَالَ، الآخَرَانِ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنِ الأَسْوَدِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، - رضى الله عنها - قَالَتْ مَا رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم صَائِمًا فِي الْعَشْرِ قَطُّ .
'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported:
I never saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) fasting in the ten days of Dhu'I-Hijja.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1176 a
In-book reference : Book 14, Hadith 10
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 6, Hadith 2645
(deprecated numbering scheme)
URL reference : http://sunnah.com/muslim/14/10
In this the ten days being referred, refers to the first nine days of the Dhu’l-Hijjah month. As the tenth day is Eid al-Adha (festival of sacrifice feast), the fast cannot be kept on that day.
Aisha (ra) reports that Prophet Muhammad (saws) did not fast in these nine days. From this report it cannot be said that one should not fast on these days.
For an amal (act) the Prophetic word exists as proof. But, there is no proof that Prophet Muhammad (saws) was seen doing it. In this situation, despite the absence of Prophetic action, because of the existence of Prophetic word, the amal (act) based on the Prophetic word would be considered the Prophetic way to emulate.
For example, for fasting on the day of `Arafah the proof for it lies in the Prophetic word. But, there is no report where Prophet Muhammad (saws) was found to be fasting. Now, for this fasting although there is no proof of Prophetic action for it, since the Prophetic word is available this act (fasting) gets recognized as an act of dheen.
Based on this one should decide the act of fasting the first nine days of Dhu’l-Hijjah month. Aisha (ra) reports that Prophet Muhammad (saws) was not seen doing it.
But, although Prophet Muhammad (saws) was not found to be doing it, the Ibn Abbas report makes it clear that Prophet Muhammad (saws) had allowed us to do it (i.e fasting the first nine days of Dhu’l-Hijjah month).
Moreover, the report by Aisha (ra) does not infer that one should not fast on these days. Because, on these days all righteous deeds including fast is not mandatory. If these are performed then one would get the reward of more goodness. If these are not performed it is not a sin. Based on this provision Prophet Muhammad (saws) might have found not be doing it.
Translated by: Abu Abdul Baari and Ummu Abdul Baari
The original source (Tamizh):
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