Summary:

Moon sighting is an important topic; it becomes even more important when the month of Ramazan approaches as well as its ending on the 1^st of Shawwal. Muslims all over the world, particularly in the West, mostly face with, more than one day in its starting, and corresponding number of Eid days.

Moon sighting is a local ‘crescent’ sighting issue but it is heavily influenced by the political and religious bodies, trying to influence their followers from thousands of miles away. In UK, during the past 20 years, at least twice, the followers of a famous shia mujtahid ‘residing in Najaf’ have ended up observing 28 Fasts during the (two separate) Months of Ramazan. What are the difficulties? Well, most Ahadith direct us to decide on the sighting of the crescent, which in our time of pollution (road traffic causing photochemical smog) as well as cloudy conditions, make it extremely difficult to observe the crescent apart from a few months of the Islamic year.

So what is the solution? We seek the Divine Help and look into the Book and Ahadith for the guidance. The Book Says to complete the Month (Fast), Holy Verse 2:185. However, we need the Ahadith to interpret 2:185. So we when carefully analyse the Ahadith related to the Crescent, most of the Ahadith say to start the month after observing the Crescent! Is it the only criteria? No, as Ahadith are for all time and for all people, so one has to rely on those Ahadith which are applicable to one’s circumstances!

As an example, we present a Hadith which is applicable for those people who are living in cities where it remains mostly cloudy, i.e.,

عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ مَنْصُورِ بْنِ الْعَبَّاسِ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الْأَحْوَلِ عَنْ عِمْرَانَ الزَّعْفَرَانِيِّ قَالَ: قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنَّا نَمْكُثُ فِي الشِّتَاءِ الْيَوْمَ وَ الْيَوْمَيْنِ لَا تُرَى شَمْسٌ وَ لَا نَجْمٌ فَأَيَّ يَوْمٍ نَصُومُ قَالَ انْظُرِ الْيَوْمَ الَّذِي صُمْتَ مِنَ السَّنَةِ الْمَاضِيَةِ وَ عُدَّ خَمْسَةَ أَيَّامٍ وَ صُمِ الْيَوْمَ الْخَامِسَ.

A number of our companions, from Sahl Bin Ziyad, from Mansour Bin Al Abbas, from Ibrahim Al Ahowl, from Imran Al Za’afrany who said,

‘I said to Abu Abdullah^-asws (6^th Imam^-asws) ‘We remain in the winter for the day, and the two days, without seeing the sun, or stars. So which day should we be Fasting?’ He^-asws said; ‘Look at the day (i.e., Monday-Friday) in which you had Fasted from the past year, and count five days, and Fast on the fifth day’.^[1].

There are other similar Ahadith which provide calculations in the absence of Moon sighting along with how to identify if the moon is of the 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd of the new month (for example see Appendix I).

With this background, we return to our main topic, whether the month of Ramazan is going to be of 29 or 30 Days? It can’t be other than these two figures – hence the issues of crescent sighting for the Month of Ramazan as well as for Shawwal (to complete 30 Fasts)! Since all Ahadith instruct us that the fasting on the 1^st of Shawwal (Eid day) is ‘Harram’ (forbidden), so one has to ensure that the Fast of the last day of Shaban (Yom-e-Shak) is observed – Fasting in the last days of Shaban to combine with the Fasting of the Month of Ramazan is also highly recommended. By taking this approach one will always meet the Divine obligation of 30 Fasts of the Month of Ramazan.

On the Fasting of the Month of Ramazan, there are so many Ahadith, compiled during the Minor occultation (Ghaibah e Sughra) which overwhelmingly stress that the month of Ramazan will never be deficient (as per Holy Verse 2:185) but complete (30 days), as we will read later in the article.

However, there have appeared some Ahadith during the Major Occultation (Ghaibah e Qubra), which suggest that the Month of Ramazan can be deficient (29 days) as well as complete (30), see Appendix II. The Ahadith in Appendix II, are compiled from Wasail ul Shia, and contain both types of Ahadith that the month of Ramazan can never be deficient but will always be of 30 days as well as it can be of 29 days. As, we will see later, the latter ones can be out of strict conditions of Taqeeya during the caliphate of Bani Ummayya and Bani Abbas[2]. Also, there is evidence that the certain months will be complete (30 days). We also find in Ahadith (Appendix II) that one must Fast to complete the 30 Fasts if the sky is overcast but one must never Fast on the 1^st of Shawwal, in agreement with all other Ahadith that one must not Fast on the day of Eid ul Fitr. Hence the importance of starting the Month of Ramazan on a day that ensures one will complete the 30 Fasts and not less. This highlights the importance of the calculations (i.e., for Shawwal crescent) in those countries where skies are overcast most of the year.

Regarding the 29 Fasting Days in the Month of Ramazan, we present a Hadith which clarifies that it is a ‘lie’ attributed to Holy Rasool Allah^-saww:

وَ بِإِسْنَادِهِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ أَبِي الْخَطَّابِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ يَعْقُوبَ بْنِ شُعَيْبٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ: قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنَّ النَّاسَ يَقُولُونَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص صَامَ تِسْعَةً وَ عِشْرِينَ يَوْماً أَكْثَرَ مِمَّا صَامَ ثَلَاثِينَ يَوْماً

13400 – And by his chain, from Muhammad Bin Al Husayn Bin Abu Al Khattab, from Muhammad Bin Ismail, from Muhammad Bin Yaqoub Bin Shuayb, from his father who said,

‘I said to Abu Abdullah^-asws, ‘The people are saying that Rasool-Allah^-saww fasted twenty-nine days more than what he^-saww fasted thirty days’.

فَقَالَ كَذَبُوا مَا صَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص إِلَّا تَامّاً وَ ذَلِكَ قَوْلُ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى‏ وَ لِتُكْمِلُوا الْعِدَّةَ- فَشَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ ثَلَاثُونَ يَوْماً وَ شَوَّالٌ تِسْعَةٌ وَ عِشْرُونَ يَوْماً وَ ذُو الْقَعْدَةِ ثَلَاثُونَ يَوْماً لَا يَنْقُصُ أَبَداً لِأَنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى يَقُولُ‏ وَ واعَدْنا مُوسى‏ ثَلاثِينَ لَيْلَةً- وَ ذُو الْحِجَّةِ تِسْعَةً وَ عِشْرُونَ يَوْماً ثُمَّ الشُّهُورُ عَلَى مِثْلِ ذَلِكَ شَهْرٌ تَامٌّ وَ شَهْرٌ نَاقِصٌ وَ شَعْبَانُ لَا يَتِمُّ أَبَداً.

He^-asws (Imam^-asws) said: ‘They are lying! Rasool-Allah^-saww did not fast except complete, and that is the Word of Allah^-azwj the Exalted: in order for you to complete the number [2:185]. A month of Ramzan is of thirty days, and Shawwal of twenty-nine days, and Zul Qadah of thirty days, not being deficient, ever, because Allah^-azwj Exalted is Saying: And We Appointed thirty nights for Musa [7:142], and Zul Hijja is of twenty-nine days. Then the months are upon similar to that, a complete month and a deficient month, and Shaban cannot be complete, ever!’’[3]

It is important to note that this Hadith is reported in both Al-Tahzeeb and Al-Abstesar (التهذيب ، و الاستبصار), the only two Ahadith books which also contain a few of those Ahadith where Month of Ramazan is reported deficient. However, in this Hadith Imam^-asws is citing the Holy Verses in the explanation of 30 Fasting days in the month of Ramazan, we will shortly review all Ahadith regarding the interpretation of Holy Verse 2:185.

It is clear from the above Hadith that some false Ahadith, with 29 Fast, have been ascribed to Rasool Allah^-saww, so Imam^-asws has denounced those Ahadith and called their statements as lies!

In addition, we would also like to point out that if a Hadith is in disagreement with the Holy Quran, then it cannot be taken as reliable provided interpretation of the Holy Verse is taken from the Ahadith. The criteria of verifying the authenticity of a Hadith is very well established among all Muslim sects – to compare a Hadith with the Holy Quran, see Appendix III for some Ahadith on establishing the authenticity of Ahadith.

Finally, we have compiled Ahadith from all main Shia Ahadith books in the interpretation of the Holy Verse 2:185, these are cited in Appendix IV.

Introduction:

Islam and its Laws are for all times and for all people, as revealed through the Holy Book and the Ahadith. Fasting during the Month of Ramazan has been made obligatory (e.g., Holy Verse 2:183-287). However, Allah^-azwj has Made exceptions for those who are unwell or travelling or cannot Fast due to frailty. A general criterion for starting and finishing a month has been given, i.e., start and end a month by sighting the crescent. For those who cannot sight the new moon due to mostly cloudy weather are also given solutions other than the crescent sighting – those of us who are living in the West may benefit from those Ahadith to decide the starting and ending of a month.

Some selected Ahadith on moon sighting, with particular to the month of Ramazan, are presented in the following sections.

The First Month of the Islamic Year:

1 – عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الْمُغِيرَةِ عَنْ عَمْرٍو الشَّامِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ إِنَّ عِدَّةَ الشُّهُورِ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ اثْنا عَشَرَ شَهْراً فِي كِتابِ اللَّهِ يَوْمَ خَلَقَ السَّماواتِ وَ الْأَرْضَ فَغُرَّةُ الشُّهُورِ شَهْرُ اللَّهِ عَزَّ ذِكْرُهُ وَ هُوَ شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ وَ قَلْبُ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ وَ نُزِّلَ الْقُرْآنُ فِي أَوَّلِ لَيْلَةٍ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ فَاسْتَقْبِلِ الشَّهْرَ بِالْقُرْآنِ .

Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, from Abdullah Bin Al Mugheira, from Amro Al Shamy,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah^-asws having said: ‘The number of months in the Presence of Allah^-azwj are twelve months in the Book of Allah^-azwj, from the day He^-azwj Created the skies and the earth.

So the commencement of the months is the Month of Allah^-azwj, Mighty is His^-azwj Mention, and it is the Month of Ramazan; and the heart of the Month of Ramazan is the Night of Pre-destination; and the Quran was Revealed in the first night of the Month of Ramazan. Therefore, welcome the Month with the Quran’.^[4]

2 – عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ رِئَابٍ عَنِ الْعَبْدِ الصَّالِحِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ ادْعُ بِهَذَا الدُّعَاءِ فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ مُسْتَقْبِلَ دُخُولِ السَّنَةِ وَ ذَكَرَ أَنَّهُ مَنْ دَعَا بِهِ مُحْتَسِباً مُخْلِصاً لَمْ تُصِبْهُ فِي تِلْكَ السَّنَةِ فِتْنَةٌ وَ لَا آفَةٌ يُضَرُّ بِهَا دِينُهُ وَ بَدَنُهُ وَ وَقَاهُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ ذِكْرُهُ شَرَّ مَا يَأْتِي بِهِ تِلْكَ السَّنَةَ

Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, from Ibn Mahboub, from Ali Bin Raib,

(It has been narrated) from Al-Abd Al-Salih^-asws (7^th Imam^-asws) having said: ‘Supplicate with this supplication[5] during the Month of Ramazan, welcoming the entry of the (new) year’, and he^-asws mentioned that the one who supplicates with it, in expectation, sincerely, would neither be hit during that year with strife nor an affliction by which his Religion and his body would be harmed, and Allah^-azwj, Mighty is His^-azwj Mention, would Save him from the evil of what that year would be coming with.

وَ فِي الْعِلَلِ الَّتِي تُرْوَى عَنِ الْفَضْلِ بْنِ شَاذَانَ النَّيْسَابُورِيِّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ وَ يُذْكَرُ أَنَّهُ سَمِعَهَا مِنَ الرِّضَا ع َّ أَوَّلَ شُهُورِ السَّنَةِ عِنْدَ أَهْلِ الْحَقِّ شَهْرُ رَمَضَان

And (it has been narrated) from Fadl ibn Hazan Alnisabure – may Allah^-azwjbe Pleased with himandrecalled thathe had heard:

I heard from (Imam Ali) Al-Reza^-asws that the first month of the year for the people of ‘Haq’ is the Month of Ramazan.[6]

30 Days in the Month of Ramazan:

عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ صَالِحِ بْنِ أَبِي حَمَّادٍ عَنِ ابْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنْ حُذَيْفَةَ بْنِ مَنْصُورٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ: شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ ثَلَاثُونَ يَوْماً لَا يَنْقُصُ أَبَداً.

Ali Bin Muhammad, from Salih Bin Abu Hammad, from Ibn Sinan, from Huzeyfa Bin Mansour,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah^-asws having said: ‘The Month of Ramazan is of thirty days, not being deficient, ever!’

وَ عَنْهُ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنِ ابْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنْ حُذَيْفَةَ مِثْلَهُ‏.

And from, from Al Hassan Bin Al Husayn, from Ibn Sinan, from Huzeyfa – reported similar to it.[7]

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنِ ابْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنْ حُذَيْفَةَ بْنِ مَنْصُورٍ عَنْ مُعَاذِ بْنِ كَثِيرٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ: شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ ثَلَاثُونَ يَوْماً لَا يَنْقُصُ‏ وَ اللَّهِ‏ أَبَداً.

Muhammad Bin Yahya, from Muhammad Bin Al Husayn, from Ibn Sinan, from Huzeyfa Bin Mansour, from Moaz Bin Kaseer,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah^-asws having said: ‘The Month of Ramazan is of thirty days, not being deficient, by Allah^-azwj, ever!’[8]

عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِهِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ: إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى خَلَقَ الدُّنْيَا فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ‏ ثُمَّ اخْتَزَلَهَا عَنْ أَيَّامِ السَّنَةِ وَ السَّنَةُ ثَلَاثُمِائَةٍ وَ أَرْبَعٌ وَ خَمْسُونَ يَوْماً- شَعْبَانُ لَا يَتِمُ‏ أَبَداً رَمَضَانُ لَا يَنْقُصُ وَ اللَّهِ أَبَداً وَ لَا تَكُونُ فَرِيضَةٌ نَاقِصَةً

A number of our companions, from Sahl Bin Ziyad, from Muhammad Bin Ismail, from one of his companions,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah^-asws having said: ‘Allah^-azwj Blessed and High Created the world in six days, then Reduced these from the days of the year; and the year is of three hundred and fifty four (354) days. Shaban will never be complete^[9], ever; the Month of Ramazan will never be deficient, by Allah^-azwj, ever! And the Obligation would never happen to be deficient.

إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَقُولُ- وَ لِتُكْمِلُوا الْعِدَّةَ وَ شَوَّالٌ تِسْعَةٌ وَ عِشْرُونَ يَوْماً وَ ذُو الْقَعْدَةِ ثَلَاثُونَ يَوْماً لِقَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- وَ واعَدْنا مُوسى‏ ثَلاثِينَ لَيْلَةً وَ أَتْمَمْناها بِعَشْرٍ فَتَمَّ مِيقاتُ رَبِّهِ أَرْبَعِينَ لَيْلَةً وَ ذُو الْحِجَّةِ تِسْعَةٌ وَ عِشْرُونَ يَوْماً وَ الْمُحَرَّمُ ثَلَاثُونَ يَوْماً ثُمَّ الشُّهُورُ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ‏ شَهْرٌ تَامٌ‏ وَ شَهْرٌ نَاقِصٌ‏.

Allah Mighty and Majestic is Saying [2:185] and (He Desires) that you should complete the number; and Shawwal is of twenty nine days; and Zilqaada is of thirty days due to the Words of Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic [7:142] And We Appointed with Musa a time of thirty nights and Completed them with ten (more), so the Appointed time of his Lord was complete forty nights; and Zilhijja is of twenty nine days; and Al-Muharram is of thirty days. Then, the months after that would be either a complete month or an incomplete month’.^[10]

194 عن ابن أبي عمير عن رجل عن أبي عبد الله ع قال‏ قلت له: جعلت فداك- ما يتحدث به عندنا أن النبي ص صام تسعة و عشرين- أكثر مما صام ثلاثين أ حق هذا- قال: ما خلق الله من هذا حرفا، ما صامه النبي ص إلا ثلاثين، لأن الله يقول: «وَ لِتُكْمِلُوا الْعِدَّةَ» فكان رسول الله ص ينقصه‏.

From Ibn Abu Umeyr, from a man from Abu Abdullah^-asws having said: ‘I said to him^-asws, ‘May I be sacrificed for you^-asws! What is being narrated in our presence is that the Prophet^-saww fasted twenty-nine days more than what he^-saww fasted thirty. Is this true?’ He^-asws said: ‘Allah^-azwj did not Create a letter from this. The Prophet^-saww did not fast except thirty (30), because Allah^-azwj is Saying: ‘in order for you to complete the number, [2:185]. So, was Rasool Allah^-saww reducing it?’’.[11]

وَ فِي رِوَايَةِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ‏ عَنْ حُذَيْفَةَ بْنِ مَنْصُورٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ: شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ ثَلَاثُونَ يَوْماً لَا يَنْقُصُ أَبَداً.

And in a report of Muhammad Bin Sinan, from Huzeyfa Bin Mansour,

From Abu Abdullah^-asws having said: ‘The Month of Ramazan is of thirty (30) days, not being deficient, ever!’’[12]

وَ فِي رِوَايَةِ حُذَيْفَةَ بْنِ مَنْصُورٍ عَنْ مُعَاذِ بْنِ كَثِيرٍ وَ يُقَالُ لَهُ مُعَاذُ بْنُ مُسْلِمٍ الْهَرَّاءُ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ: شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ ثَلَاثُونَ يَوْماً لَا يَنْقُصُ وَ اللَّهِ‏ أَبَداً.

And in a report of Huzeyfa Bin Mansour, from Muaz Bin Kaseer, and he is called Muaz Bin Muslim Al-Harra,

‘From Abu Abdullah^-asws having said: ‘A Month of Ramazan is of thirty (30) days, nor being deficient, by Allah^-azwj, ever!’’[13]

– وَ سَأَلَ أَبُو بَصِيرٍ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‏ عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَ‏ وَ لِتُكْمِلُوا الْعِدَّةَ قَالَ ثَلَاثِينَ يَوْماً.

2043 – And Abu Baseer asked Abu Abdullah^-asws about Words of Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic: in order for you to complete the number, [2:185]. He^-asws said: ‘Thirty (30) days’’.[14]

وَ رُوِيَ عَنْ يَاسِرٍ الْخَادِمِ قَالَ: قُلْتُ لِلرِّضَا ع هَلْ يَكُونُ شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ تِسْعَةً وَ عِشْرِينَ يَوْماً فَقَالَ إِنَّ شَهْرَ رَمَضَانَ لَا يَنْقُصُ مِنْ ثَلَاثِينَ يَوْماً أَبَداً.

And it is reported from Yasser Al-Khadim who said, ‘I said to Al-Reza^-asws! Can a month of Ramazan be of twenty-nine days?’ He^-asws said: ‘A month of Ramazan will not be deficient from thirty (30) days, ever!’’[15]

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مُوسَى بْنِ الْمُتَوَكِّلِ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الْكُوفِيُّ عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ عِمْرَانَ النَّخَعِيِّ عَنْ عَمِّهِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ النَّوْفَلِيِّ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ حَمْزَةَ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ قَالَ: سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَ‏ وَ لِتُكْمِلُوا الْعِدَّةَ قَالَ ثَلَاثِينَ يَوْماً.

It is narrated to us by Muhammad Bin Musa Bin Al Mutawakkal who said, ‘It is narrated to us by Muhammad Bin Abu Abdullah Al Kufy, from Musa Bin Imran Al Nakhaie, from his uncle Al Husayn Bin Yazeed Al Nnowfaly, from Ali Bin Hamza, from Abu Baseer who said,

‘I asked Abu Abdullah^-asws about Words of Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic: in order for you to complete the number, [2:185]. He^-asws said: ‘Thirty (30) days’’.[16]

– حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي وَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ الْوَلِيدِ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا قَالا حَدَّثَنَا سَعْدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ أَبِي الْخَطَّابِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ بَزِيعٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ يَعْقُوبَ بْنِ شُعَيْبٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَنَّهُ قَالَ فِي حَدِيثٍ طَوِيلٍ‏ شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ ثَلَاثُونَ يَوْماً لِقَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَ‏ وَ لِتُكْمِلُوا الْعِدَّةَ وَ الْكَامِلَةُ التَّامَّةُ.

It is narrated to us by my father and Muhammad Bin Al Husayn Bin Al Waleed who both said, ‘It is narrated to us by Sa’ad Bin Abdullah, from Muhammad Bin Al Husayn Bin Abu Al Khattab, from Muhammad Bin Ismail Bin Bazie, from Muhammad Bin Yaqoub Bin Shuayb, from his father,

‘From Abu Abdullah^-asws having said in a lengthy Hadeeth: ‘A month of Ramazan is of thirty (30) days due to the Words of Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic: in order for you to complete the number, [2:185], and the perfecting is the completing’’.[17]

Ahadith for those regions where skies are mostly overcast:

عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى بْنِ عُبَيْدٍ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الْمَدَنِيِّ عَنْ عِمْرَانَ الزَّعْفَرَانِيِّ قَالَ: قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنَّ السَّمَاءَ تُطْبِقُ عَلَيْنَا بِالْعِرَاقِ الْيَوْمَ وَ الْيَوْمَيْنِ وَ الثَّلَاثَةَ فَأَيَّ يَوْمٍ نَصُومُ قَالَ انْظُرِ الْيَوْمَ‏ الَّذِي‏ صُمْتَ‏ مِنَ‏ السَّنَةِ الْمَاضِيَةِ وَ صُمْ يَوْمَ الْخَامِسِ.

Ali Bin Ibrahim, from one of our companions, from Muhammad Bin Isa Bin Ubeyd, from Ibrahim Bin Muhammad Al Madany, from Imran Al Za’afrany who said,

‘I said to Abu Abdullah^-asws said: ‘There remain cloudy upon us in Al-Iraq for the day, and the two days, and the three. So which day should we be Fasting?’ He^-asws said: ‘Look at which day you Fasted the past year, and Fast on the fifth day (i.e., Monday-Friday)’.[18]

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَحْمَدَ عَنِ الْعَبَّاسِ بْنِ مَعْرُوفٍ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ الْخُدْرِيِّ عَنْ بَعْضِ مَشَايِخِهِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ: صُمْ فِي الْعَامِ الْمُسْتَقْبَلِ يَوْمَ الْخَامِسِ مِنْ يَوْمِ صُمْتَ فِيهِ عَامَ أَوَّلَ.

Muhammad Bin Yahya, from Muhammad Bin Ahmad, from Al Abbas Bin Marouf, from Safwan Bin Yahya, from Muhammad Bin Usman Al Khudry, from one of his elders,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah^-asws having said: ‘Fast in the coming year on the fifth day from the day (Monday-Friday) you Fasted in during the former year’.[19]

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ السَّيَّارِيِّ قَالَ: كَتَبَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْفَرَجِ إِلَى الْعَسْكَرِيِّ ع يَسْأَلُهُ عَمَّا رُوِيَ مِنَ الْحِسَابِ فِي الصَّوْمِ عَنْ آبَائِكَ فِي عَدِّ خَمْسَةِ أَيَّامٍ بَيْنَ أَوَّلِ السَّنَةِ الْمَاضِيَةِ وَ السَّنَةِ الثَّانِيَةِ الَّتِي تَأْتِي فَكَتَبَ صَحِيحٌ وَ لَكِنْ عُدَّ فِي كُلِّ أَرْبَعِ سِنِينَ خَمْساً وَ فِي السَّنَةِ الْخَامِسَةِ سِتّاً فِيمَا بَيْنَ الْأُولَى وَ الْحَادِثِ وَ مَا سِوَى ذَلِكَ فَإِنَّمَا هُوَ خَمْسَةٌ خَمْسَةٌ قَالَ السَّيَّارِيُّ وَ هَذِهِ مِنْ جِهَةِ الْكَبِيسَةِ قَالَ وَ قَدْ حَسَبَهُ أَصْحَابُنَا فَوَجَدُوهُ صَحِيحاً قَالَ وَ كَتَبَ إِلَيْهِ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْفَرَجِ فِي سَنَةِ ثَمَانٍ وَ ثَلَاثِينَ وَ مِائَتَيْنِ هَذَا الْحِسَابُ لَا يَتَهَيَّأُ لِكُلِّ إِنْسَانٍ أَنْ يَعْمَلَ عَلَيْهِ إِنَّمَا هَذَا لِمَنْ يَعْرِفُ السِّنِينَ وَ مَنْ يَعْلَمُ مَتَى كَانَتِ السَّنَةُ الْكَبِيسَةُ ثُمَّ يَصِحُّ لَهُ هِلَالُ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ أَوَّلَ لَيْلَةٍ فَإِذَا صَحَّ الْهِلَالُ لِلَيْلَتِهِ وَ عَرَفَ السِّنِينَ صَحَّ لَهُ ذَلِكَ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ.

Muhammad Bin Yahya, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad, from Al Sayyari who said,

‘Muhammad Bin Al-Faraj wrote to (Imam) Al-Askari^-asws asking him^-asws about what is reported from the accounting regarding the Fasting, from your^-asws forefathers^-asws regarding the counting of five days (Monday-Friday) between the first year which is past, and the second year which is coming. So he^-asws wrote: ‘Correct, but count during every four years, five, and in the fifth year, six, regarding what is between the former and the new (year), and what is besides that, so it is five, five’.

Al-Sayyari said, ‘And this is from the direction of the leap year’ He (the narrator) said, ‘And our companions have calculated it, so they found it to be correct’.

He (the narrator) said, ‘And Muhammad Bin Al-Faraj wrote to him in the year two hundred and thirty eight (238), ‘This calculation is not possible for every human being that he acts upon it. But rather, this is for the one who understands the years, and the one who know when the leap year was, then it would be correct for him, the crescent of the Month of Ramazan of the first night. So when the crescent is correct for its night, and he understands the years, so that would be correct for him, if Allah^-azwj so Desires it’.[20]

A number of our companions, from Sahl Bin Ziyad, from Mansour Bin Al Abbas, from Ibrahim Al Ahowl, from Imran Al Za’afrany who said,

‘I said to Abu Abdullah^-asws, ‘We remain in the winter for the day, and the two days, not seeing the sun, or stars. So which day should we be Fasting?’ He^-asws said; ‘Look at the day in which you had Fasted from the past year, and count five days, and Fast on the fifth day’.^[21].

Fasting on the last day of Shaban ‘Yom-e-Shuuk’:

عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ حَمْزَةَ بْنِ يَعْلَى عَنْ زَكَرِيَّا بْنِ آدَمَ عَنِ الْكَاهِلِيِّ قَالَ: سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع- عَنِ الْيَوْمِ الَّذِي يُشَكُّ فِيهِ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ قَالَ لَأَنْ أَصُومَ يَوْماً مِنْ شَعْبَانَ أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِنْ أَنْ أُفْطِرَ يَوْماً مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ.

A number of our companions, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad, from Hamza Bin Ya’la, from Zakariyya Bin Adam, from Al Kahily who said,

‘I asked Abu Abdullah^-asws about the day in which there is a doubt, it is from Shaban. He^-asws said: ‘If I^-asws were to Fast a day from Shaban, it would be more beloved to me^-asws than if I^-asws were to break the Fast of the Month of Ramazan’.[22]

عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ يُونُسَ عَنْ سَمَاعَةَ قَالَ: سَأَلْتُهُ‏ عَنِ‏ الْيَوْمِ الَّذِي يُشَكُّ فِيهِ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ لَا يَدْرِي أَ هُوَ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ أَوْ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ فَصَامَهُ فَكَانَ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ قَالَ هُوَ يَوْمٌ وُفِّقَ لَهُ وَ لَا قَضَاءَ عَلَيْهِ.

Ali Bin Ibrahim, from Muhammad Bin Isa, from Yunus, from Sama’at who said,

‘I asked him^-asws about the day in which there is a doubt, whether it is from the Month of Ramazan, one does not know whether it is from Shaban or from the Month of Ramazan, so one Fasts it as if it was from the Month of Ramazan. He^-asws said: ‘It is a ‘يَوْمٌ وُفِّقَ’ day commensurate for him, and there is no fulfilment (making up for it) upon it’.[23]

أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي الصُّهْبَانِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ بَكْرِ بْنِ جَنَاحٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ شَجَرَةَ عَنْ بَشِيرٍ النَّبَّالِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ: سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ صَوْمِ يَوْمِ الشَّكِّ فَقَالَ صُمْهُ فَإِنْ يَكُ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ كَانَ تَطَوُّعاً وَ إِنْ يَكُ مِنْ‏ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ‏ فَيَوْمٌ‏ وُفِّقْتَ‏ لَهُ‏.

Ahmad Bin Muhammad, from Ibn Abu Al Suhban, from Muhammad Bin Bakr Bin Janah, from Ali Bin Shajara, from Bashir Al Nabbal,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah^-asws, said, ‘I asked him^-asws about a Fast of the day of doubt. So he^-asws said: ‘Fast it. So, if it was from Shaban, it was a voluntary (Fast), and if it was from the Month of Ramazan, so it would be a commensurate day for it’.[24]

عدة من أصحابنا، عن أحمد بن محمد بن عيسى، عن حمزة بن أبي يعلى، عن محمد ابن الحسن بن أبي خالد رفعه، عن أبي عبد الله (عليه السلام) إذا صح هلال شهر رجب فعد تسعة وخمسين يوما وصم يوم الستين.

Imam Abi Abdullah^-asws said: Upon sighting of the Rajab moon count 59 days and then fast on the 60^th day (as there will always be 30 days in the months of Rajab and 29 in Shaban).[25]

Short Summary of the number of days in the Islamic Months:

As Per above Ahadith, the number of days in the Islamic months will be as below:

Moharram 30

Shabaan 29 or 30 days in the leap year (after every four years)

Month of Ramazan 30

Shawwal 29

Zilhajj 29

The other months will either be 30 or 29. The total number of days in an Islamic year are therefore 354. The moon cycle around earth takes 354 days and a few hours, therefore, one day needs to be added after every four years (in the fifth year) to the month of Shabaan (this is the reason behind the fast on the ‘Yom-e-Shuuk’.)

With this background we present further Ahadith related to the Ammal of each month, starting with the first Islamic month, the month of Ramazan. See the file for each month, uploaded separately.

Observing New Moon:

عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ وَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ جَمِيعاً عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنِ الْحَلَبِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ إِنَّهُ سُئِلَ عَنِ الْأَهِلَّةِ فَقَالَ هِيَ أَهِلَّةُ الشُّهُورِ فَإِذَا رَأَيْتَ الْهِلَالِ فَصُمْ وَ إِذَا رَأَيْتَهُ فَأَفْطِرْ .

Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, and Muhammad Bin Yahya, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad, altogether from Ibn Abu Umeyr, from Hammad Bin Usman, from Al Halby,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah^-asws, said, ‘He^-asws was asked about the crescent, so he^-asws said: ‘It is the crescent of the month. So whenever you see the new moon, so Fast, and when you see it (again), so break the Fasting’ (as month of Shawwal starts).[26]

حَمَّادٌ عَنِ الْحَلَبِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ كَانَ عَلِيٌّ ( عليه السلام ) يَقُولُ لَا أُجِيزُ فِي الْهِلَالِ إِلَّا شَهَادَةَ رَجُلَيْنِ عَدْلَيْنِ .

Hammad, from Al Halby,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah^-asws having said; ‘Ali^-asws was saying: ‘It is not allowed with regarding to the new moon, except for the testimony of two just men’.[27]

عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ سَيْفِ بْنِ عَمِيرَةَ عَنِ الْفَضْلِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) لَيْسَ عَلَى أَهْلِ الْقِبْلَةِ إِلَّا الرُّؤْيَةُ لَيْسَ عَلَى الْمُسْلِمِينَ إِلَّا الرُّؤْيَةُ .

A number of our companions, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad Bin Isa, from Ali Bin Al Hakam, from Sayf Bin Umeyra, from Al Fazl Bin Usman who said,

‘Abu Abdullah^-asws said; ‘It is not upon the people of the Qiblah except for the sighting (to follow the general Muslims who bow to the Qiblah), but it is also upon the Muslims (individually to confirm) the sighting’.[28]

أَحْمَدُ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ أَبِي أَيُّوبَ الْخَزَّازِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ إِذَا رَأَيْتُمُ الْهِلَالَ فَصُومُوا وَ إِذَا رَأَيْتُمُوهُ فَأَفْطِرُوا وَ لَيْسَ بِالرَّأْيِ وَ لَا بِالتَّظَنِّي وَ لَيْسَ الرُّؤْيَةَ أَنْ يَقُومَ عَشَرَةُ نَفَرٍ فَيَقُولَ وَاحِدٌ هُوَ ذَا وَ يَنْظُرُ تِسْعَةٌ فَلَا يَرَوْنَهُ لَكِنْ إِذَا رَآهُ وَاحِدٌ رَآهُ أَلْفٌ .

Ahmad, from Ali Bin Al Hakam, from Abu Ayoub Al Khazzaz, from Muhammad Bin Muslim,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Ja’far^-asws having said: ‘Whenever you see the new moon, so (begin) Fasting, and when you see it (again) so break the Fasting, and it is not by opinions, nor by the guessing, and the sighting is not that ten persons are standing so one of them is saying, ‘It is that’, and ten are waiting but cannot see it. Rather, if one can see, so a thousand can see it (too)’.[29]

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنِ الصَّلْتِ الْخَزَّازِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ إِذَا غَابَ الْهِلَالُ قَبْلَ الشَّفَقِ فَهُوَ لِلَيْلَتِهِ وَ إِذَا غَابَ بَعْدَ الشَّفَقِ فَهُوَ لِلَيْلَتَيْنِ .

Muhammad Bin Yahya, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad and Muhammad Bin Khalid, form Sa’ad Bin Sa’ad, from Abdullah Bin Al Husayn, from Al Salt Al Khazzaz,

Abu Abdullah^-asws has said: ‘When the new moon disappears before the twilight (redness in the sky), so it is for its night (the first moon of the month), but if it disappears after the twilight (when darkness prevails), so it is for the second night’ (the moon of the 2^nd of that month).[30]

عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ حَمْزَةَ أَبِي يَعْلَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ أَبِي خَالِدٍ رَفَعَهُ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) إِذَا صَحَّ هِلَالُ شَهْرِ رَجَبٍ فَعُدَّ تِسْعَةً وَ خَمْسِينَ يَوْماً وَ صُمْ يَوْمَ السِّتِّينَ .

A number of our companions, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad Bin Isa, from Hamza Abu Ya’la, from Muhammad Bin Al Hassan Bin Abu Khalid, raising it,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah^-asws: ‘When the new moon of the month of Rajab holds good, so count fifty nine (59) days and Fast on the sixtieth (day)’ (29 days of Shaban and 30 days of month of Ramazan).[31]

عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى بْنِ عُبَيْدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَمَّنْ ذَكَرَهُ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ وَقْتُ سُقُوطِ الْقُرْصِ وَ وُجُوبِ الْإِفْطَارِ مِنَ الصِّيَامِ أَنْ يَقُومَ بِحِذَاءِ الْقِبْلَةِ وَ يَتَفَقَّدَ الْحُمْرَةَ الَّتِي تَرْتَفِعُ مِنَ الْمَشْرِقِ فَإِذَا جَازَتْ قِمَّةَ الرَّأْسِ إِلَى نَاحِيَةِ الْمَغْرِبِ فَقَدْ وَجَبَ الْإِفْطَارُ وَ سَقَطَ الْقُرْصُ .

A number of our companions, from Sahl Bin Ziyad, from Muhammad Bin Isa Bin Ubeyd, from Ibn Abu Umeyr, from the one who mentioned it,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah^-asws having said: ‘The time of the fall of the disc (sun) and the Obligation of breaking from the Fasts is that, one stands facing the Qiblah and inspects the redness which rises from the east. So when it passes overhead towards the direction of the west, so the breaking of the Fast is Obligated, and the disc falls (sun sets)’.[32]

عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ وَ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ جَمِيعاً عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ ابْنِ عُرْوَةَ عَنْ بُرَيْدِ بْنِ مُعَاوِيَةَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ( عليه السلام ) يَقُولُ إِذَا غَابَتِ الْحُمْرَةُ مِنْ هَذَا الْجَانِبِ يَعْنِي نَاحِيَةَ الْمَشْرِقِ فَقَدْ غَابَتِ الشَّمْسُ فِي شَرْقِ الْأَرْضِ وَ غَرْبِهَا .

Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, and a number of our companions, from Ahmad Bi Muhammad, altogether from Ibn Abu Umeyr, from Al Qasim Ibn Urwat, from Bureyd Bin MUawiya who said,

‘I heard Abu Ja’far^-asws saying: ‘When the redness disappears from this side, meaning the direction of the east, so the sun has disappeared in the east of the earth and its west’.[33]

عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ حَمَّادٍ عَنِ الْحَلَبِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ سُئِلَ عَنِ الْإِفْطَارِ قَبْلَ الصَّلَاةِ أَوْ بَعْدَهَا قَالَ إِنْ كَانَ مَعَهُ قَوْمٌ يَخْشَى أَنْ يَحْبِسَهُمْ عَنْ عَشَائِهِمْ فَلْيُفْطِرْ مَعَهُمْ وَ إِنْ كَانَ غَيْرُ ذَلِكَ فَلْيُصَلِّ وَ لْيُفْطِرْ .

Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, from Ibn Abu Umeyr, from Hammad, from Al Halby,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah^-asws, said, ‘He^-asws was asked about the breaking of the Fast before the Prayer or after it. He^-asws said: ‘If it was such that with him are a group of people, he is fearing withholding them from their dinner, so let him break Fast along with them, but if it was other than that, so let him Pray, and let him break the Fast (after offering Salaat)’.[34]

Appendix I:

Recognition of Start of a Lunar Month from Crescent of First-three Nights

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنِ الصَّلْتِ الْخَزَّازِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ إِذَا غَابَ الْهِلَالُ قَبْلَ الشَّفَقِ فَهُوَ لِلَيْلَتِهِ وَ إِذَا غَابَ بَعْدَ الشَّفَقِ فَهُوَ لِلَيْلَتَيْنِ

Mohammed ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Mohammed Ahmad ibn Mohammed, who from Mohammed ibn Khalid, who from Sad ibn Sad who from Abd Allah ibn al-Hussain, who from al-Sallt al-Khazzaz who has said the following:

Abu Abdullah^-asws has said: If the crescent disappears before al-Shafaq (redness), it then is its first night but if it disappears after al-Shafaq (redness) it then is its second night.’[35]

أَحْمَدُ بْنُ إِدْرِيسَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَحْمَدَ عَنْ يَعْقُوبَ بْنِ يَزِيدَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُرَازِمٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ إِذَا تَطَوَّقَ الْهِلَالُ فَهُوَ لِلَيْلَتَيْنِ وَ إِذَا رَأَيْتَ ظِلَّ رَأْسِكَ فِيهِ فَهُوَ لِثَلَاثِ لَيَالٍ

Ahmad ibn Idris Mohammed ibn Ahmad, who form Yaqub ibn Yazid, who from Mohammed ibn Murazim, who from his father, who has said:

Abu Abdullah^-asws has said that if the crescent forms a crown around it, it then is two nights old and if you can see the shadow of your head it is three nights old.[36]

عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ الْحُرِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ إِذَا غَابَ الْهِلَالُ قَبْلَ الشَّفَقِ فَهُوَ لِلَيْلَتِهِ وَ إِذَا غَابَ بَعْدَ الشَّفَقِ فَهُوَ لِلَيْلَتَيْنِ

Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father, who from Hammad ibn Isa, who from Ismail ibn al-Hurr, who has said the following:

Abu Abdullah^-asws has said: If the crescent disappears before al-Shafaq (redness), it is of the first night, but if it disappears after al-Shafaq (redness) it is of the second night.[37]

وَ رَوَى مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مُرَازِمٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ إِذَا تَطَوَّقَ الْهِلَالُ فَهُوَ لِلَيْلَتَيْنِ وَ إِذَا رَأَيْتَ ظِلَّ رَأْسِكَ فِيهِ فَهُوَ لِثَلَاثِ لَيَالٍ

Mohammed bin Muzaaram, who from his father, who has said the following:

Abu Abdullah^-asws has said: If the crescent forms the shape of ‘Touq’ neck-shackle then it is of the 2^nd night but if one can see the shadow of his head then it is of the 3^rd night.[38]

وَ رَوَى حَمَّادُ بْنُ عِيسَى عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ الْحُرِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ إِذَا غَابَ الْهِلَالُ قَبْلَ الشَّفَقِ فَهُوَ لِلَيْلَةٍ وَ إِذَا غَابَ بَعْدَ الشَّفَقِ فَهُوَ لِلَيْلَتَيْنِ

Hammad bin Isa, who from Ismail bin al-Hurr, who has said the following:

Abu Abdullah^-asws has said: If the crescent disappears before al-Shafaq (redness), it is of the first night, but if it disappears after al-Shafaq (redness) it is of the second night.[39]

Example of 1-3 Moon sightings:

Moon of 1^st Night

Moon crescent is visible before disappearance of ‘Shafaq’ sky redness

Moon of 2^nd Night

Moon crescent is visible after disappearance of ‘Shafaq’ sky redness

Moon of 3^rd Night

Moon is so bright that One can See Shade of His Head

Appendix II: Ahadith from Wasail ul-Shia (Volume 10, Chapter 4-5)

وَ رَوَاهُ عَلِيُّ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ فِي كِتَابِهِ عَنْ أَخِيهِ قَالَ: سَأَلْتُهُ عَمَّنْ يَرَى هِلَالَ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ وَحْدَهُ لَا يُبْصِرُهُ غَيْرُهُ أَ لَهُ أَنْ يَصُومَ فَقَالَ إِذَا لَمْ يَشُكَّ فِيهِ فَلْيَصُمْ وَحْدَهُ وَ إِلَّا يَصُومُ‏ مَعَ‏ النَّاسِ‏ إِذَا صَامُوا.

– And it is reported by Ali son of Ja’far^-asws in his book, from his brother^-asws (Musa^-asws), said, ‘I asked him^-asws about the one who sees the crescent of a month of Ramazan along, no one else having sighted it, is it for him that he Fasts?’ He^-asws said: ‘When he does not doubt in it, then let him Fast along, or else he should Fast with the people when they Fast’’.[40]

بَابُ جَوَازِ كَوْنِ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ تِسْعَةً وَ عِشْرِينَ يَوْماً وَ أَنَّهُ إِذَا كَانَ بِحَسَبِ الرُّؤْيَةِ كَذَلِكَ لَمْ يَجِبْ قَضَاءُ يَوْمٍ مِنْهُ إِلَّا مَعَ قِيَامِ بَيِّنَةٍ بِتَقَدُّمِ الرُّؤْيَةِ وَ أَنَّهُ إِنْ خَفِيَ الْهِلَالُ وَجَبَ إِكْمَالُهُ ثَلَاثِينَ وَ كَذَا كُلُّ شَهْرٍ غُمَّ هِلَالُهُ‏

Chapter 5 – Allowance of existence of a month of ramazan being of twenty nine days – and when it happens to be by way of the sighting like that, the making up of a day from it is not obligated except with establishment of proof preceding the sighting, and if the crescent is hidden, completing it to thirty is obligatory, and such is (the case) for the obscurity of the crescent of every month

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ بِإِسْنَادِهِ عَنْ أَبِي غَالِبٍ الزُّرَارِيِ‏ عَنْ‏ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ أَبَانٍ‏ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ جَبَلَةَ عَنْ عَلَاءٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ أَحَدِهِمَا يَعْنِي أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ وَ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ: شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ يُصِيبُهُ مَا يُصِيبُ الشُّهُورَ مِنَ النُّقْصَانِ فَإِذَا صُمْتَ تِسْعَةً وَ عِشْرِينَ يَوْماً ثُمَّ تَغَيَّمَتِ السَّمَاءُ فَأَتِمَّ الْعِدَّةَ ثَلَاثِينَ.

Muhammad Bin Al Hassan by his chain, from Abi Ghalib Al Zurary, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad, from Ahmad Bin Al Hassan, from Aban, from Abdullah Bin Jabalah, from Ala’a, from Muhammad Bin Muslim,

‘From one of the two, meaning Abu Ja’far^-asws and Abu Abdullah^-asws having said: ‘A month of Ramazan, it affects it what affects the (other) months, from the deficiencies. So, when you have Fasted twenty-nine days, then the sky gets clouded, then complete the number to thirty’[41]’.

وَ عَنْهُ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي غَالِبٍ‏ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ الطَّاطَرِيِّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ جَرِيرٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص قَالَ: إِنَّ الشَّهْرَ هَكَذَا وَ هَكَذَا وَ هَكَذَا يُلْصِقُ كَفَّيْهِ وَ يَبْسُطُهُمَا ثُمَّ قَالَ وَ هَكَذَا وَ هَكَذَا وَ هَكَذَا ثُمَّ يَقْبِضُ إِصْبَعاً وَاحِدَةً فِي آخِرِ بَسْطَةٍ بِيَدَيْهِ وَ هِيَ الْإِبْهَامُ

And from him, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad, from Muhammad Bin Abi Ghalib, from Ali Bin Al Hassan Al Tatari, from Muhammad Bin Ziyad, from Is’haq Bin Jareer,

‘From Abu Abdullah^-asws having said: ‘Rasool-Allah^-saww said: ‘The months are like this, and like this, and like this’ – closing his^-saww palms and opening them. Then he^-saww said: ‘And like this, and like this, and like this’ – then he^-saww withheld one finger during the last extension of his^-saww, and it was the thumb.

فَقُلْتُ شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ تَامٌّ أَبَداً أَمْ شَهْرٌ مِنَ الشُّهُورِ فَقَالَ هُوَ شَهْرٌ مِنَ الشُّهُورِ

I said, ‘Would a month of Ramazan be complete for ever, or (like any) month from the months?’ He^-asws said: ‘It is a month from the months’.

ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّ عَلِيّاً ع صَامَ عِنْدَكُمْ تِسْعَةً وَ عِشْرِينَ يَوْماً فَأَتَوْهُ فَقَالُوا يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ- قَدْ رَأَيْنَا الْهِلَالَ فَقَالَ أَفْطِرُوا.

Then he^-asws said: ‘Ali^-asws had Fasted twenty-nine days in your presence, so they came to him^-asws and said, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen^-asws! We have seen the crescent’. He said, ‘Break the Fast’’[42].

وَ بِإِسْنَادِهِ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ مَهْزِيَارَ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‏ أَنَّهُ قَالَ فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ هُوَ شَهْرٌ مِنَ الشُّهُورِ يُصِيبُهُ مَا يُصِيبُ الشُّهُورَ مِنَ النُّقْصَانِ.

And by his chain, from Ali Bin Mahziyar, from Ibn Abi Umeyr, from Hammad Bin Usman,

‘From Abu Abdullah^-asws having said regarding a month of Ramazan: ‘It is a month from the months, it affects it from the deficiencies what affects the (other) months’’[43].

وَ عَنْهُ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنِ الْمُفَضَّلِ وَ عَنْ زَيْدٍ الشَّحَّامِ جَمِيعاً عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‏ أَنَّهُ سُئِلَ عَنِ الْأَهِلَّةِ فَقَالَ‏ هِيَ أَهِلَّةُ الشُّهُورِ فَإِذَا رَأَيْتَ الْهِلَالَ فَصُمْ وَ إِذَا رَأَيْتَهُ فَأَفْطِرْ

And from him, from Amro Bin Usman, from Al Mufazzal, and from Zayd Al Shaham, altogether,

‘From Abu Abdullah^-asws having been asked about the crescent of a month: ‘When you see the crescent, then Fast, and when you see it, then break’.

قُلْتُ أَ رَأَيْتَ إِنْ كَانَ الشَّهْرُ تِسْعَةً وَ عِشْرِينَ يَوْماً أَقْضِي ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمَ فَقَالَ لَا إِلَّا أَنْ يَشْهَدَ لَكَ بَيِّنَةٌ عُدُولٌ فَإِنْ شَهِدُوا أَنَّهُمْ رَأَوُا الْهِلَالَ قَبْلَ ذَلِكَ فَاقْضِ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمَ.

I said, ‘What is your^-asws view if the month was of twenty-nine days, should I pay back for that day?’ He said, ‘No, except if there are just witnesses for you. If they testify that they had seen the crescent before that, the pay back for that day’’[44].

وَ عَنْهُ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ أَبِي أَيُّوبَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع فِي حَدِيثٍ قَالَ: وَ إِذَا كَانَتْ عِلَّةٌ فَأَتِمَّ شَعْبَانَ ثَلَاثِينَ.

And from him, from Muhammad Bin Abi Umeyr, from Abu Ayoub, from Muhammad Bin Muslim,

‘From Abu Ja’far^-asws in a Hadeeth, said: ‘And when there was a reason, then complete Shaban as thirty’’ (leap year)[45].

وَ عَنْهُ عَنْ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ سَمَاعَةَ قَالَ: صِيَامُ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ بِالرُّؤْيَةِ وَ لَيْسَ بِالظَّنِّ وَ قَدْ يَكُونُ شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ تِسْعَةً وَ عِشْرِينَ يَوْماً وَ يَكُونُ ثَلَاثِينَ وَ يُصِيبُهُ مَا يُصِيبُ الشُّهُورَ مِنَ التَّمَامِ وَ النُّقْصَانِ.

And from him, from Usman Bin Isa, from Sama’at who said,

‘Fasts of a month of Ramazan is by the sighting and isn’t by the guesswork, and a month of Ramazan has happened to be of twenty-nine, and a month of Ramazan can happen to be of thirty, and it affects it what affects the (other) months, from the completeness and the deficiencies’’[46]. (p.s. – not a Hadeeth)

وَ عَنْهُ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْحَمِيدِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْفُضَيْلِ‏ قَالَ: سَأَلْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع عَنِ الْيَوْمِ الَّذِي يُشَكُّ فِيهِ وَ لَا يُدْرَى أَ هُوَ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ أَوْ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ- فَقَالَ شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ شَهْرٌ مِنَ الشُّهُورِ يُصِيبُهُ مَا يُصِيبُ الشُّهُورَ مِنَ التَّمَامِ‏ وَ النُّقْصَانِ فَصُومُوا لِلرُّؤْيَةِ وَ أَفْطِرُوا لِلرُّؤْيَةِ وَ لَا يُعْجِبُنِي أَنْ يَتَقَدَّمَهُ أَحَدٌ بِصِيَامِ يَوْمٍ الْحَدِيثَ.

And from him, from Muhammad Bin Abdul Hameed, from Muhammad Bin Al Fuzeyl who said,

‘I asked Abu Al-Hassan Al-Reza^-asws about the day in which there is doubt and one does not know whether it is from a month of Ramazan of from Shaban? He^-asws said: ‘The month of Ramazan is a month from the months. It affects it what affects the (other) months, from the completeness and the deficiency. So, fast to the sighting and break to the sighting, and it does not surprise me if someone were to go ahead and Fasts a day’’[47].

وَ عَنْهُ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ بَشَّارٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ جُنْدَبٍ عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ وَهْبٍ قَالَ: قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‏ إِنَّ الشَّهْرَ الَّذِي يُقَالُ إِنَّهُ لَا يَنْقُصُ ذُو الْقَعْدَةِ- لَيْسَ فِي شُهُورِ السَّنَةِ أَكْثَرُ نُقْصَاناً مِنْهُ.

And from him, from Al Husayn Bin Bashaar, from Abdullah Bin Jundab, from Muawiya Bin Wagab who said,

‘Abu Abdullah^-asws said: ‘The month which it is being said, it cannot be deficient (29 days), is Zul Qadah, there isn’t among the months (any month) more deficient than it’’[48].

وَ بِإِسْنَادِهِ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْفُضَيْلِ عَنْ أَبِي الصَّبَّاحِ وَ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ عَنِ ابْنِ مُسْكَانَ عَنِ الْحَلَبِيِّ جَمِيعاً عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فِي حَدِيثٍ قَالَ: قُلْتُ أَ رَأَيْتَ إِنْ كَانَ الشَّهْرُ تِسْعَةً وَ عِشْرِينَ يَوْماً أَقْضِي ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمَ فَقَالَ لَا إِلَّا أَنْ يَشْهَدَ لَكَ بَيِّنَةٌ عُدُولٌ فَإِنْ شَهِدُوا أَنَّهُمْ رَأَوُا الْهِلَالَ قَبْلَ ذَلِكَ فَاقْضِ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمَ.

And by his chain, from Al Husayn Bin Saeed, from Muhammad Bin Al Fuzeyl, from Abu Al Sabbah, and from Safwan, from Ibn Muskan, from Al Halby, altogether,

‘From Abu Abdullah^-asws in a Hadeeth, he (the narrator) said, ‘I said, ‘What is your^-asws view if the month (of Ramazan) was of twenty-nine days, shall I pay back for that (missed) day?’ He^-asws said: ‘No, except if just witnesses testify for you. So, if they testify they had seen the crescent before that, then pay back for that day’’[49].

وَ عَنْهُ عَنْ مُحَمَّدٍ الْأَشْعَرِيِّ أَبِي خَالِدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ بُكَيْرٍ عَنْ عُبَيْدِ بْنِ زُرَارَةَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ: شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ يُصِيبُهُ مَا يُصِيبُ الشُّهُورَ مِنَ الزِّيَادَةِ وَ النُّقْصَانِ فَإِنْ تَغَيَّمَتِ السَّمَاءُ يَوْماً فَأَتِمُّوا الْعِدَّةَ.

And from him, from Muhammad Al-Ashari Abu Khalid, from Ibn Bukeyr, from Ubeyd Bin Zurara who said,

‘From Abu Abdullah^-asws having said: ‘A month of Ramazan, it affects if what affects the (other) months, from the increased and the decrease. So, if the sky is cloudy by a day, then complete the number’’[50].

وَ عَنْهُ عَنْ يُوسُفَ بْنِ عَقِيلٍ‏ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ قَيْسٍ‏ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع قَالَ: قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‏ إِذَا رَأَيْتُمُ الْهِلَالَ فَأَفْطِرُوا أَوْ شَهِدَ عَلَيْهِ عَدْلٌ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ إِلَى أَنْ قَالَ وَ إِنْ غُمَّ عَلَيْكُمْ فَعُدُّوا ثَلَاثِينَ لَيْلَةً ثُمَّ أَفْطِرُوا.

And from him, from Yusuf Bin Aqeel, from Muhammad Bin Qays,

‘From Abu Ja’far^-asws having said: ‘Amir Al-Momineen^-asws said: ‘When you see the crescent, then break, or just ones from the Muslims testify upon it’ – until he^-asws said: ‘And if it (sky) is cloudy upon you, then count thirty nights, then break’’[51].

وَ عَنْهُ عَنْ فَضَالَةَ عَنْ سَيْفِ بْنِ عَمِيرَةَ عَنْ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فِي حَدِيثٍ قَالَ: إِنْ خَفِيَ عَلَيْكُمْ فَأَتِمُّوا الشَّهْرَ الْأَوَّلَ ثَلَاثِينَ.

And from Fazalat, from Sayf Bin Ameyra, from Is’haq Bin Ammar,

‘From Abu Abdullah^-asws in a Hadeeth, said: ‘If it (crescent) is hidden unto you, then complete the first months as thirty’’[52].

وَ بِإِسْنَادِهِ عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَنَّهُ قَالَ: فِيمَنْ صَامَ تِسْعَةً وَ عِشْرِينَ قَالَ إِنْ كَانَتْ لَهُ بَيِّنَةٌ عَادِلَةٌ عَلَى أَهْلِ مِصْرٍ أَنَّهُمْ صَامُوا ثَلَاثِينَ عَلَى رُؤْيَةٍ قَضَى يَوْماً.

And by his chain, from Sa’ad Bin Abdullah, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad, from Al Husayn Bin Saeed, from Muhammad Bin Abi Umeyr, from Hisham Bin Al Hakam,

‘From Abu Abdullah^-asws having said regarding the one who fasts twenty-nine, he^-asws said: ‘If there was a proof, just testimony upon the people of the city that they had fasted thirty upon a sighting, he should pay back a day’’[53].

وَ عَنْهُ عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْحَمِيدِ عَنْ يُونُسَ بْنِ يَعْقُوبَ قَالَ: قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنِّي صُمْتُ شَهْرَ رَمَضَانَ- عَلَى رُؤْيَةٍ تِسْعَةً وَ عِشْرِينَ يَوْماً وَ مَا قَضَيْتُ قَالَ فَقَالَ وَ أَنَا قَدْ صُمْتُهُ وَ مَا قَضَيْتُ ثُمَّ قَالَ لِي قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص- الشُّهُورُ شَهْرٌ كَذَا وَ كَذَا وَ شَهْرٌ كَذَا وَ كَذَا.

And from him, from Musa Bin Al Hassan, from Muhammad Bin Abdul Hameed, from Yunus Bin Yaqoub who said,

‘I said to Abu Abdullah^-asws, ‘I fasted a month of Ramazan upon sighting, twenty-nine days, and I did not pay back (a day)’. He^-asws said: ‘And I^-asws have fasted it and did not pay back’. Then he^-asws said to me: ‘Rasool-Allah^-saww said: ‘The months, a month is such and such, and a month is such and such’’[54].

وَ بِإِسْنَادِهِ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ مَهْزِيَارَ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَنْ يُونُسَ بْنِ يَعْقُوبَ‏ مِثْلَهُ إِلَّا أَنَّهُ قَالَ ثُمَّ قَالَ لِي قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص الشُّهُورُ شَهْرٌ كَذَا وَ قَالَ بِأَصَابِعِ يَدَيْهِ جَمِيعاً فَبَسَطَ أَصَابِعَهُ كَذَا وَ كَذَا وَ كَذَا وَ كَذَا وَ كَذَا وَ كَذَا فَقَبَضَ الْإِبْهَامَ وَ ضَمَّهَا

And by his chain, from Ali Bin Mahziyar, from Al Hassan Bin Ali, from yunus Bin Yaqoub

– similar to it except he (the narrator) said, ‘Then he^-asws said to me: ‘Rasool-Allah^-saww said: ‘The months, a month is such and such’, and said (gestured) by his^-saww hands together, spreading his fingers, ‘Such and such and such and such and such and such’ – he^-saww withheld the thumb and pressed it.

قَالَ وَ قَالَ لَهُ غُلَامٌ لَهُ وَ هُوَ مُعَتِّبٌ إِنِّي قَدْ رَأَيْتُ الْهِلَالَ قَالَ فَاذْهَبْ فَأَعْلِمْهُمْ.

He (the narrator) said, ‘And a servant of his said to him, and he is Muattab, ‘I have seen the crescent’. He^-asws said: ‘Then go and let them know’’[55].

وَ بِإِسْنَادِهِ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ نَصْرٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ أَبِي خَالِدٍ الْوَاسِطِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع فِي حَدِيثٍ قَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص قَالَ: وَ إِذَا خَفِيَ الشَّهْرُ فَأَتِمُّوا الْعِدَّةَ شَعْبَانَ ثَلَاثِينَ يَوْماً وَ صُومُوا الْوَاحِدَ وَ ثَلَاثِينَ وَ قَالَ بِيَدِهِ الْوَاحِدُ وَ اثْنَانِ وَ ثَلَاثَةٌ وَاحِدٌ وَ اثْنَانِ وَ ثَلَاثَةٌ وَ يَزْوِي إِبْهَامَهُ

And by his chain, from Ali Bin Al Hassan Bin Fazzal, from Al Husayn Bin Nazr, from his father, from Abu Khalid Al Wasity,

‘From Abu Ja’far^-asws in a Hadeeth, said: ‘Rasool-Allah^-saww said: ‘When the month is hidden, then complete the number – Shaban being of thirty days, and fast the thirty-one’ – and he^-saww said by (gesturing) his^-saww hand: ‘The one, and the two, and the tree, and one and two and three’, and he impeded his^-saww thumb.

ثُمَّ قَالَ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ شَهْرٌ كَذَا وَ شَهْرٌ كَذَا

Then he^-saww said: ‘O you people! A month is such, and a month is such!’

وَ قَالَ عَلِيٌّ ع صُمْنَا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص تِسْعَةً وَ عِشْرِينَ وَ لَمْ نَقْضِهِ وَ رَآهُ تَامّاً

And Ali^-asws said: ‘We fasted twenty-nine with Rasool-Allah^-saww and did not pay back (one day), and he^-saww saw it as complete’.

وَ قَالَ عَلِيٌّ ع قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص مَنْ أَلْحَقَ فِي رَمَضَانَ يَوْماً مِنْ غَيْرِهِ مُتَعَمِّداً فَلَيْسَ بِمُؤْمِنٍ بِاللَّهِ وَ لَا بِي.

And Ali^-asws said: ‘Rasool-Allah^-saww said: ‘One who joins up one day in a (month of) Ramazan from another deliberately, so he is neither a believer in Allah^-azwj nor in me^-saww’’[56].

وَ عَنْهُ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ زُرَارَةَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ الْحَلَبِيِ‏ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فِي حَدِيثٍ قَالَ: قُلْتُ أَ رَأَيْتَ إِنْ كَانَ الشَّهْرُ تِسْعَةً وَ عِشْرِينَ يَوْماً أَقْضِي ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمَ قَالَ لَا إِلَّا أَنْ يَشْهَدَ بِذَلِكَ بَيِّنَةٌ عُدُولٌ فَإِنْ شَهِدُوا أَنَّهُمْ رَأَوُا الْهِلَالَ قَبْلَ ذَلِكَ فَاقْضِ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمَ.

And from him, from Muhammad Bin Abdullah Bin Zurara, from Muhammad Bin Abin Umeyr, from Hammad Bin Usman, from Ubeydullah Bin Ali Al Halby,

‘From Abu Abdullah^-asws in a Hadeeth, he (the narrator) said, ‘I said, ‘What is your view if the month (of Ramazan) was of twenty-nine days, shall I pay back for that day?’ He^-asws said: ‘He^-asws said: ‘No, except if just witnesses testify as proof. So, if they do testify, they had seen the crescent before that, then pay back for that day’’[57].

وَ بِإِسْنَادِهِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ دَاوُدَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْفَضْلِ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ يَعْقُوبَ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ نَصْرِ بْنِ مُزَاحِمٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ شِمْرٍ عَنْ جَابِرٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ‏ مَا أَدْرِي مَا صُمْتُ ثَلَاثِينَ أَكْثَرَ أَوْ مَا صُمْتُ تِسْعَةً وَ عِشْرِينَ يَوْماً إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص قَالَ شَهْرٌ كَذَا وَ شَهْرٌ كَذَا وَ شَهْرٌ كَذَا يَعْقِدُ بِيَدِهِ تِسْعَةً وَ عِشْرِينَ يَوْماً.

And by his chain, from Muhammad Bin Ahmad Bin Dawood, from Muhammad Bin Ali Bin Al Fazl, from Ali Bin Muhammad Bin Yaqoub, from Ali Bin Al Hassan Bin Fazzal, from Al Husayn Bin Nasr Bin Muzahim, from his father, from Amro Bin Shimr, from Jabir,

‘From Abu Abdullah^-asws, he (the narrator) said, ‘I heard him^-asws saying: ‘I^-asws do not know whether I^-asws have fasted thirty (days) more often or fasted twenty-nine (days). Rasool-Allah^-saww had said: ‘A month is such, and a month is such, and a month is such’ – holding by his^-saww hand, twenty-nine days’’[58].

وَ عَنْهُ بِالْإِسْنَادِ عَنِ ابْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنْ أَيُّوبَ بْنِ نُوحٍ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ قَالَ: سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الْأَهِلَّةِ فَقَالَ هِيَ أَهِلَّةُ الشُّهُورِ فَإِذَا رَأَيْتَ الْهِلَالَ فَصُمْ وَ إِذَا رَأَيْتَهُ فَأَفْطِرْ قُلْتُ إِنْ كَانَ الشَّهْرُ تِسْعَةً وَ عِشْرِينَ يَوْماً أَقْضِي ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمَ قَالَ لَا إِلَّا أَنْ تَشْهَدَ بَيِّنَةٌ عُدُولٌ فَإِنْ شَهِدُوا أَنَّهُمْ رَأَوُا الْهِلَالَ قَبْلَ ذَلِكَ فَاقْضِ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمَ.

And from him, by the chain from Ibn Fazzal, from Ayoub Bin Nuh, from Safwan Bin Yahya, from Abdullah Bin Sinan who said,

‘I asked Abu Abdullah^-asws about the crescent. He^-asws said: ‘It is a crescent of the months. So, when you see the crescent, then fast, and when you see it, then break’. I said, ‘If the month (of Ramazan) was of twenty-nine days, shall I pay back for that day?’ He^-asws said: ‘No, except if just witnesses testify as proof, testifying that they had seen the crescent before that, then pat back for the day’’[59].

وَ عَنْهُ عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْقَاسِمِ الْبَزَّازِ عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الْمُحَمَّدِيِّ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنْ أَبِي أَحْمَدَ بْنِ عُمَرَ بْنِ الرَّبِيعِ عَنِ الصَّادِقِ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ ع‏ وَ ذَكَرَ مِثْلَهُ إِلَّا أَنَّهُ قَالَ إِلَّا أَنْ يَشْهَدَ لَكَ عُدُولٌ أَنَّهُمْ رَأَوْهُ فَإِنْ شَهِدُوا فَاقْضِ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمَ.

And from him, from Ubeydullah Bin Ali Bin Al Qasim Al Bazzaz, from Ja’far Bin Abdullah Al Hamadany, from Al Hassan Bin Al Husayn, from Abu Ahmad Bin Umar Bin Al Rabie,

‘From Al-Sadiq Ja’far^-asws Bin Muhammad^-asws – and he mentioned similar to it, except that he^-asws said: ‘Except if just witnesses testify to you that they had seen it, so if they do testify, then pay back that day’’[60].

وَ بِإِسْنَادِهِ عَنْ أَبِي غَالِبٍ الزُّرَارِيِّ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ غَالِبٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ عَنْ أَبِي الصَّبَّاحِ صَبِيحِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَنْ صَابِرٍ مَوْلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ: سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَصُومُ تِسْعَةً وَ عِشْرِينَ يَوْماً وَ يُفْطِرُ لِلرُّؤْيَةِ وَ يَصُومُ لِلرُّؤْيَةِ أَ يَقْضِي يَوْماً فَقَالَ كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع يَقُولُ لَا إِلَّا أَنْ يَجِي‏ءَ شَاهِدَانِ عَدْلَانِ فَيَشْهَدَا أَنَّهُمَا رَأَيَاهُ قَبْلَ ذَلِكَ بِلَيْلَةٍ فَيَقْضِي يَوْماً.

And by his chain, from Ghalib Al Zurari, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad, from Muhammad Bin Ghalib, from Ali Bin Al Hassan Bin Fazzal, from Muhammad Bin Abu Hamza, from Abu Al Sabah Sabeeh Bin Abdullah, from Zabir,

‘A slave of Abu Abdullah^-asws said, ‘I asked him^-asws about the man fasting twenty-nine days and breaks to the sighting, and fasts to the sighting. Should he pay back a day?’ He^-asws said: ‘Amir Al-Momineen^-asws was saying: ‘No, unless two just witnesses come and testify that they had seen it before that by a night, then he should pay back a day’’[61].

وَ عَنْهُ عَنْ خَالِهِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ زَكَرِيَّا بْنِ شَيْبَانَ عَنْ يَزِيدَ بْنِ إِسْحَاقَ شَعِرٍ عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ يَعْقُوبَ الْأَحْمَرِ قَالَ: قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ تَامٌّ أَبَداً فَقَالَ لَا بَلْ شَهْرٌ مِنَ الشُّهُورِ.

And from him, from his uncle Muhammad Bin Ja’far, from Yahya Bin Zakariya Bin Shayban, from Yazeed Bin Is’haq Shair, from Hammad Bin Usman, from Yaqoub Bin Al Ahmar who said,

‘I said to Abu Abdullah^-asws, ‘Will the month of Ramazan be complete, forever?’ He^-asws said: ‘No, but (it is) a month from the months’’[62].

وَ بِالْإِسْنَادِ عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ فِطْرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ قَالَ: قَالَ يَعْنِي أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‏ يُصِيبُ شَهْرَ رَمَضَانَ مَا يُصِيبُ الشُّهُورَ مِنَ النُّقْصَانِ فَإِذَا صُمْتَ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ تِسْعَةً وَ عِشْرِينَ يَوْماً ثُمَّ تَغَيَّمَتْ فَأَتِمَّ الْعِدَّةَ ثَلَاثِينَ يَوْماً.

And by the chain from Hammad Bin Usman, from Fitr Bin Abdul Malik who said,

‘He^-asws said, meaning Abu Abdullah^-asws: ‘It affects a month of Ramazan what affects the (other) months, from the deficiencies. When you fast a month of Ramazan of twenty-nine days, then it (sky) gets clouded, then complete the number of thirty days’’[63].

وَ بِإِسْنَادِهِ عَنِ ابْنِ رَبَاحٍ فِي كِتَابِ الصِّيَامِ عَنْ حُذَيْفَةَ بْنِ مَنْصُورٍ عَنْ مُعَاذِ بْنِ كَثِيرٍ قَالَ: قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنَّ النَّاسَ‏ يَقُولُونَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص صَامَ تِسْعَةً وَ عِشْرِينَ أَكْثَرَ مِمَّا صَامَ ثَلَاثِينَ فَقَالَ كَذَبُوا مَا صَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص- مُنْذُ بَعَثَهُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى إِلَى أَنْ قَبَضَهُ أَقَلَّ مِنْ ثَلَاثِينَ يَوْماً وَ لَا نَقَصَ شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ مُنْذُ خَلَقَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى السَّمَاوَاتِ وَ الْأَرْضَ مِنْ ثَلَاثِينَ يَوْماً وَ لَيْلَةً.

By his chain from Ibn Rayah in the book ‘Al Siyam’, from Huzeyfa Bin Mansour, from Muaz Bin Kaseer who said,

‘I said to Abu Abdullah^-asws, ‘The people are saying that Rasool-Allah^-saww fasted twenty-nine (days) more than fasting thirty’. He^-asws said: ‘They are lying! Rasool-Allah^-saww did not fast, since Allah^-azwj the Exalted Sent him^-saww until He^-azwj Caused him^-saww to pass away, less than thirty days, nor has a month of Ramazan been deficient from thirty days and nights since Allah^-azwj Created the skies and the earth’’[64].

وَ عَنْهُ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ حُذَيْفَةَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ مُعَاذِ بْنِ كَثِيرٍ قَالَ: قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنَّ النَّاسَ يَرْوُونَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص صَامَ تِسْعَةً وَ عِشْرِينَ يَوْماً قَالَ فَقَالَ لِي أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع لَا وَ اللَّهِ مَا نَقَصَ شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ مُنْذُ خَلَقَ اللَّهُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَ الْأَرْضَ مِنْ ثَلَاثِينَ يَوْماً وَ ثَلَاثِينَ لَيْلَةً.

And from him, from Al Hassan Bin Huzeyfa, from his father, from Muaz Bin Kaseer who said,

‘I said to Abu Abdullah^-asws, ‘The people are reporting that Rasool-Allah^-saww fasted twenty-nine days’. Abu Abdullah^-asws said to me: ‘No, by Allah^-saww! A month of Ramazan has not been deficient from thirty days and thirty nights since Allah^-azwj Created the skies and the earth’’[65].

وَ عَنْهُ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنْ حُذَيْفَةَ بْنِ مَنْصُورٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ: شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ ثَلَاثُونَ يَوْماً لَا يَنْقُصُ أَبَداً.

And from him, from Muhammad Bin Sinan, from Huzeyfa Bin Mansour,

‘From Abu Abdullah^-asws having said: ‘A month of Ramazan would be of thirty days, not being deficient, ever!’’[66]

وَ رَوَاهُ أَيْضاً عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنِ ابْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنْ حُذَيْفَةَ بْنِ مَنْصُورٍ عَنْ مُعَاذِ بْنِ كَثِيرٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ: شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ ثَلَاثُونَ يَوْماً لَا يَنْقُصُ وَ اللَّهِ أَبَداً.

And it is reported as well, from Muhammad Bin Yahya, from Muhammad Bin Al Husayn, from Ibn Sinan, from Huzeyfa Bin Mansour, from Muaz Bin Kaseer,

‘From Abu Abdullah^-asws having said: ‘A month of Ramazan would be of thirty days, not being deficient ever, by Allah^-azwj!’’[67]

وَ عَنْهُ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ حُذَيْفَةَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ مُعَاذِ بْنِ كَثِيرٍ قَالَ: قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنَّ النَّاسَ يَرْوُونَ عِنْدَنَا أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص صَامَ هَكَذَا وَ هَكَذَا وَ هَكَذَا وَ حَكَى بِيَدِهِ يُطْبِقُ إِحْدَى يَدَيْهِ عَلَى الْأُخْرَى عَشْراً وَ عَشْراً وَ تِسْعاً أَكْثَرَ مِمَّا صَامَ هَكَذَا وَ هَكَذَا وَ هَكَذَا يَعْنِي عَشْراً وَ عَشْراً وَ عَشْراً

And from him, from Al Hassan Bin Huzeyfa, from his father, from Muaz Bin Kaseer who said,

‘I said to Abu Abdullah^-asws, ‘The people with us are reporting that Rasool-Allah^-saww fasted like this, and like this, and like this’ – and narrated (gestured) by his hand layering one hand upon the other, ten, and ten, and nine, more than he^-saww fasted like this, and like this, and like this, meaning ten, and ten, and ten’.

قَالَ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع مَا صَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص أَقَلَّ مِنْ ثَلَاثِينَ يَوْماً وَ مَا نَقَصَ شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ مِنْ ثَلَاثِينَ يَوْماً مُنْذُ خَلَقَ اللَّهُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَ الْأَرْضَ.

He (the narrator) said, ‘Abu Abdullah^-asws said: ‘Rasool-Allah^-saww did not fast less than thirty days and a month of Ramazan has not been deficient from thirty days since Allah^-azwj Created the skies and the earth’’[68].

وَ عَنْهُ عَنْ أَبِي عِمْرَانَ الْمُنْشِدِ عَنْ حُذَيْفَةَ بْنِ مَنْصُورٍ قَالَ: قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‏ لَا وَ اللَّهِ لَا وَ اللَّهِ مَا نَقَصَ شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ- وَ لَا يَنْقُصُ أَبَداً مِنْ ثَلَاثِينَ يَوْماً وَ ثَلَاثِينَ لَيْلَةً

And from him, from Abu Imran Al Munshid, from Huzeyfa Bin Mansour who said,

‘Abu Abdullah^-asws said: ‘No, by Allah^-azwj! No, by Allah^-azwj! A month of Ramazan will not be deficient, not being deficient, ever from thirty days and thirty nights!’

فَقُلْتُ لِحُذَيْفَةَ لَعَلَّهُ قَالَ لَكَ ثَلَاثِينَ لَيْلَةً وَ ثَلَاثِينَ يَوْماً كَمَا يَقُولُ النَّاسُ اللَّيْلَ قَبْلَ‏ النَّهَارِ فَقَالَ لِي حُذَيْفَةُ هَكَذَا سَمِعْتُ.

I said to Huzeyfa, ‘Perhaps he^-asws said to you: ‘Thirty nights and thirty days, just as the people are saying, the night is before the day’. Huzeyfa said to me, ‘This is how I heard’’[69].

وَ عَنْهُ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ حُذَيْفَةَ بْنِ مَنْصُورٍ قَالَ: أَتَيْتُ مُعَاذَ بْنَ كَثِيرٍ فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ- وَ كَانَ مَعِي إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ‏ مُخَوَّلٍ‏ فَقَالَ مُعَاذٌ لَا وَ اللَّهِ مَا نَقَصَ شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ قَطُّ.

And from him, from Muhammad Bin Abu Umeyr, from Huzeyfa Bin Mansour who said,

‘I came to Muaz Bin Kaseer during a month of Ramazan, and with me was Is’haq Bin Mukhawwal. Muaz said, ‘No, by Allah^-azwj! A month of Ramazan cannot be deficient, ever!’’[70] (P.s. – This is not a Hadeeth)

وَ عَنْهُ عَنْ سَمَاعَةَ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ حُذَيْفَةَ عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‏ فِي قَوْلِهِ تَعَالَى‏ وَ لِتُكْمِلُوا الْعِدَّةَ قَالَ صَوْمَ ثَلَاثِينَ يَوْماً.

And from him, from Sama’at, from Al Hassan Bin Huzeyfa, from Muawiya Bin Ammat,

‘From Abu Abdullah^-asws regarding Words of the Exalted: in order for you to complete the number [2:185]. He^-asws said: ‘Fasting thirty days’’[71].

And by his chain, from Muhammad Bin Al Husayn Bin Abu Al Khattab, from Muhammad Bin Ismail, from Muhammad Bin Yaqoub Bin Shuayb, from his father who said,

‘I said to Abu Abdullah^-asws, ‘The people are saying that Rasool-Allah^-saww fasted twenty-nine days more than what he^-saww fasted thirty days’.

He^-asws said: ‘They are lying! Rasool-Allah^-saww did not fast except complete, and that is the Word of Allah^-azwj the Exalted: in order for you to complete the number [2:185]. A month of Ramazan is of thirty days, and Shawwal of twenty-nine days, and Zul Qadah of thirty days, not being deficient, ever, because Allah^-azwj Exalted is Saying: And We Appointed thirty nights for Musa [7:142], and Zul Hijja is of twenty-nine days. Then the months are upon similar to that, a complete month and a deficient month, and Shaban cannot be complete, ever!’’[72]

وَ بِالْإِسْنَادِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ بَابَوَيْهِ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بِالْإِسْنَادِ الْمَذْكُورِ سَابِقاً مِثْلَهُ إِلَّا أَنَّهُ قَالَ مَا صَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص إِلَّا تَامّاً وَ لَا تَكُونُ الْفَرَائِضُ نَاقِصَةً

And by the chain from Muhammad Bin Ali Bin Babuwayh, from his father, from Sa’ad Bin Abdullah, from Muhammad Bin Al Husayn, by the mentioned preceding chain – similar to it, except he^-asws said: ‘Rasool-Allah^-saww did not fast except complete, and the Obligations cannot be deficient.

إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى خَلَقَ السَّنَةَ ثَلَاثَمِائَةٍ وَ سِتِّينَ يَوْماً وَ خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَ الْأَرْضَ فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ فَحَجَزَهَا مِنْ ثَلَاثِمِائَةٍ وَ سِتِّينَ يَوْماً فَالسَّنَةُ ثَلَاثُمِائَةٍ وَ أَرْبَعَةٌ وَ خَمْسُونَ يَوْماً وَ شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ ثَلَاثُونَ يَوْماً وَ سَاقَ الْحَدِيثَ.

Allah^-azwj the Exalted Created the year of three hundred and sixty (360) days, and Created the skies and the earth in six days. He^-azwj Detained (Put away) these from three hundred and sixty days, so the year is of three hundred and fifty-four (354) days, and the month of Ramazan is of thirty-days’ – and continued the Hadeeth’’[73].

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَعْقُوبَ عَنْ عِدَّةٍ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِهِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ: إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى خَلَقَ الدُّنْيَا فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ ثُمَّ اخْتَزَلَهَا عَنْ أَيَّامِ السَّنَةِ وَ السَّنَةُ ثَلَاثُمِائَةٍ وَ أَرْبَعَةٌ وَ خَمْسُونَ يَوْماً

Muhammad Bin Yaqoub, from a number of our companions, from Sahl Bin Ziyad, from Muhammad Bin Ismail, from one of his companions,

‘From Abu Abdullah^-asws: ‘Allah^-azwj Blessed and Exalted Created the world in six days, then reduced these from the days of the year, and the year is (now) of three hundred and fifty-four (354) days.

شَعْبَانُ لَا يَتِمُّ أَبَداً وَ رَمَضَانُ لَا يَنْقُصُ وَ اللَّهِ أَبَداً وَ لَا تَكُونُ فَرِيضَةٌ نَاقِصَةً إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَقُولُ‏ وَ لِتُكْمِلُوا الْعِدَّةَ- وَ شَوَّالٌ تِسْعَةٌ وَ عِشْرُونَ يَوْماً وَ ذُو الْقَعْدَةِ ثَلَاثُونَ يَوْماً يَقُولُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَ‏ وَ واعَدْنا مُوسى‏ ثَلاثِينَ لَيْلَةً وَ أَتْمَمْناها بِعَشْرٍ فَتَمَّ مِيقاتُ رَبِّهِ أَرْبَعِينَ لَيْلَةً- وَ ذُو الْحِجَّةِ تِسْعَةٌ وَ عِشْرُونَ يَوْماً وَ الْمُحَرَّمُ ثَلَاثُونَ يَوْماً ثُمَّ الشُّهُورُ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ شَهْرٌ تَامٌّ وَ شَهْرٌ نَاقِصٌ.

Shaban cannot be complete, ever, and the month of Ramazan cannot be deficient, by Allah^-azwj ever! And an Obligation cannot be deficient. Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic is Saying: in order for you to complete the number [2:185]. And Shawwal is of twenty-nine days, and Zul qadah is of thirty days. Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic is Saying: And We Appointed thirty nights for Musa and Completed it with ten (more), so the complete time with his Lord was of forty nights. [7:142]. And Zul Hijja is of twenty-nine days, and Al-Muharram is of thirty days. Then the months after that are a complete month, and a deficient month’’[74].

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بِإِسْنَادِهِ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ أَنَّهُ سَأَلَ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَ‏ وَ لِتُكْمِلُوا الْعِدَّةَ قَالَ ثَلَاثِينَ يَوْماً.

Muhammad Bin Ali Bin Al Husayn, by his chain from Abu Baseer,

‘He asked Abu Abdullah^-asws about Words of Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic: in order for you to complete the number [2:185]. He^-asws said: ‘Thirty days’’[75].

وَ بِإِسْنَادِهِ عَنْ يَاسِرٍ الْخَادِمِ قَالَ: قُلْتُ لِلرِّضَا ع هَلْ يَكُونُ شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ تِسْعَةً وَ عِشْرِينَ يَوْماً فَقَالَ إِنَّ شَهْرَ رَمَضَانَ لَا يَنْقُصُ مِنْ ثَلَاثِينَ يَوْماً أَبَداً.

And by his chain from Yasser Al Khadim who said,

‘I said to Al-Reza^-asws, ‘Can a month of Ramazan be of twenty-nine days?’ He^-asws said: ‘A month of Ramazan cannot be deficient from thirty days, ever!’’[76]

وَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ وَ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ سَعْدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ بَزِيعٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ يَعْقُوبَ بْنِ شُعَيْبٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَنَّهُ قَالَ فِي حَدِيثٍ طَوِيلٍ‏ شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ ثَلَاثُونَ يَوْماً لِقَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَ‏ وَ لِتُكْمِلُوا الْعِدَّةَ الْكَامِلَةَ التَّامَّةَ قَالَ ثَلَاثُونَ يَوْماً.

And from his father and Muhammad Bin Al Hassan, from Sa’ad, from Muhammad Bin Al Husayn, from Muhammad Bin Ismail Bin Bazie, from Muhammad Bin Yaqoub Bin Shuayb, from his father,

‘From Abu Abdullah^-asws in a lengthy Hadeeth: ‘A month of Ramazan is of thirty days due to the Words of Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic: in order for you to complete the number [2:185], the perfect, the complete, thirty days’’[77].

عن ابن أبي عمير عن رجل عن أبي عبد الله ع قال‏ قلت له: جعلت فداك- ما يتحدث به عندنا أن النبي ص صام تسعة و عشرين- أكثر مما صام ثلاثين أ حق هذا- قال: ما خلق الله من هذا حرفا، ما صامه النبي ص إلا ثلاثين، لأن الله يقول: «وَ لِتُكْمِلُوا الْعِدَّةَ» فكان رسول الله ص ينقصه‏.

From Ibn Abu Umeyr, from a man from Abu Abdullah^-asws having said: ‘I said to him^-asws, ‘May I be sacrificed for you^-asws! What is being narrated in our presence is that the Prophet^-saww fasted twenty-nine days more than what he^-saww fasted thirty. Is this true?’ He^-asws said: ‘Allah^-azwj did not Created a letter from this. The Prophet^-saww did not fast except thirty, because Allah^-azwj is saying: ‘in order for you to complete the number, [2:185]. So, was Rasool-Allah^-saww reducing it?’’. (البرهان ج 1: 184. البحار ج 20: 77)

عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِهِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى خَلَقَ الدُّنْيَا فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ ثُمَّ اخْتَزَلَهَا عَنْ أَيَّامِ السَّنَةِ وَ السَّنَةُ ثَلَاثُمِائَةٍ وَ أَرْبَعٌ وَ خَمْسُونَ يَوْماً شَعْبَانُ لَا يَتِمُّ أَبَداً رَمَضَانُ لَا يَنْقُصُ وَ اللَّهِ أَبَداً وَ لَا تَكُونُ فَرِيضَةٌ نَاقِصَةً

A number of our companions, from Sahl Bin Ziyad, from Muhammad Bin Ismail, from one of his companions,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah^-asws having said: ‘Allah^-azwj Blessed and High Created the world in six days, then Reduced these from the days of the year; and the year is of three hundred and fifty four (354) days. Shaban will never be complete[78], ever; the month of Ramazan will never be deficient, by Allah^-azwj, ever! And the Obligation would never happen to be deficient.

إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَقُولُ وَ لِتُكْمِلُوا الْعِدَّةَ وَ شَوَّالٌ تِسْعَةٌ وَ عِشْرُونَ يَوْماً وَ ذُو الْقَعْدَةِ ثَلَاثُونَ يَوْماً لِقَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ واعَدْنا مُوسى ثَلاثِينَ لَيْلَةً وَ أَتْمَمْناها بِعَشْرٍ فَتَمَّ مِيقاتُ رَبِّهِ أَرْبَعِينَ لَيْلَةً وَ ذُو الْحِجَّةِ تِسْعَةٌ وَ عِشْرُونَ يَوْماً وَ الْمُحَرَّمُ ثَلَاثُونَ يَوْماً ثُمَّ الشُّهُورُ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ شَهْرٌ تَامٌّ وَ شَهْرٌ نَاقِصٌ .

Allah Mighty and Majestic is Saying [2:185] and (He Desires) that you should complete the number; and Shawwal is of twenty nine days; and Zilqaada is of thirty days due to the Words of Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic [7:142] And We Appointed with Musa a time of thirty nights and Completed them with ten (more), so the Appointed time of his Lord was complete forty nights; and Zilhijja is of twenty nine days; and Al-Muharram is of thirty days. Then, the months after that would be either a complete month or an incomplete month’.[79]

عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ خَلَفِ بْنِ حَمَّادٍ عَنْ سَعِيدٍ النَّقَّاشِ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) لِي أَمَا إِنَّ فِي الْفِطْرِ تَكْبِيراً وَ لَكِنَّهُ مَسْتُورٌ .قَالَ قُلْتُ وَ أَيْنَ هُوَ قَالَ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْفِطْرِ فِي الْمَغْرِبِ وَ الْعِشَاءِ الْآخِرَةِ وَ فِي صَلَاةِ الْفَجْرِ وَ فِي صَلَاةِ الْعِيدِ ثُمَّ يُقْطَعُ

Ali Bin Muhammad, from Ahmad Bin Abu Abdullah, from his father, from Khalaf Bin Hammad, from Saeed Al Naqqash who said,

‘Abu Abdullah^-asws said to me: ‘In Al-Fitr (1^st of Shawwal), there is a Takbeer (exclamations of the Greatness of Allah^-azwj), but it is concealed. I said, ‘And where is it?’ He^-asws said: ‘The night of Al-Fitr during Al-Maghrib and Al-Isha the last, and in Al-Fajr Prayer, and in the Eid Prayer. Then it is cut-off’.

قَالَ قُلْتُ كَيْفَ أَقُولُ قَالَ تَقُولُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ وَ لِلَّهِ الْحَمْدُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ عَلَى مَا هَدَانَا وَ هُوَ قَوْلُ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ لِتُكْمِلُوا الْعِدَّةَ يَعْنِي الصِّيَامَ وَ لِتُكَبِّرُوا اللَّهَ عَلى ما هَداكُمْ .

He (the narrator) said, ‘I said, ‘How should I be saying?’ He^-asws said: ‘You should be saying, ‘Allah^-azwj is the Greatest (beyond description)! Allah^-azwj is the Greatest(beyond description)! There is no god except for Allah^-azwj and Allah^-azwj is the Greatest! Allah^-azwj is the Greatest and for Allah^-azwj is the Praise upon what He^-azwj Guided us’, and these are the Words of Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic and (He Desires) that you should complete the number [2:185] – Meaning the Fasts (to 30)- and that you should exclaim the Greatness of Allah for His having Guided you’.

عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَسْبَاطٍ عَنْ خَلَفِ بْنِ حَمَّادٍ مِثْلَهُ .

A number of our companions, from Sahl Bin Ziyad, from Ali Bin Asbaat, from Khalaf Bin Hammad – similar to it.[80]

And in a report of Muhammad Bin Sinan, from Huzeyfa Bin Mansour, from Abu Abdullah^-asws having said: ‘The month of Ramazan is of thirty days, not being deficient, ever!’’[81]

And in a report of Huzeyfa Bin Mansour, from Muaz Bin Kaseer, and he is called Muaz Bin Muslim Al-Harra,

‘From Abu Abdullah^-asws having said: ‘A month of Ramazan is of thirty days, nor being deficient, by Allah^-azwj, ever!’’[82]

وَ فِي رِوَايَةِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ بَزِيعٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ يَعْقُوبَ عَنْ شُعَيْبٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ: قُلْتُ لَهُ إِنَّ النَّاسَ يَرْوُونَ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ص مَا صَامَ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ تِسْعَةً وَ عِشْرِينَ يَوْماً أَكْثَرُ مِمَّا صَامَ ثَلَاثِينَ

And in a report of Muhammad Bin Ismail Bin Bazie, from Muhammad Bin Yazqoub, from Shuayb, from his father,

‘From Abu Abdullah^-asws, he (the narrator) said, ‘I said to him^-asws, ‘The people are reporting that the Prophet^-saww did not fast from a month of Ramazan twenty-nine days any more than what he^-saww fasted thirty’.

قَالَ كَذَبُوا مَا صَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص إِلَّا تَامّاً وَ لَا تَكُونُ الْفَرَائِضُ نَاقِصَةً إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى خَلَقَ السَّنَةَ ثَلَاثَمِائَةٍ وَ سِتِّينَ يَوْماً وَ خَلَقَ السَّماواتِ وَ الْأَرْضَ فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ* فَحَجَزَهَا مِنْ ثَلَاثِمِائَةٍ وَ سِتِّينَ يَوْماً فَالسَّنَةُ ثَلَاثُمِائَةٍ وَ أَرْبَعَةٌ وَ خَمْسُونَ يَوْماً

He^-asws said: ‘They are lying! Rasool-Allah^-saww did not fast except complete, nor can the Obligation be deficient. Allah^-azwj Blessed and Exalted Created three hundred and sixty days, Created the skies and the earth in six days, [7:54]. He^-azwj Withheld these from three hundred and sixty days. Thus, the year is of three hundred and fifty-four days.

وَ شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ ثَلَاثُونَ يَوْماً لِقَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَ‏ وَ لِتُكْمِلُوا الْعِدَّةَ وَ الْكَامِلُ تَامٌّ وَ شَوَّالٌ تِسْعَةٌ وَ عِشْرُونَ يَوْماً وَ ذُو الْقَعْدَةِ ثَلَاثُونَ يَوْماً لِقَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- وَ واعَدْنا مُوسى‏ ثَلاثِينَ لَيْلَةً فَالشَّهْرُ هَكَذَا ثُمَّ هَكَذَا أَيْ شَهْرٌ تَامٌّ وَ شَهْرٌ نَاقِصٌ وَ شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ لَا يَنْقُصُ أَبَداً وَ شَعْبَانُ لَا يَتِمُّ أَبَداً.

And a month of Ramazan is of thirty days, due to the Words of Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic: in order for you to complete the number, [2:185], the perfect is complete; and Shawwal is of twenty nine days, and Zul Qadah is of thirty days due to the Words of Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic: And We Appointed thirty nights for Musa [7:142]. The month is like this, then like this, i.e. a month complete and a month deficient, and a month of Ramazan will not be deficient, ever, and a Shaban will not be complete, ever!’’[83]

وَ سَأَلَ أَبُو بَصِيرٍ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‏ عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَ‏ وَ لِتُكْمِلُوا الْعِدَّةَ قَالَ ثَلَاثِينَ يَوْماً.

And Abu Baseer asked Abu Abdullah^-asws about Words of Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic: in order for you to complete the number, [2:185]. He^-asws said: ‘Thirty days’’.[84]

And it is reported from Yasser Al Khadim who said, ‘I said to Al Reza^-asws! Can a month of Ramazan be of twenty-nine days?’ He^-asws said: ‘A month of Ramazan will not be deficient from thirty days, ever!’’[85]

‘I asked Abu Abdullah^-asws about Words of Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic: in order for you to complete the number, [2:185]. He^-asws said: ‘Thirty days’’.[86]

حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي وَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ الْوَلِيدِ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا قَالا حَدَّثَنَا سَعْدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ أَبِي الْخَطَّابِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ بَزِيعٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ يَعْقُوبَ بْنِ شُعَيْبٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَنَّهُ قَالَ فِي حَدِيثٍ طَوِيلٍ‏ شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ ثَلَاثُونَ يَوْماً لِقَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَ‏ وَ لِتُكْمِلُوا الْعِدَّةَ وَ الْكَامِلَةُ التَّامَّةُ.

‘From Abu Abdullah^-asws having said in a lengthy Hadeeth: ‘A month of Ramazan is of thirty days due to the Words of Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic: in order for you to complete the number, [2:185], and the perfecting is the completing’’.[87]

حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سَعْدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ أَبِي الْخَطَّابِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ بَزِيعٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ يَعْقُوبَ بْنِ شُعَيْبٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ: قُلْتُ لَهُ إِنَّ النَّاسَ يَرْوُونَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص مَا صَامَ شَهْرَ رَمَضَانَ تِسْعَةً وَ عِشْرِينَ أَكْثَرَ مِمَّا صَامَ ثَلَاثِينَ

It is narrated to us by my father who said, ‘It is narrated to us by Sa’ad Bin Abdullah, from Muhammad Bin Al Husayn Bin Abu Al Khattab, from Muhammad Bin Ismail Bin Bazie, from Muhammad Bin Yaqoub Bin Shuayb, from his father,

‘From Abu Abdullah^-asws, he (the narrator) said, ‘I said to him^-asws, ‘The people are reporting that Rasool-Allah^-saww did not fast a month of Ramazan twenty-nine days any more than what he^-saww fasted thirty’.

قَالَ كَذَبُوا مَا صَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص إِلَّا تَامّاً وَ لَا تَكُونُ الْفَرَائِضُ نَاقِصَةً إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى خَلَقَ السَّنَةَ ثَلَاثَمِائَةٍ وَ سِتِّينَ يَوْماً- وَ خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَ الْأَرْضَ فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ فَحَجَزَهَا مِنْ ثَلَاثمِائَةٍ وَ سِتِّينَ فَالسَّنَةُ ثَلَاثُمِائَةٍ وَ أَرْبَعَةٌ وَ خَمْسُونَ يَوْماً

He^-asws said: ‘They are lying! Rasool-Allah^-saww did not fast except complete, and the Obligation cannot be deficient. Allah^-azwj Blessed and Exalted Created the year as being of three hundred and sixty days, and Created the skies and the earth in six days. He^-azwj Set these aside from three hundred and sixty, so the year (became) of three hundred and fifty-four days.

وَ شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ ثَلَاثُونَ يَوْماً لِقَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- وَ لِتُكْمِلُوا الْعِدَّةَ وَ الْكَامِلُ تَامٌّ وَ شَوَّالٌ تِسْعَةٌ وَ عِشْرُونَ يَوْماً وَ ذُو الْقَعْدَةِ ثَلَاثُونَ يَوْماً لِقَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَ‏ وَ واعَدْنا مُوسى‏ ثَلاثِينَ لَيْلَةً

And a month of Ramazan is of thirty days due to the Words of Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic: in order for you to complete the number, [2:185], and the perfect is the complete. And Shawwal is of twenty-nine days, and Zul Qadah is of thirty days due to the Words of Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic: We Appointed thirty nights for Musa [7:142].

فَالشَّهْرُ هَكَذَا ثُمَّ عَلَى هَذَا شَهْرٌ تَامٌّ وَ شَهْرٌ نَاقِصٌ وَ شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ لَا يَنْقُصُ أَبَداً وَ شَعْبَانُ لَا يَتِمُّ أَبَداً.

So, the months are like this. Then upon this a month is complete and a month is deficient, and a month of Ramazan cannot be deficient, ever, and Shaban cannot be complete, ever!’’[88]

فَأَمَّا الَّذِي رَوَاهُ- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ أَبِي الْخَطَّابِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ يَعْقُوبَ بْنِ شُعَيْبٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ: قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنَّ النَّاسَ يَقُولُونَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص صَامَ تِسْعَةً وَ عِشْرِينَ يَوْماً أَكْثَرَ مِمَّا صَامَ ثَلَاثِينَ يَوْماً

As for that which is reported – Muhammad Bin Al Husayn Bin Abu Al Khattab, from Muhammad Bin Ismail, from Muhammad Bin Yaqoub Bin Shuayb, from his father who said,

‘I said to Abu Abdullah^-asws, ‘The people are saying that Rasool-Allah^-saww fasted twenty-nine days more than what he^-saww fasted thirty days’.

فَقَالَ كَذَبُوا مَا صَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص إِلَّا تَامّاً وَ ذَلِكَ قَوْلُ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى‏ وَ لِتُكْمِلُوا الْعِدَّةَ

He^-asws said: ‘They are lying! Rasool-Allah^-saww did not fast except complete, and that is Word of Allah^-azwj the Exalted: in order for you to complete the number, [2:185].

فَشَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ ثَلَاثُونَ يَوْماً وَ شَوَّالٌ تِسْعَةٌ وَ عِشْرُونَ يَوْماً وَ ذُو الْقَعْدَةِ ثَلَاثُونَ يَوْماً لَا يَنْقُصُ أَبَداً لِأَنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى يَقُولُ‏ وَ واعَدْنا مُوسى‏ ثَلاثِينَ لَيْلَةً وَ ذُو الْحِجَّةِ تِسْعَةٌ وَ عِشْرُونَ يَوْماً ثُمَّ الشُّهُورُ عَلَى مِثْلِ ذَلِكَ شَهْرٌ تَامٌّ وَ شَهْرٌ نَاقِصٌ وَ شَعْبَانُ لَا يَتِمُّ أَبَداً.

A month of Ramazan is of thirty days, and Shawwal is of twenty-nine days, and Zul Qadah is of thirty days, not being deficient, ever, because Allah^-azwj the Exalted is Saying: We Appointed thirty nights for Musa [7:142]m and Zul Hijja is of twenty-nine days. Then the months are upon similar to that, a complete month and a deficient month, and Shaban will not be complete, ever!’’[89]

وَ رَوَاهُ الْكُلَيْنِيُّ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَعْقُوبَ عَنْ عِدَّةٍ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِهِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ: إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ خَلَقَ الدُّنْيَا فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ ثُمَّ اخْتَزَلَهَا مِنْ أَيَّامِ السَّنَةِ فَالسَّنَةُ ثَلَاثُمِائَةٍ وَ أَرْبَعَةٌ وَ خَمْسُونَ يَوْماً

And it is reported by Al Kulayni – Muhammad Bin Yaqoub, from a number of our companions, from Sahl Bin Ziyad, from Muhammad Bin Ismail, from one of his companions,

‘From Abu Abdullah^-asws having said: ‘Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic Created the word in six days, then reduced these from days of the year, so the year is of three hundred and fifty-four days.

شَعْبَانُ لَا يَتِمُّ أَبَداً وَ شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ لَا يَنْقُصُ وَ اللَّهِ أَبَداً وَ لَا تَكُونُ فَرِيضَةٌ نَاقِصَةً إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى يَقُولُ‏ وَ لِتُكْمِلُوا الْعِدَّةَ وَ شَوَّالٌ تِسْعَةٌ وَ عِشْرُونَ يَوْماً وَ ذُو الْقَعْدَةِ ثَلَاثُونَ يَوْماً يَقُولُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَ‏ وَ واعَدْنا مُوسى‏ ثَلاثِينَ لَيْلَةً وَ أَتْمَمْناها بِعَشْرٍ وَ ذُو الْحِجَّةِ تِسْعَةٌ وَ عِشْرُونَ يَوْماً وَ الْمُحَرَّمُ ثَلَاثُونَ يَوْماً ثُمَّ الشُّهُورُ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ شَهْرٌ تَامٌّ وَ شَهْرٌ نَاقِصٌ.

Shaban cannot be complete, ever, and month of Ramazan cannot be deficient, by Allah^-azwj, ever, and an Obligation cannot be deficient. Allah^-azwj the Exalted is Saying: in order for you to complete the number, [2:185]; and Shawwal is of twenty-nine days, and Zul Qadah is of thirty days. Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic is Saying: And We Appointed thirty nights for Musa and Completed it with ten (more), [7:142], and Zul Hijja is of twenty-nine days, and Al Muharram is of thirty days. Then the months after than are a complete month and a deficient month’’.[90]

وَ أَمَّا مَا رَوَاهُ- ابْنُ رَبَاحٍ عَنْ سَمَاعَةَ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ حُذَيْفَةَ عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‏ فِي قَوْلِهِ تَعَالَى‏ وَ لِتُكْمِلُوا الْعِدَّةَ قَالَ صَوْمُ ثَلَاثِينَ يَوْماً.

And as for what is reported by Ibn Rabah, from Sama’at, from Al Hassan Bin Huzeyfa, from Muawiya Bin Ammar,

‘From Abu Abdullah^-asws regarding Words of the Exalted: in order for you to complete the number, [2:185]. He^-asws said: ‘Fasts of thirty days’’.[91]

فَأَمَّا مَا رَوَاهُ‏ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ أَبِي الْخَطَّابِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ يَعْقُوبَ بْنِ شُعَيْبٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ: قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنَّ النَّاسَ يَقُولُونَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص صَامَ تِسْعَةً وَ عِشْرِينَ يَوْماً أَكْثَرَ مِمَّا صَامَ ثَلَاثِينَ يَوْماً

As for what is reported – Muhammad Bin Al Husayn Bin Abu Al Khattab, from Muhammad Bin Ismail, from Muhammad Bin Yaqoub Bin Shuayb, from his father who said,

‘I said to Abu Abdullah^-asws, ‘The people are saying that Rasool-Allah^-saww fasted twenty-nine days more than what he fasted thirty days’.

فَقَالَ كَذَبُوا مَا صَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص إِلَّا تَمَاماً وَ ذَلِكَ قَوْلُ اللَّهِ‏ تَعَالَى‏ وَ لِتُكْمِلُوا الْعِدَّةَ

He said, ‘They are lying! Rasool-Allah^-saww did not fast except complete, and that is the Word of Allah^-azwj the Exalted: in order for you to complete the number, [2:185].

فَشَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ ثَلَاثُونَ يَوْماً وَ شَوَّالٌ تِسْعَةٌ وَ عِشْرُونَ يَوْماً وَ ذُو الْقَعْدَةِ ثَلَاثُونَ يَوْماً لَا يَنْقُصُ أَبَداً لِأَنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى يَقُولُ‏ وَ واعَدْنا مُوسى‏ ثَلاثِينَ لَيْلَةً وَ- ذُو الْحِجَّةِ تِسْعَةٌ وَ عِشْرُونَ يَوْماً ثُمَّ الشُّهُورُ عَلَى مِثْلِ ذَلِكَ شَهْرٌ تَامٌّ وَ شَهْرٌ نَاقِصٌ وَ شَعْبَانُ لَا يَتِمُّ أَبَداً.

A month of Ramazan is of thirty days, and Shawwal is of twenty-nine days, and Zul Qadah is of thirty days, not being deficient, ever, because Allah^-azwj the Exalted is Saying: And We Appointed thirty nights for Musa [7:142]; and Zul Qadah is of twenty-nine days. Then the months are upon like that, a complete month and a deficient month, and Shaban cannot be complete, ever!’’[92]

وَ رَوَى هَذَا الْحَدِيثَ- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَلِيِّ بْنِ بَابَوَيْهِ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ أَبِي الْخَطَّابِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ يَعْقُوبَ بْنِ شُعَيْبٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ: قُلْتُ لَهُ إِنَّ النَّاسَ يَرْوُونَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص صَامَ شَهْرَ رَمَضَانَ تِسْعَةً وَ عِشْرِينَ يَوْماً أَكْثَرَ مِمَّا صَامَ ثَلَاثِينَ يَوْماً

And this Hadeeth has been reported by Muhammad Bin Ali Bin Babuwayh, from his father, from Sa’ad Bin Abdullah, from Muhammad Bin Al Husayn Bin Abu Al Khattab, from Muhammad bin Ismail, from Muhammad Bin Yaqoub Bin Shuab, from his father,

‘From Abu Abdullah^-asws, he (the narrator) said, ‘I said to him^-asws, ‘The people are reporting that Rasool-Allah^-saww fasted a month of Ramazan twenty-nine days more than what he^-saww fasted thirty days’.

فَقَالَ كَذَبُوا مَا صَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص إِلَّا تَامّاً وَ لَا تَكُونُ الْفَرَائِضُ نَاقِصَةً إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَلَقَ السَّنَةَ ثَلَاثَمِائَةٍ وَ سِتِّينَ يَوْماً وَ خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَ الْأَرْضَ فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ فَحَجَزَهَا مِنْ ثَلَاثِمِائَةٍ وَ سِتِّينَ يَوْماً فَالسَّنَةُ ثَلَاثُمِائَةٍ وَ أَرْبَعَةٌ وَ خَمْسُونَ يَوْماً وَ شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ ثَلَاثُونَ يَوْماً وَ سَاقَ الْحَدِيثَ إِلَى آخِرِهِ.

He^-asws said: ‘They are lying! Rasool-Allah^-saww did not fast except complete, and the Obligation cannot happen to be deficient. Allah^-azwj Created the year as three hundred and sixty days, and Created the skies and earth in six days. He^-azwj Set these aside from three hundred and sixty days, so the year is of three hundred and fifty-four days, and a month of Ramazan is of thirty days’ – and continued the Hadeeth up to its end’’.[93]

وَ رَوَاهُ أَيْضاً- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَعْقُوبَ الْكُلَيْنِيُّ عَنْ عِدَّةٍ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِهِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ: إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ خَلَقَ الدُّنْيَا فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ ثُمَّ اخْتَزَلَهَا مِنْ أَيَّامِ السَّنَةِ وَ السَّنَةُ ثَلَاثُمِائَةٍ وَ أَرْبَعَةٌ وَ خَمْسُونَ يَوْماً-

And it is reported as well by Muhammad Bin Yaqoub Al Kulayni, from a number of our companions, from Sahl Bin Ziyad, from Muhammad Bin Ismail, from one of his companions,

‘From Abu Abdullah^-asws having said: ‘Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic Created the world in six days, then Set these aside from the days of the year, and the year is of three hundred and fifty-four days.

شَعْبَانُ لَا يَتِمُّ أَبَداً وَ شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ لَا يَنْقُصُ وَ اللَّهِ أَبَداً وَ لَا تَكُونُ فَرِيضَةٌ نَاقِصَةً إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى يَقُولُ‏ وَ لِتُكْمِلُوا الْعِدَّةَ وَ شَوَّالٌ تِسْعَةٌ وَ عِشْرُونَ يَوْماً وَ ذُو الْقَعْدَةِ ثَلَاثُونَ يَوْماً لِقَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَ‏ وَ واعَدْنا مُوسى‏ ثَلاثِينَ لَيْلَةً وَ أَتْمَمْناها بِعَشْرٍ فَتَمَّ مِيقاتُ رَبِّهِ أَرْبَعِينَ لَيْلَةً وَ ذُو الْحِجَّةِ تِسْعَةٌ وَ عِشْرُونَ يَوْماً وَ الْمُحَرَّمُ ثَلَاثُونَ يَوْماً ثُمَّ الشُّهُورُ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ شَهْرٌ تَامٌّ وَ شَهْرٌ نَاقِصٌ.

Shaban cannot be complete, ever, and a month of Ramazan cannot be deficient, by Allah^-azwj, ever, and an Obligation cannot happen to be deficient. Allah^-azwj the Exalted is Saying: in order for you to complete the number, [2:185]; and Shawwal is of twenty-nine days, and Zul Qadah is of thirty days due to the Words of Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic: And We Appointed thirty nights for Musa and Completed it with ten (more), so the complete time with his Lord was of forty nights. [7:142]; and Zul Hijja is of twenty-nine days, and Al Muharram is of thirty days. Then the months after that are a complete month and a deficient month’’.[94]

فَأَمَّا مَا رَوَاهُ‏ ابْنُ رَبَاحٍ عَنْ سَمَاعَةَ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ حُذَيْفَةَ عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ‏ فِي قَوْلِهِ تَعَالَى‏ وَ لِتُكْمِلُوا الْعِدَّةَ قَالَ صَوْمُ ثَلَاثِينَ يَوْماً.

As for what is reported by Ibn Rabah, from Sama’at, from Al Hassan Bin Huzeyfa, from Muawiya Bin Ammar,

‘From Abu Abdullah^-asws regarding Words of the Exalted: in order for you to complete the number, [2:185]. He^-asws said: ‘Fasts of thirty days’’.[95]

محمد بن يعقوب: عن عدة من أصحابنا، عن سهل بن زياد، عن محمد بن إسماعيل، عن بعض أصحابه، عن أبي عبد الله (عليه السلام)، قال: «إن الله تبارك و تعالى خلق الدنيا في ستة أيام ثم اختزلها عن أيام السنة، و السنة ثلاث مائة و أربعة و خمسون يوما،

Muhammad Bin Yaqoub, from a number of our companions, from Sahl Bin Ziyad, from Muhammad Bin Ismail, from one of his companions,

‘From Abu Abdullah^-asws having said: ‘Allah^-azwj Blessed and Exalted Created the word in six days, then Set these aside from days of the year, and the year is (now) of three hundred and fifty-four days.

شعبان لا يتم أبدا، شهر رمضان لا ينقص أبدا، و لا تكون فريضة ناقصة، إن الله عز و جل يقول: وَ لِتُكْمِلُوا الْعِدَّةَ و شوال تسعة و عشرون يوما، و ذو القعدة ثلاثون يوما، يقول الله عز و جل: وَ واعَدْنا مُوسى‏ ثَلاثِينَ لَيْلَةً وَ أَتْمَمْناها بِعَشْرٍ فَتَمَّ مِيقاتُ رَبِّهِ أَرْبَعِينَ لَيْلَةً و ذو الحجة تسعة و عشرون يوما، و المحرم ثلاثون يوما، ثم الشهور بعد ذلك شهر تام و شهر ناقص».

Shaban cannot be complete, ever, a month of Ramazan cannot be deficient, ever, nor can an Obligation be deficient. Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic is Saying: in order for you to complete the number, [2:185]; and Shawwal is of twenty-nine days, and Zul Qadah is of thirty days. Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic is Saying: And We Appointed thirty nights for Musa and Completed it with ten (more), so the complete time with his Lord was of forty nights. [7:142]; and Zul Hijja is of twenty-nine days, and Al Muharram is of thirty days, then the months after that are a complete month and a deficient month’’.[96]

من أيام السنة، و السنة ثلثمائة و أربعة و خمسون يوما، شعبان لا يتم أبدا، و رمضان لا ينقص و الله أبدا و لا تكون فريضة ناقصة، ان الله عز و جل يقول. و لتكملوا العدة و شوال تسعة و عشرون يوما، و الحديث طويل أخذنا منه موضع الحاجة.

From the days of the year, and the year is of three hundred and fifty-four days, and Shaban cannot be complete, ever, and the month of Ramazan cannot be deficient, ever, and an Obligation cannot be deficient. Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic is Saying: in order for you to complete the number, [2:185]; and Shawwal is twenty-nine days’ – and the Hadeeth is lengthy, we have taken the necessary subject’.[97]

في تفسير العياشي عن ابن أبى عمير عن رجل عن أبى عبد الله عليه السلام قال‏ قلت له جعلت فداك ما نتحدث به عندنا ان النبي صلى الله عليه و آله و سلم صام تسعة و عشرين أكثر مما صام ثلثين أحق هذا؟

In Tafseer Al Ayyashi, from Ibn Abu Umeyr, from a man,

‘From Abu Abdullah^-asws, he (the narrator) said, ‘I said to him^-asws, ‘May I be sacrificed for you^-asws! What is being narrated in our presence is that the Prophet^-saww fasted twenty-nine more than what he^-saww fasted thirty, is this right?’

قال ما خلق الله من هذا حرفا، ما صامه النبي صلى الله عليه و آله و سلم الا ثلثين لان الله يقول‏ «وَ لِتُكْمِلُوا الْعِدَّةَ» و كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه و آله و سلم ينقصه؟.

He^-asws said: ‘Allah^-azwj did not Create a letter from this. The Prophet^-saww did not Fast except thirty, because Allah^-azwj is Saying: ‘in order for you to complete the number, [2:185], and Rasool-Allah^-saww was reducing it?’[98]

Appendix IV: Establishing the Authenticity of Ahadith

[ 33345 ] وعنه ، عن أحمد بن محمد بن عيسى ، عن ابن فضال ، عن علي بن عقبة ، عن أيوب بن راشد ، عن أبي عبدالله ( عليه السلام ) ، قال : ما لم يوافق من الحديث القرآن فهو زخرف .

H 33345 – And from him, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad Bin Isa, from Ibn Fazaal, from Ali Bin Uqba, from Ayyub Bin Rashid who narrates:

Abu Abdullah^-asws said: ‘Any Hadith which is not in accordance with the Quran is invalid’.

[ 33346 ] وعن علي بن إبراهيم ، عن محمد بن عيسى بن عبيد ، عن يونس بن عبد الرحمن ، عن أبي جعفر الاحول ، عن أبي عبدالله ( عليه السلام ) ، قال : لا يسع الناس حتى يسألوا ، ويتفقهوا ، ويعرفوا إمامهم ، ويسعهم أن يأخذوا بما يقول وإن كان تقية . أقول : قد عرفت وجهه.

H 33346 – And from Ali Bin Ibrahim, from Muhammad Bin Isa Bin Ubeyd, from Yunus Bin Abd Al Rahmaan, from Abu Ja’far Al-Howl says:

Abu Abdullah^-asws said: ‘The people have no option but to ask us^-asws, and ponder, and recognise their Imam^-asws, and it for them to act in accordance with what he^-asws says, although it may have been due to dissimulation’, he said, now I got it.

[ 33347 ] وعن عدة من أصحابنا ، عن أحمد بن محمد بن خالد ، عن أبيه ، عن النضر بن سويد ، عن يحيى الحلبي ، عن أيوب بن الحر ، قال : سمعت أبا عبدالله (عليه السلام) يقول : كل شيء مردود إلى الكتاب والسنة ، وكل حديث لا يوافق كتاب الله فهو زخرف.

H 33347 – And from a number of our companions, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad Bin Khalid, from his father, from Al Nazar Bin Suweyd, from Yahya Al Halby, from Ayyub Bin Al Har who says:

I heard Abu Abdullah^-asws say: ‘All things are referred to the Book and the Sunnah, and every Hadith that is not in accordance with the Book of Allah^-azwj is invalid’.

[ 33348 ] وعن محمد بن إسماعيل ، عن الفضل بن شاذان ، عن ابن أبي عمير ، عن هشام بن الحكم وغيره ، عن أبي عبدالله (عليه السلام) ، قال : خطب النبي ( صلى الله عليه وآله) بمنى ، فقال : أيها الناس ! ما جاءكم عني يوافق كتاب الله فأنا قلته ، وما جاءكم يخالف كتاب الله فلم أقله .

H 33348 – And from Muhammad Bin Ismail, from Al Fazl Bin Shazaan, from Ibn Abu Umeyr, from Hisham Bin Al Hakam who says:

Abu Abdullah^-asws said: ‘In a sermon, the Messenger of Allah^-saww at Mina, said: ‘O people! Whatever comes to you, which is in accordance with the Book of Allah^-azwj, I^-saww have said it. But that which comes to you in opposition to the Book of Allah^-azwj, I^-saww have not said it’.

[ 33349 ] وبهذا الاسناد عن ابن أبي عمير ، عن بعض أصحابه ، قال : سمعت أبا عبدالله ( عليه السلام ) يقول : من خالف كتاب الله وسنة محمد ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) فقد كفر.

H 33349 – And by this chain from Ibn Abu Umeyr, from one of his companions has said:

I heard Abu Abdullah^-asws say: ‘One who is against the Book of Allah^-azwj and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah^-saww has disbelieved’.

[ 33350 ] وعن محمد بن يحيى ، عن أحمد بن محمد بن عيسى ، عن الحسن بن محبوب ، عن هشام بن سالم ، عن أبي عمرو الكناني قال : قال لي أبو عبدالله ( عليه السلام ) : يا ابا عمرو ! أرأيت لو حدثتك بحديث ، أو أفتيتك بفتيا ، ثم جئتني بعد ذلك فسألتني عنه ، فأخبرتك بخلاف ما كنت أخبرتك ، أو أفتيتك بخلاف ذلك ، بأيهما كنت تأخذ ؟ قلت : بأحدثهما ، وأدع الآخر ، فقال : قد أصبت يا با عمرو ، أبى الله إلا أن يعبد سرا ، أما والله لئن فعلتم ذلك إنه لخير لي ولكم ، أبى الله عزّ وجلّ لنا في دينه إلا التقية .

H 33350 – And from Muhammad Bin Yahya, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad Bin Isa, from Al Hassan Bin Mahboub, from Hisham Bin Saalim, from Abu Umeyr and Al Kanany who says:

Abu Abdullah^-asws said to me: ‘O Abu Amro! What would you think if I^-asws were to narrate to you a Hadith or issue a verdict, then you come back to me afterwards and ask me^-asws about it, I^-asws inform you the opposite of what I^-asws had informed you of before, or issue a verdict opposite to what I^-asws had issued before, which one of these two would you adhere to?’

I said: ‘The Hadith that you have just given me and leave the other one’. He^-asws said: ‘You are right O Abu Amro! Allah^-azwj does not Accept but if you worship in secret. By Allah^-azwj! If you were to act like that it would be better for me^-asws and for all of you. Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic does not Accept from us^-asws in His^-azwj Religion except by ‘التقية’ dissimulation’.

[ 33351 ] وعنه ، عن أحمد ، عن علي بن الحكم ، عن عبدالله بن بكير ، عن رجل ، عن أبي جعفر (عليه السلام ) ـ في حديث ـ قال : إذا جاءكم عنا حديث ، فوجدتم عليه شاهداً ، أو شاهدين من كتاب الله ، فخذوا به ، وإلا فقفوا عنده ، ثم ردوه إلينا ، حتى يستبين لكم .

H 33351 – And from him, from Ahmad, from Ali Bin Al Hakam, from Abdullah Bin Bakeer, from a man who says:

Abu Ja’far^-asws – in a Hadith – said: ‘If there comes to you from us^-asws a Hadith, you find a witness for it or two witnesses from the Book of Allah^-azwj, take by it otherwise stand still, then return it back to us^-asws, until its clarification comes to you’.

[ 33353 ] محمد بن علي بن الحسين بإسناده عن داود بن الحصين ، عن أبي عبدالله (عليه السلام ) في رجلين اتفقا على عدلين ، جعلاهما بينهما في حكم ، وقع بينهما فيه خلاف ، فرضيا بالعدلين ، فاختلف العدلان بينهما ، عن قول أيهما يمضي الحكم ؟ قال : ينظر إلى أفقههما وأعلمهما بأحاديثنا وأورعهما ، فينفذ حكمه ، ولا يلتفت إلى الاخر .

H 33353 – Muhammad Bin Ali Bin Al-Husayn by his chain from Dawood Bin Al Hasayn, who says:

Abu Abdullah^-asws regarding two people who agree on the appointment of two just persons who issue decisions which are different, and they are happy with the fairness of the two judges, which of the two decisions have to be implemented?’ He^-asws said: ‘Look at their understanding and knowledge of our^-asws Ahadith and whoever is better, implement his decision and do not pay attention to the other one’.

[ 33354 ] وفي ( عيون الأخبار ) عن أبيه ، ومحمد بن الحسن بن أحمد بن الوليد جميعا ، عن سعد بن عبدالله ، عن محمد بن عبدالله المسمعي ، عن أحمد بن الحسن الميثمي ، أنه سأل الرضا ( عليه السلام ) يوما وقد اجتمع عنده قوم من أصحابه ، وقد كانوا يتنازعون في الحديثين المختلفين عن رسول الله ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) في الشيء الواحد ، فقال ( عليه السلام ) : إن الله حرم حراما ، وأحل حلالا ، وفرض فرائض ، فما جاء في تحليل ما حرم الله ، أو في تحريم ما أحل الله ، أو دفع فريضة في كتاب الله رسمها بين قائم بلا ناسخ نسخ ذلك ، فذلك ما لا يسع الأخذ به ، لأن رسول الله ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) لم يكن ليحرم ما أحل الله ، ولا ليحلل ما حرّم الله ، ولا ليغير فرائض الله وأحكامه ، كان في ذلك كله متبعا مسلما مؤديا عن الله ، وذلك قول الله : ( ان أتبع إلا ما يوحى إليّ ) فكان ( عليه السلام ) متبعا لله ، مؤديا عن الله ما أمره به من تبليغ الرسالة ،

H 33354 – And in Uyoon Al-Akhbaar from his father, and Muhammad Bin Al-Hassan Bin Ahmad Bin Al Waleed altogether, from Sa’d Bin Abdullah. From Muhammad Bin Abdullah Al-Masmaie, from Ahmad Bin Al-Hassan Al-Maysami who says:

I asked Al-Reza^-asws on a day in which there was a gathering with him^-asws of his^-asws companions, and they were discussing about two different Hadith on the same issue from the Messenger of Allah^-saww.

He^-asws said: ‘Allah^-azwj has Prohibited the prohibitions, and Permitted the permissibles, and Obligated the obligations. What has come in the permissibility of what has been Prohibited by Allah^-azwj, or in the prohibition of what has been made Permissible by Allah^-azwj, or in refutation of an obligation in the Book of Allah^-azwj, then it is clearly an abrogation of that which has been abrogated.

That does not give anyone the leeway to act by it, because the Messenger of Allah^-saww did not come to prohibit that which was made Permissible by Allah^-azwj nor to permit that which was Prohibited by Allah^-azwj, nor to alter what Allah^-azwj had Obligated or His^-azwj Orders. In that he^-saww submissively followed what Allah^-azwj has Called to, and that is in the Words of Allah^-azwj “I do not follow aught save that which is revealed to me” 6:50 He^-saww was a follower of Allah^-azwj, called to the Orders from Allah^-azwj in the propagation of the Message’.

قلت : فانه يرد عنكم الحديث في الشيء عن رسول الله ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) مما ليس في الكتاب ، وهو في السنة ، ثم يرد خلافه ، فقال : كذلك قد نهى رسول الله ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) عن أشياء ، نهى حرام فوافق في ذلك نهيه نهى الله ، وأمر بأشياء فصار ذلك الأمر واجبا لازما كعدل فرائض الله ، فوافق في ذلك أمره أمر الله ، فما جاء في النهي عن رسول الله ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) نهي حرام ، ثم جاء خلافه لم يسغ استعمال ذلك ، وكذلك فيما أمر به ، لانا لا نرخص فيما لم يرخص فيه رسول الله ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) ولا نأمر بخلاف ما أمر به رسول الله ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) إلا لعلة خوف ضرورة ، فأما أن نستحل ما حرم رسول الله ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) ، أو نحرِّم ما استحل رسول الله ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) ، فلا يكون ذلك أبدا ، لأنا تابعون لرسول الله ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) ، مسلمون له ، كما كان رسول الله ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) تابعا لأمر ربه ، مسلما له ،

I said: ‘If a Hadith comes from you^-asws regarding a matter from the Messenger of Allah^-saww for which nothing can be found in the Book, and this now becomes the Sunnah, then a different one (Hadith) gets referred to us’. He^-asws said: ‘In this way the Messenger of Allah^-saww stopped you from something which was prohibited in those Prohibitions of Allah^-azwj, and gave the order for something from all the orders and they became the necessary like the Obligations from Allah^-azwj. In that order was the Order of Allah^-azwj.

So, when a prohibition came from the Messenger of Allah^-saww and then something different comes up it should not be brought into use, and similarly is the case of what he^-saww ordered, for we^-asws do not give leeway in a matter in which the Messenger of Allah^-saww has not given leeway nor do we^-asws issue any orders which are different from the orders given by the Messenger of Allah^-saww, or prohibit that which was permitted by the Messenger of Allah^-saww. This will never be the case, ever, for we^-asws are the followers of the Messenger of Allah^-saww, submitting to him^-saww, just like the Messenger of Allah^-saww is a follower of the Orders of his^-saww Lord^-azwj, submitting to Him^-azwj.

وقال الله عزّ وجلّ : ( وما آتاكم الرسول فخذوه وما نهاكم عنه فانتهوا ) وإن الله نهى عن أشياء ، ليس نهي حرام ، بل إعافة وكراهة ، وأمر بأشياء ليس بأمر فرض ولا واجب بل أمر فضل ورجحان في الدين ، ثم رخص في ذلك للمعلول وغير المعلول ، فما كان عن رسول الله ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) نهي إعافة ، أو أمر فضل ، فذلك الذي يسع استعمال الرخصة فيه ، إذا ورد عليكم عنا الخبر فيه باتفاق ، يرويه من يرويه في النهي ، ولا ينكره ، وكان الخبران صحيحين معروفين باتفاق الناقلة فيهما ، يجب الأخذ بأحدهما ، أو بهما جميعاً ، أو بأيهما شئت وأحببت ، موسع ذلك لك من باب التسليم لرسول الله ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) ، والرد إليه وإلينا ، وكان تارك ذلك من باب العناد والانكار وترك التسليم لرسول الله ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) مشركا بالله العظيم ،

And Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic Says “and whatever the Messenger gives you, accept it, and from whatever he forbids you, keep back” 59:7 Surely, Allah^-azwj has Stopped us from certain things but they are not Prohibitions but rather it is disliked and abhorrent, and Ordered to do something does not mean that it is an obligation but it could be a preferable act and getting you to concentrate in the Religion, then leeway has been given for the healthy and the non-healthy ones. That which came from the Messenger of Allah^-saww as prohibition based on abhorrence or an order based on preference, those are the ones in which width has been allowed in its usage. If a Hadith from us^-asws gets referred to you which coincides with that, and it has been narrated from the one who has also narrated the prohibition, and has not denied it, and both these Hadith were to be correct and well known and coincide as such and have been copied down, it is obligatory upon you to take to one of them, or both of them together, or any one of them that you like. The leeway that has been afforded to you in this regard is from the door of submission to the Messenger of Allah^-saww, and to refer the matters to him^-saww and to us^-asws, and the avoidance of that is from the door of enmity and denial and the avoidance of submission to the Messenger of Allah^-saww, is a polytheist by Allah^-azwj the Magnificent’.

فما ورد عليكم من خبرين مختلفين فاعرضوهما على كتاب الله ، فما كان في كتاب الله موجودا حلالاً ، أو حراما فاتبعوا ما وافق الكتاب ، وما لم يكن في الكتاب ، فاعرضوه على سنن رسول الله ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) ، فما كان في السنة موجودا منهيا عنه نهي حرام ، ومأمورا به عن رسول الله ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) أمر إلزام فاتبعوا ما وافق نهي رسول الله ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) وأمره ، وما كان في السنة نهي إعافة أو كراهة ، ثم كان الخبر الأخير خلافه فذلك رخصة فيما عافه رسول الله ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) وكرهه ، ولم يحرِّمه ، فذلك الذي يسع الأخذ بهما جميعا ، وبأيهما شئت وسعك الاختيار من باب التسليم والاتباع والرد إلى رسول الله ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) ، وما لم تجدوه في شيء من هذه الوجوه ، فردوا إلينا علمه فنحن أولى بذلك ، ولا تقولوا فيه بآرائكم ، وعليكم بالكف والتثبت والوقوف ، وأنتم طالبون باحثون ، حتى يأتيكم البيان من عندنا.

When two Ahadith get referred to you which are different, present both of them to the Book of Allah^-azwj. If you were to find in the Book of Allah^-azwj the Permissibility of it, or a Prohibition for it, follow that which is in agreement with the Book, and if there is nothing in the Book, present it to the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah^-saww. If there is present in it the prohibition, then it is forbidden, and if there is an order for it from the Messenger of Allah^-saww, it is necessary for you to follow that which is in agreement with the prohibition of the Messenger of Allah^-saww and his^-saww orders. And if the prohibition in the Sunnah is based on abhorrence, then comes a Hadith which is different from it, that is where leeway has been given by the Messenger of Allah^-saww, for he has disliked it but it is not a prohibition.

That is where width has been allowed to take from all of them that which you like from the door of submission and following and the referring matters to the Messenger of Allah^-saww. And if you were not to find anything from these perspectives, return the matter back to us^-asws the knowledge of it for we^-asws are the first ones to deal with that, and do not give your opinions on these matters, and it is on you to keep away, and remain steadfast and abstention, and you are only seekers who carry out research until clarification comes to you from us^-asws’.

[1] Al Kafi – V 4 – The Book of Fasts Ch 8 H 4, الكافي (ط – الإسلامية)، ج‏4، ص: 81

[2] Since general Muslims believe that the Month of Ramazan can be of 29 days, so Shias would be exposed and killed if rulers of that time will find out about them if they had fasted for 30 days against the 29 days of Fasting declared by the rulers.

[3] التهذيب 4- 171- 483، و الاستبصار 2- 67- 216

[4] Al Kafi – V 4 – The Book of Fasts Ch 2 H 1

[5] This supplication as well as others are given in our article on Soam-Roza-Fasting.

[6] من‏لايحضره‏الفقيه 1 522

[7] Al Kafi – V 4 – The Book of Fasts Ch 7 H 1, الكافي (ط – الإسلامية)، ج‏4، ص: 78, H. 1.

[8] Al Kafi – V 4 – The Book of Fasts Ch 7 H 3, الكافي (ط – الإسلامية)، ج‏4، ص: 79, H. 3

[9] Except for the leap year as per the Hadith in ref. 58

[10] Al Kafi – V 4 – The Book of Fasts Ch 7 H 2, الكافي (ط – الإسلامية)، ج‏4، ص: 78, H. 2.

[11] البرهان ج 1: 184. البحار ج 20: 77

[12] من لا يحضره الفقيه، ج‏2، ص: 169, H. 2040-

[13] من لا يحضره الفقيه، ج‏2، ص: 169, H. 2041

[14] من لا يحضره الفقيه، ج‏2، ص: 169, H. 2043

[15] من لا يحضره الفقيه، ج‏2، ص: 169, H. 2044

[16] الخصال، ج‏2، ص: 531 , H. 7

[17] الخصال، ج‏2، ص: 531, H.8

[18] Al Kafi – V 4 – The Book of Fasts Ch 8 H 1, الكافي (ط – الإسلامية)، ج‏4، ص: 80, H. 1.

[19] Al Kafi – V 4 – The Book of Fasts Ch 8 H 2, الكافي (ط – الإسلامية)، ج‏4، ص: 81, H. 2.

[20] Al Kafi – V 4 – The Book of Fasts Ch 8 H 3, الكافي (ط – الإسلامية)، ج‏4، ص: 81

[21] Al Kafi – V 4 – The Book of Fasts Ch 8 H 4, الكافي (ط – الإسلامية)، ج‏4، ص: 81

[22] Al Kafi – V 4 – The Book of Fasts Ch 9 H 1, الكافي (ط – الإسلامية)، ج‏4، ص: 81, H. 1.

[23] Al Kafi – V 4 – The Book of Fasts Ch 9 H 2, الكافي (ط – الإسلامية)، ج‏4، ص: 82, H.2

[24] Al Kafi – V 4 – The Book of Fasts Ch 9 H 5, الكافي (ط – الإسلامية)، ج‏4، ص: 82, H. 5

[25] Al-Kafi, V 4, The Book of Fasts Ch 9, H 8,.

[26] Al Kafi – V 4 – The Book of Fasts Ch 6 H 1

[27] Al Kafi – V 4 – The Book of Fasts Ch 6 H 2

[28] Al Kafi – V 4 – The Book of Fasts Ch 6 H 5

[29] Al Kafi – V 4 – The Book of Fasts Ch 6 H 6

[30] Al Kafi – V 4 – The Book of Fasts Ch 6 H 7

[31] Al Kafi – V 4 – The Book of Fasts Ch 6 H 8

[32] Al Kafi – V 4 – The Book of Fasts Ch 20 H 1

[33] Al Kafi – V 4 – The Book of Fasts Ch 20 H 2

[34] Al Kafi – V 4 – The Book of Fasts Ch 20 H 3

[35] Al-Kafi, vol. 4, H. 6263, Ch. 6, h7, الكافي ج : 4 ص : 77

[36] Al-Kafi, vol. 4, H. 6267, Ch. 6, h11, الكافي ج : 4 ص : 77

[37] Al-Kafi, vol. 4, H. 6268, Ch. 6, h12, الكافي ج : 4 ص : 77

[38] Manla Yazar ul Faqqi, vol. 2, H. 1916

[39] Manla Yazar ul Faqqi, vol. 2, H. 1917

[40] وسائل الشيعة، ج‏10، ص: 261

[41] التهذيب 4- 155- 429، و الاستبصار 2- 62- 199

[42] التهذيب 4- 162- 458

[43] التهذيب 4- 160- 452

[44] التهذيب 4- 155- 430، و الاستبصار 2- 62- 200

[45] التهذيب 4- 155- 430، و الاستبصار 2- 62- 200

[46] التهذيب 4- 156- 432

[47] التهذيب 4- 166- 474

[48] التهذيب 4- 175- 486، و الاستبصار 2- 71- 219

[49] التهذيب 4- 156- 434، و الاستبصار 2- 63- 204

[50] التهذيب 4- 157- 435

[51] التهذيب 4- 158- 440، و الاستبصار 2- 64- 207

[52] التهذيب 4- 158- 441

[53] التهذيب 4- 158- 443

[54] التهذيب 4- 160- 450

[55] التهذيب 4- 161- 453

[56] التهذيب 4- 161- 455

[57] التهذيب 4- 161- 455

[58] التهذيب 4- 162- 456

[59] التهذيب 4- 163- 459

[60] التهذيب 4- 163- 460

[61] التهذيب 4- 165- 468

[62] التهذيب 4- 165- 470

[63] التهذيب 4- 166- 471

[64] التهذيب 4- 167- 477، و الاستبصار 2- 65- 211

[65] التهذيب 4- 168- 478، و الاستبصار 2- 65- 212

[66] التهذيب 4- 168- 479، و الاستبصار 2- 65- 213

[67] الكافي 4- 79- 3

[68] التهذيب 4- 168- 480، و الاستبصار 2- 65- 214

[69] التهذيب 4- 168- 481، و الاستبصار 2- 65- 215

[70] التهذيب 4- 168- 482

[71] التهذيب 4- 176- 487، و الاستبصار 2- 72- 220

[72] التهذيب 4- 171- 483، و الاستبصار 2- 67- 216

[73] التهذيب 4- 171- 484، و الاستبصار 2- 68- 217

[74] الكافي 4- 78- 2

[75] الفقيه 2- 171- 2043، و الخصال- 531- 7

[76] الفقيه 2- 171- 2046

[77] الخصال- 531- 8

[78] Except for the leap year as per the Hadith in ref. 58)

[79] الكافي (ط – الإسلامية)، ج‏4، ص: 79, Al Kafi – V 4 – The Book of Fasts Ch 7 H 2

[80] الكافي (ط – الإسلامية)، ج‏4، ص: 167, Al Kafi – V 4 – The Book of Fasts Ch 71 H 1

[81] من لا يحضره الفقيه، ج‏2، ص: 169, H. 2040-

[82] من لا يحضره الفقيه، ج‏2، ص: 169, H. 2041

[83] من لا يحضره الفقيه، ج‏2، ص: 169, H. 2042

[84] من لا يحضره الفقيه، ج‏2، ص: 169, H. 2043

[85] من لا يحضره الفقيه، ج‏2، ص: 169, H. 2044

[86] الخصال، ج‏2، ص: 531 , H. 7

[87] الخصال، ج‏2، ص: 531, H.8

[88] معاني الأخبار، النص، ص: 383, H. 14

[89] تهذيب الأحكام (تحقيق خرسان)، ج‏4، ص: 171, H. 55

[90] تهذيب الأحكام (تحقيق خرسان)، ج‏4، ص: 172, H. 57

[91] تهذيب الأحكام (تحقيق خرسان)، ج‏4، ص: 176, H. 59

[92] الإستبصار فيما اختلف من الأخبار، ج‏2، ص: 68, H. 18

[93] الإستبصار فيما اختلف من الأخبار، ج‏2، ص: 68, H. 19

[94] الإستبصار فيما اختلف من الأخبار، ج‏2، ص: 68, H. 20

[95] الإستبصار فيما اختلف من الأخبار، ج‏2، ص: 72, H. 22

[96] البرهان في تفسير القرآن، ج‏2، ص: 579, H. 3970

[97] تفسير نور الثقلين، ج‏1، ص: 170,

[98] تفسير نور الثقلين، ج‏1، ص: 170, H. 585

Summary:

Introduction:

The First Month of the Islamic Year:

30 Days in the Month of Ramazan:

Ahadith for those regions where skies are mostly overcast:

Fasting on the last day of Shaban ‘Yom-e-Shuuk’:

Short Summary of the number of days in the Islamic Months:

Observing New Moon:

Appendix I:

Recognition of Start of a Lunar Month from Crescent of First-three Nights

Example of 1-3 Moon sightings:

Moon of 1st Night

Moon of 2nd Night

Moon of 3rd Night

Appendix II: Ahadith from Wasail ul-Shia (Volume 10, Chapter 4-5)

Appendix III: Tafseer of Holy Verse 2:185 from Main Shia Books (related to Fasting)

Appendix IV: Establishing the Authenticity of Ahadith

Moon of 1^st Night

Moon of 2^nd Night

Moon of 3^rd Night