2. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn Ahmad ibn ‘Ushaym who has said the following: “Al-Husayn once wrote to al-Rida’ , saying, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, a man had vowed to fast for certain days and fasted a few days, then he became ill and stopped fasting. Is he required to start fasting all over again or are the days that he had fasted are counted?’ He (the Imam) wrote the answer that said, ‘The days that he had fasted are also counted.’”

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Salih ibn ‘Abdillah who has said the following: “I once asked abu al-Hassan , saying, 'May I be sacrificed for you, it is upon me to fast for one month if my uncle is released from jail. He came out from jail and I decided to start the fast, but then someone from our companions came and I invited him for lunch, and I had lunch with him.' He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful.’”

4. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from al-Qasim ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn abu Hamzah who has said the following: “I once asked abu Ibrahim , about a man who has made obligatory upon himself to fast one month in al-Kufah, one month in al-Madinah and one month in Makkah because of an affliction whereby he suffered. He fasted one month in al-Kufah, then he entered al-Madinah and fasted for eighteen days, but then the camel man did not stay any longer. He (the Imam) said, ‘He can fast the remaining days at home when he comes back.’”

5. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from al-Nawfaliy from al-Sakuniy who has said the following: “Abu Ja‘far , has narrated from his ancestors who have narrated this Hadith: ‘Ali , has said about a man, who had vowed to fast for a Zamanan (a certain amount of time), that Zaman is five months, al-Hin is six months; Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has said, ‘It gives its fruits kulla Hin (every time) by the permission of its Lord.’”

6. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from al-Hassan ibn Mahbub from Khalid ibn Jarir from abu al-Rabi’ who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah , about a man who has said, ‘It is from Allah upon me to fast a Hin (a certain amount of time) for thanksgiving.’ Abu ‘Abd Allah , said, ‘A similar case came to Ali , and he said, ‘Fast for six months; Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has said, ‘It gives its fruits kulla Hin by the permission of its Lord’, that is six months.’”

7. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Harun ibn Muslim from Mas’adah ibn Sadaqah who has said the following: “Abu ‘ Abd Allah , has narrated from his ancestors, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, who have stated this Hadith. ’If a man places upon himself fasting of certain known days of every month, then he goes on a journey and many months pass, such person is not required to fast on a journey as well as at home when he comes back.’”

8. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from al-Hassan ibn Mahbub from ‘Abd Allah ibn Sinan who has said the following: “I once asked abu ’Abd Allah , about a man who fasts because of what he has timed upon himself or to fast of the sacred months and then one or two months pass during which he does not fast at all. He (the Imam) said, ‘He is not required to fast on a journey and there is not anything of Qada’ (compensatory fast) for optional fast except the three days that he would fast every month. He must not take it as obligatory except that I like you to continue with a good deed.’ He (the Imam) said, ’For the one committing himself to fast in the sacred months, fasting of three days, instead of fasting the whole of sacred month, is sufficient.’”

9. Muhammad ibn ‘Isma‘il has narrated from al-Fadl ibn Shadhan from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Ibrahim ibn ‘Abd al-Hamid who has said the following: “I once asked abu al-Hassan, al-Rida’ , about a man who places upon himself for Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, fasting of a definite day. He (the Imam) said, ‘He is required to fast definitely, regardless of being on a journey or at home.’”

10. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Faddal ibn Bukayr from Zurarah who has said the following: “My mother had placed upon herself from Allah to fast a certain day if Allah returned one of her children safely from the danger of which she was afraid, and she would then fast the day her child came back. She did not stay; instead came out with us for Makkah and it became difficult for us because we did not know whether she was required to fast or not. I then asked abu ‘Abd Allah , about it and explained to him (the Imam) what she had done. He (the Imam) said, ’She is not required to fast on a journey. Allah has exempted her of His rights: why then must she fast because of what she has placed from Allah upon herself?’ I then asked him (the Imam), ‘What will happen if she did not do it at all?’ He (the Imam) said, ’If so, I fear for her to experience in the matter for which she had vowed to see what she may dislike.’”