Excellence of Fasting in the Month of Shaman, Continuing Such Fast to Connect it with the Month of Ramadan, and Three Days of Fasting Every Month

I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) say, "Fasting during the month of Sha‘ban and the month of Ramadan in a continuous manner is returning to Allah. It, by Allah, is repenting.”

“I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), say, ‘Fasting during the month of Sha‘ban and the month of Ramadan in a continuous manner is returning to Allah.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.), would fast during the month of Sha‘ban and the month of Ramadan in a continuous manner and would say, ‘Fasting during two months in a continuous manner is returning to Allah.’”

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, would fast during the month of Sha‘ban and the month of Ramadan and continue fasting. He (the Messenger of Allah) prohibited people to continue fasting without a break (after sunset). He also said, ‘These two are the months of Allah and this (fasting in the two months) is expiation of the sins before and after these two months.’”

“Once I asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘What do you say about a man who fasts during the month of Sha‘ban and the month of Ramadan?’ He replied, ‘They are the months about which Allah, the most Blessed, the most High, has said, “Two months one after the other in which (certain) people return to Allah.’” I then asked, ‘Is it necessary to fast without a break?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘If he breaks his fast after sunset, it is a break. The Messenger of Allah has said, “There is no connecting in fasting means one must not fast for two days without breaking his fast after sunset. Sometimes it is desirable for a man to eat food before dawn.’””

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) was asked about fasting while one is at home. He answered, ‘It is three days every month. They are a Thursday of one week, Wednesday of one week and Thursday of another week.’ And he said: Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.) has said, “Fasting for a month is patience. Three days of fasting of every month removes temptation. Fasting of three days of every month is (like) fasting all the time. Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, says, ‘One who does a good deed receives tenfold reward.’ (6:160)’”

“I asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.), about fasting during a month. He replied, ’It is three days every month, one day in every ten days. Allah, the most Blessed, the most High, says, “One who does a good deed receives tenfold reward.” (6:151) Three days of fasting every month is like fasting all the time.’”

If one fasts during the month of Sha’ban, it will be a cleansing for him, from all zallah (a slip), wasmah and badirah.’” I (abu Hamzah) then asked, ‘What is wasmah?’ He replied, ‘It is swearing and a vow for unlawful cause.’ I asked, ‘What is badirah?’ He replied, ‘It is swearing when one is angry; repenting for it is regretting.’”

’’Once I asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the best tradition in optional fasting. The Imam replied, ‘It is three days of fasting every month. It is the first Thursday, the Wednesday after the tenth day and the last Thursday of a month.’ I then asked, ‘Is that all of the tradition about fasting?’ He replied, ‘Yes, this is all about it.’”

“Someone asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about fasting on Wednesday. The Imam said, ’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), has said, “Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, created hellfire on Wednesday; for this reason there is fasting to seek refuge thereby from the fire.’””

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that someone asked the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, about fasting on two Thursdays between which there is a Wednesday. He answered, ‘The two Thursdays are those during which deeds are presented for accounting. Wednesday is when hellfire was created, and fasting is a shield against the fire.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that there is fasting on Wednesday because for all nations upon which torment descended, it occurred on a Wednesday in the middle of the month. It is desirable to fast on that day.”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), once said to me, ‘If there are two Thursdays in the beginning of a month, it is better to fast the first one. If two Thursdays come at the end of a month, it is better to fast the last Thursday.”’