Man Lā Yaḥḍuruh al-Faqīh

سُئِلَ أَمِيرُ اَلْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: عَنِ اَلْيَوْمِ اَلْمَشْكُوكِ فِيهِ فَقَالَ «لَأَنْ أَصُومَ يَوْماً مِنْ شَعْبَانَ أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِنْ أَنْ أُفْطِرَ يَوْماً مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ ».

Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (a.s) was asked about the day of doubt (the day when it is uncertain whether it is the last day of Sha'ban or the first day of Month of Ramadan). Imam (a.s) said: "Fasting one day from Sha'ban is more beloved to me than breaking my fast for one day in the Month of Ramadan."

فيجوز أن يصام على أنه من شعبان فإن كان من شهر رمضان أجزأه، وإن كان من شعبان لم يضره، ومن صامه وهو شاك فيه فعليه قضاؤه وإن كان من شهر رمضان لأنه لا يقبل شئ من الفرائض إلا باليقين، ولا يجوز أن ينوي من يصوم يوم الشك أنه من شهر رمضان.

It is permissible to fast on that day with the intention that it is from Sha'ban. If it turns out to be from Month of Ramadan, the fast suffices; if it is from Sha'ban, it does no harm. However, if someone fasts on that day while in doubt and without proper intention, they must make up that day, even if it turns out to be from Month of Ramadan, because no obligatory acts are accepted without certainty. It is not permissible for someone fasting on the day of doubt to intend it as being from Month of Ramadan.

لِأَنَّ أَمِيرَ اَلْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ قَالَ: «لَأَنْ أُفْطِرَ يَوْماً مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِنْ أَنْ أَصُومَ يَوْماً مِنْ شَعْبَانَ أَزِيدُهُ فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ ».

Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (a.s), said: "Breaking my fast on one day in the Month of Ramadan is more beloved to me than fasting one day from Sha'ban and adding it to the Month of Ramadan."

وَ سَأَلَ بَشِيرٌ اَلنَّبَّالُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: عَنْ صَوْمِ يَوْمِ اَلشَّكِّ فَقَالَ «صُمْهُ فَإِنْ كَانَ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ كَانَ تَطَوُّعاً وَ إِنْ كَانَ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ فَيَوْمٌ وُفِّقْتَ لَهُ».

Bashir al-Nabbal asked Abu Abdullah (a.s) about fasting on the day of doubt. Imam (a.s) said: "Fast it. If it turns out to be from Sha'ban, it is a voluntary fast, and if it turns out to be from Month of Ramadan, then it is a day you were fortunate to have fasted."

وَ سَأَلَهُ عَبْدُ اَلْكَرِيمِ بْنُ عَمْرٍو فَقَالَ: إِنِّي جَعَلْتُ عَلَى نَفْسِي أَنْ أَصُومَ حَتَّى يَقُومَ اَلْقَائِمُ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ فَقَالَ «لاَ تَصُمْ فِي اَلسَّفَرِ وَ لاَ فِي اَلْعِيدَيْنِ وَ لاَ فِي أَيَّامِ اَلتَّشْرِيقِ وَ لاَ اَلْيَوْمِ اَلَّذِي يُشَكُّ فِيهِ ».

Abd al-Karim ibn Amr asked Imam (a.s): "I have made a vow upon myself to fast until the Qa'im (a.s) rises." Imam (a.s) said: "Do not fast during travel, on the two Eids, on the days of Tashriq, or on the day of doubt."

ومن كان في بلد فيه سلطان فالصوم معه والفطر معه لان في خلافه دخولا في نهي الله عز وجل حيث يقول: " ولا تلقوا بأيديكم إلى التهلكة ".

For someone living in a place under a ruler, they should fast and break their fast with the community, as opposing this could lead to violating Allah’s (swt) command, as He says: "And do not throw [yourselves] with your [own] hands into destruction.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:195)

وَ قَدْ رُوِيَ عَنْ عِيسَى بْنِ أَبِي مَنْصُورٍ أَنَّهُ قَالَ: كُنْتُ عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ فِي اَلْيَوْمِ اَلَّذِي يَشُكُّ فِيهِ اَلنَّاسُ فَقَالَ «يَا غُلاَمُ اِذْهَبْ فَانْظُرْ أَ صَامَ اَلْأَمِيرُ أَمْ لاَ» فَذَهَبَ ثُمَّ عَادَ فَقَالَ لاَ فَدَعَا بِالْغَدَاءِ فَتَغَدَّيْنَا مَعَهُ.

It is narrated from Isa ibn Abi Mansur, who said: "I was with Abu Abdullah (a.s) on the day when people were uncertain (whether it was the first of Month of Ramadan or not). Imam (a.s) said: 'O boy, go and see whether the Amir (ruler) has fasted or not.' The boy went and returned, saying: ''No, he has not fasted.' Then Imam (a.s) called for lunch, and we ate with him."

وَ قَالَ اَلصَّادِقُ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: «لَوْ قُلْتُ إِنَّ تَارِكَ اَلتَّقِيَّةِ كَتَارِكِ اَلصَّلاَةِ لَكُنْتُ صَادِقاً».

Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (a.s) said: "If I were to say that abandoning taqiyyah (dissimulation) is like abandoning prayer, I would be truthful."

وَ قَالَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: «لاَ دِينَ لِمَنْ لاَ تَقِيَّةَ لَهُ ».

Imam (a.s) said: "There is no religion for the one who has no taqiyyah (dissimulation)."

وَ رَوَى عَبْدُ اَلْعَظِيمِ بْنُ عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ اَلْحَسَنِيُّ عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ اَلرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ يَقُولُ: «اَلصَّوْمُ لِلرُّؤْيَةِ وَ اَلْفِطْرُ لِلرُّؤْيَةِ وَ لَيْسَ مِنَّا مَنْ صَامَ قَبْلَ اَلرُّؤْيَةِ لِلرُّؤْيَةِ وَ أَفْطَرَ قَبْلَ اَلرُّؤْيَةِ لِلرُّؤْيَةِ» قَالَ قُلْتُ لَهُ يَا اِبْنَ رَسُولِ اَللَّهِ فَمَا تَرَى فِي صَوْمِ يَوْمِ اَلشَّكِّ فَقَالَ «حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي عَنْ جَدِّي عَنْ آبَائِهِ عَلَيْهِمُ اَلسَّلاَمُ قَالَ قَالَ أَمِيرُ اَلْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ «لَأَنْ أَصُومَ يَوْماً مِنْ شَهْرِ شَعْبَانَ أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِنْ أَنْ أُفْطِرَ يَوْماً مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ ».

Abd al-Azim ibn Abdullah al-Hasani narrated from Sahl ibn Sa'd, who said: "I heard al-Ridha (a.s) say: 'Fasting is based on the sighting [of the crescent], and breaking the fast is based on the sighting [of the crescent]. Whoever fasts before sighting the crescent for the sake of sighting, or breaks the fast before sighting the crescent for the sake of sighting, is not one of us.'" I said to him: "O son of the Messenger of Allah (swt), what is your view on fasting the day of doubt?" Imam (a.s) said: "My father narrated to me from my grandfather, from his forefathers (a.s), who said that Amir al-Mu'minin (a.s) said: 'Fasting one day of Sha'ban is more beloved to me than breaking my fast for one day in Month of Ramadan.'"

قال مصنف هذا الكتاب - رحمه الله -: وهذا حديث غريب لا أعرفه إلا من طريق عبد العظيم بن عبد الله الحسني المدفون بالري في مقابر الشجرة وكان مرضيا - رضي الله عنه -.

The compiler of this book—may Allah (swt) have mercy on him—said: This is a unique narration that I only know through Abd al-Azim ibn Abdullah al-Hasani, who is buried in Rey in the Cemetery of the Tree and was trustworthy—may Allah (swt) be pleased with him.

سُئِلَ اَلصَّادِقُ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: عَنْ رَجُلٍ أَسْلَمَ فِي اَلنِّصْفِ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ مَا عَلَيْهِ مِنْ صِيَامِهِ فَقَالَ «لَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ أَنْ يَصُومَ إِلاَّ مَا أَسْلَمَ فِيهِ وَ لَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ أَنْ يَقْضِيَ مَا قَدْ مَضَى مِنْهُ ».

Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (a.s) was asked about a man who converted to Islam in the middle of the Month of Ramadan: What is required of him in terms of fasting? Imam (a.s) said: "He is only required to fast the days remaining from when he became Muslim, and he is not obligated to make up the days that have already passed."

وَ رَوَى صَفْوَانُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنِ اَلْعِيصِ بْنِ اَلْقَاسِمِ قَالَ: سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ عَنْ قَوْمٍ أَسْلَمُوا فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ وَ قَدْ مَضَى مِنْهُ أَيَّامٌ هَلْ عَلَيْهِمْ أَنْ يَصُومُوا مَا مَضَى مِنْهُ أَوْ يَوْمَهُمُ اَلَّذِي أَسْلَمُوا فِيهِ فَقَالَ «لَيْسَ عَلَيْهِمْ قَضَاءٌ وَ لاَ يَوْمُهُمُ اَلَّذِي أَسْلَمُوا فِيهِ إِلاَّ أَنْ يَكُونُوا أَسْلَمُوا فِيهِ قَبْلَ طُلُوعِ اَلْفَجْرِ ».

Safwan ibn Yahya narrated from Al-'Is ibn al-Qasim, who said: "I asked Abu Abdullah (a.s) about a group of people who converted to Islam during the Month of Ramadan after some days had passed. Are they required to fast the days that have passed, or the day they embraced Islam? Imam (a.s) said: 'They are not required to make up the missed days or to fast on the day they embraced Islam, unless they embraced Islam before the break of dawn on that day.'"