Thawāb al-Aʿmāl wa ʿiqāb al-Aʿmāl > Reward of fasting on first Thursday, middle Wednesday and last Thursday of the month
Hadith #1

حَدَّثَنِی مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مُوسَی بْنِ الْمُتَوَکِّلِ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ الْحِمْیَرِیُّ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِیسَی عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ جَمِیلِ بْنِ صَالِحٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مَرْوَانَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع یَقُولُ کَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص یَصُومُ حَتَّی یُقَالَ لَا یُفْطِرُ ثُمَّ صَامَ یَوْماً وَ أَفْطَرَ یَوْماً ثُمَّ صَامَ الْإِثْنَیْنِ وَ الْخَمِیسَ ثُمَّ آلَ مِنْ ذَلِکَ إِلَی صِیَامِ ثَلَاثَهِ أَیَّامٍ فِی الشَّهْرِ- خَمِیسٍ فِی أَوَّلِ الشَّهْرِ وَ أَرْبِعَاءَ فِی وَسَطِ الشَّهْرِ وَ خَمِیسٍ فِی آخِرِ الشَّهْرِ وَ کَانَ یَقُولُ ذَاکَ صَوْمُ الدَّهْرِ وَ قَدْ کَانَ أَبِی ع یَقُولُ مَا مِنْ أَحَدٍ أَبْغَضَ إِلَیَّ مِنْ رَجُلٍ یُقَالُ لَهُ کَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص یَفْعَلُ کَذَا وَ کَذَا فَیَقُولُ لَا یُعَذِّبُنِی اللَّهُ عَلَی أَنْ أَجْتَهِدَ فِی الصَّلَاهِ کَأَنَّهُ یَرَی أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص تَرَکَ شَیْئاً مِنَ الْفَضْلِ عَجْزاً عَنْهُ.

1. It is narrated from Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a.s.) that when the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) used to fast, he used to do it so much that people used to say that he doesn’t miss fasts any time. And when he didn’t fast for a few days, the people used to say that he is not fasting. He brought a change in his schedule after some time. Now he used to fast on alternate days. Then he started fasting every Sunday and Thursday only. Again he changed his ways and started fasting first Thursday, mid Wednesday and last Thursday of a month. He used to say that the reward of observing these fasts is equal to fasting for an age. Imam (a.s.) narrates that his father used to say, “I won’t get more angry with a person other than one who points out the way in which the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) used to perform his deeds being confident that Allah won’t punish him for the sake of his Salaat. That person is like one who is trying to say that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) used to miss out excellent deeds due to some weakness.”



Hadith #2

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا الْحُسَیْنُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ أَبَانٍ عَنِ الْحُسَیْنِ بْنِ سَعِیدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِی عُمَیْرٍ عَنْ حَمَّادٍ عَنِ الْحَلَبِیِّ عَنْ أَبِی عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ قَالَ أَمِیرُ الْمُؤْمِنِینَ ع صِیَامُ شَهْرِ الصَّبْرِ وَ ثَلَاثَهِ أَیَّامٍ فِی کُلِّ شَهْرٍ یَذْهَبْنَ بِبَلَابِلِ الصُّدُورِ وَ صِیَامُ ثَلَاثَهِ أَیَّامٍ فِی کُلِّ شَهْرٍ صِیَامُ الدَّهْرِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ یَقُولُ فِی کِتَابِهِ- مَنْ جاءَ بِالْحَسَنَهِ فَلَهُ عَشْرُ أَمْثالِها

2. Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a.s.) narrates that Amirul Momineen (a.s.) said, “The fasts of the month of Patience (Ramadan) and three fasts of a month keep the evil-thoughts away from one’s heart. The three fasts of a month are equal to the fasts of an age for Allah says in His book, “Whoever brings a good deed, he shall have ten like it.”9



Hadith #3

وَ بِهَذَا الْإِسْنَادِ عَنِ الْحُسَیْنِ بْنِ سَعِیدٍ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ أَبِی بَصِیرٍ قَالَ: سَأَلْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع عَنِ الصِّیَامِ فِی الشَّهْرِ کَیْفَ هُوَ فَقَالَ ثَلَاثَهُ أَیَّامٍ فِی الشَّهْرِ فِی کُلِّ عَشَرَهِ أَیَّامٍ یَوْماً إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ یَقُولُ فِی کِتَابِهِ- مَنْ جاءَ بِالْحَسَنَهِ فَلَهُ عَشْرُ أَمْثالِها ثَلَاثَهُ أَیَّامٍ فِی الشَّهْرِ صَوْمُ الدَّهْرِ.

3. And from the previous chain from al-Hussain b. Sa’eed from Ahmad b. Muhammad from Abi Basir who said: The narrator asked Imam Musa Kadhim (a.s.), “How can one gain the reward of fasting for a month?” Imam (a.s.) replied, “By observing fast for three days of every month because the Almighty Allah has said that one who does a good deed would get ten rewards for it. Hence observing fast for three days of a month is equal to fasting for an age.”



Hadith #4

وَ بِهَذَا الْإِسْنَادِ عَنِ الْحُسَیْنِ بْنِ سَعِیدٍ عَنِ النَّضْرِ بْنِ سُوَیْدٍ عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ سَالِمٍ عَنِ الْأَحْوَلِ عَمَّنْ ذَکَرَهُ عَنْ أَبِی عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص سُئِلَ عَنْ صَوْمِ خَمِیسَیْنِ بَیْنَهُمَا أَرْبِعَاءُ فَقَالَ أَمَّا الْخَمِیسُ فَیَوْمٌ تُعْرَضُ فِیهِ الْأَعْمَالُ وَ أَمَّا الْأَرْبِعَاءُ فَیَوْمٌ خُلِقَتْ فِیهِ النَّارُ وَ أَمَّا الصَّوْمُ فَجُنَّهٌ.

4. Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a.s.) narrates that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) was asked about fasting on two Thursdays and a Wednesday in between them. He replied, “The specialty of Thursday is that one’s deeds are presented on this day while 9 Surah Anaam 6:160 Wednesday is characterized by the creation of Hell on this day. Hence a fast on Wednesday is shield against Hell.”



Hadith #5

وَ بِهَذَا الْإِسْنَادِ عَنِ الْحُسَیْنِ بْنِ سَعِیدٍ عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ عِیسَی عَنْ حَرِیزٍ قَالَ: قِیلَ لِأَبِی عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع مَا جَاءَ فِی صَوْمِ الْأَرْبِعَاءِ فَقَالَ قَالَ عَلِیٌّ ع إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ خَلَقَ النَّارَ یَوْمَ الْأَرْبِعَاءِ فَأَحَبَّ صَوْمَهُ لِیُتَعَوَّذَ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ النَّارِ.

5. And from the previous chain from al-Hussain b. Sa’eed from Hamad b. Isa from Hareez who said: Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a.s.) was asked regarding fasting on Wednesday. He replied that Ali (a.s.) used to say, “The Almighty Allah created Hell on Wednesday. He likes the person fasting on this day seeking protection against the fire of Hell.”



Hadith #6

وَ بِهَذَا الْإِسْنَادِ عَنِ الْحُسَیْنِ بْنِ سَعِیدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ یَحْیَی أَخِی مُغَلِّسٍ الصَّیْرَفِیِّ عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع یَقُولُ صَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص حَتَّی قِیلَ مَا یُفْطِرُ وَ أَفْطَرَ حَتَّی قِیلَ مَا یَصُومُ ثُمَّ صَامَ صَوْمَ دَاوُدَ ع یَوْماً وَ یَوْماً ثُمَّ قُبِضَ ص عَلَی صَوْمِ ثَلَاثَهِ أَیَّامٍ فِی الشَّهْرِ وَ قَالَ یَعْدِلْنَ الدَّهْرَ وَ یَذْهَبْنَ بِوَحَرِ الصَّدْرِ قَالَ قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاکَ وَ أَیُّ أَیَّامٍ هِیَ فَقَالَ أَوَّلُ خَمِیسٍ فِی الشَّهْرِ وَ أَوَّلُ أَرْبِعَاءَ بَعْدَ الْعَشْرِ مِنْهُ وَ آخِرُ خَمِیسٍ مِنْهُ قَالَ قُلْتُ وَ لِمَ صَارَتْ هَذِهِ الْأَیَّامُ قَالَ لِأَنَّ مَنْ کَانَ قَبْلَنَا مِنَ الْأُمَمِ إِذَا أُنْزِلَ عَلَیْهِمُ الْعَذَابُ نَزَلَ فِی هَذِهِ الْأَیَّامِ فَصَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص هَذِهِ الْأَیَّامَ کُلَّهَا لِأَنَّهَا الْأَیَّامُ الْمَخُوفَهُ.

6. It is narrated by Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a.s.) that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) used to fast so much that people used to say that he does not miss any fast. Then he used to discontinue observing fast for so many days that people used to say that he does not observe fast. Then he started observing fast for alternate days like Dawood (a.s.). When he passed away from this world, he was fasting (one of the three fasts of a month). He said that these fasts are equal to the fasts of an age and it kills the evil thoughts arising in one’s heart.” The narrator asked, “May I be sacrificed on you, what are those days?” Imam (a.s.) replied, “First Thursday of every month, the Wednesday coming after first ten days of a month and last Thursday of the month?” The narrator asked, “Why are these days selected?” Imam (a.s.) replied, “The communities before us had to bear the chastisement on these days. Hence the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) used to fast during these days and they are the days of fearing Allah.”



Hadith #7

وَ بِهَذَا الْإِسْنَادِ عَنِ الْحُسَیْنِ بْنِ سَعِیدٍ عَنْ فَضَالَهَ عَنْ أَبَانٍ عَنْ أَبِی جَعْفَرٍ الْأَحْوَلِ عَنْ یَسَارِ بْنِ یَسَارٍ قَالَ: قُلْتُ لِأَبِی عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع لِأَیِّ شَیْ ءٍ یُصَامُ الْأَرْبِعَاءُ قَالَ لِأَنَّ النَّارَ خُلِقَتْ یَوْمَ الْأَرْبِعَاءِ.

7. And from the previous chain from al-Hussain b. Sa’eed from Fadhalah from Aban from Abi Ja’far al-Ahwal from Yasar b. Yasar who said: The narrator asked Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a.s.) the reason behind recommendation of the fast on Wednesday. Imam (a.s.) replied, “This is so because Hell was created on Wednesday.”



Hadith #8

وَ بِهَذَا الْإِسْنَادِ عَنِ الْحُسَیْنِ بْنِ سَعِیدٍ عَنْ حَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِیٍّ عَنْ بُکَیْرٍ عَنْ زُرَارَهَ قَالَ: قُلْتُ لِأَبِی عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع بِمَا جَرَتِ السُّنَّهُ مِنَ الصَّوْمِ فَقَالَ ثَلَاثَهُ أَیَّامٍ فِی کُلِّ شَهْرٍ الْخَمِیسُ فِی الْعَشْرِ الْأَوَّلِ وَ الْأَرْبِعَاءُ فِی الْعَشْرِ الثَّانِی وَ الْخَمِیسُ فِی الْعَشْرِ الْآخِرِ قَالَ قُلْتُ هَذَا جَمِیعُ مَا جَرَتْ بِهِ السُّنَّهُ فِی الصَّوْمِ قَالَ نَعَمْ.

8. And from the previous chain from al-Hussain b. Sa’eed from Hassan b. Ali from Bukayr from Zurarah who said: The narrator asked Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a.s.), “What is recommended in a fast?” Imam (a.s.) replied, “Fasting on three days every month.” The narrator asked, “Are you talking about recommended fasts?” Imam (a.s.) replied, “Yes.”



Hadith #9

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مُوسَی بْنِ الْمُتَوَکِّلِ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ الْحِمْیَرِیُّ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِیسَی عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنِ الْحُسَیْنِ بْنِ أَبِی حَمْزَهَ قَالَ: قُلْتُ لِأَبِی جَعْفَرٍ ع أَوْ لِأَبِی عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع صَوْمُ ثَلَاثَهِ أَیَّامٍ فِی الشَّهْرِ أُؤَخِّرُهَا فِی الصَّیْفِ إِلَی الشِّتَاءِ فَإِنِّی أَجِدُهُنَّ أَهْوَنَ عَلَیَّ فَقَالَ نَعَمْ وَ احْفَظْهَا.

9. It was narrated to us by Muhammad b. Musa b. al-Mutawakil who said it was narrated to us by Abdillah b. Ja’far al-Himyari from Ahmad b. Muhammad b. Isa from al-Hassan b. Mahbub from al-Hussain b. Abi Hamzah who said: The narrator asked Imam Muhammad Baqir (a.s.) or Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a.s.), “Can I postpone fasting for three days of a month till winter for I would find it easier to fast then?” Imam (a.s.) replied, “Yes, but do not reduce their number.”



Hadith #10

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَلِیِّ بْنِ مَاجِیلَوَیْهِ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِی عَمِّی مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ أَبِی الْقَاسِمِ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ أَبِی عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الْبَرْقِیِّ عَنْ أَبِیهِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الْمُغِیرَهِ عَنْ یَزِیدَ بْنِ خَلِیفَهَ قَالَ: قُلْتُ لِأَبِی عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنَّهُ یَشْتَدُّ عَلَیَّ الصَّوْمُ فِی الْحَرِّ فَأَجِدُ الصُّدَاعَ فَقَالَ اصْنَعْ کَمَا أَصْنَعُ أَنَا إِذَا سَافَرْتُ أَتَصَدَّقُ کُلَّ یَوْمٍ بِمُدٍّ عَلَی أَهْلِیَ الَّذِی أَقُوتُهُمْ بِهِ.

10. It was narrated to us by Muhammad b. Ali b. Majluwayh who said it was narrated to me by my uncle Muhammad b. Abi al-Qasim from Ahmad b. Abi Abdillah al-Barqi from his father Muhammad b. Khalid from Abdillah b. al-Mughira from Yazid b. Khalifa who said: The narrator asked Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a.s.), “O master! It is difficult for me to fast during summer and my head starts aching.” Imam (a.s.) replied, “Do what I do. When I go on a journey, for each day I give in Sadaqah one Mudd (750 grams) of food as I give to my family members.”