2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Yunus from Sama‘ah who has said the following: “I once asked him (the Imam) , about the case of the day which is doubtful of being of the month of Ramadan and one does not know if it is of al-Sha’ban or of the month of Ramadan. He fasts that day and it was of the month of Ramadan. He (the Imam) said, ‘It was a day when he fortunately fasted and there is no Qada’ (compensatory fast) upon him.’”

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Mu‘awiyah ibn Wahab who has said the following: “I once asked Abu `Abd Allah , about a man who fasts on a day which is doubtful of its being from al-Sha‘ban or of the month of Ramadan, and it happens to be of the month of Ramadan. He (the Imam) said, ‘It was something in which he was fortunate.’”

4. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn abu al-Suhban from Ali ibn al-Husayn ibn Ribat from Sa‘id al-’A‘raj who has said the following: “I once asked Abu `Abd Allah , ’I have fasted on the day which is doubtful about its being of al-Sha £ ban or of the month of Ramadan, if there is Qada’ (compensatory fast) upon me.’ He (the Imam) said, £ No, Qada’ (compensatory fast) is not obligatory on you and it was a day in which you had a fortunate chance.’”

5. Ahmad ibn Muhammad from has narrated from ibn abu al-Suhban from Muhammad ibn Bakr ibn Janah from Ali ibn Shajarah from Bashir al-Nabbal who has said the following: “I once asked Abu `Abd Allah , about the case of a doubtful day. He (the Imam) said, ’Fast on such day, if it is of al-Sha £ ban, it is optional and if it is of the month of Ramadan then it is a day in which you have a fortunate chance.’”

6. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ‘Uthman ibn ‘Isa from Sama‘ah, who has said the following: “I once asked Abu `Abd Allah , about a man who fasts a day and does not know if it is of the month of Ramadan or if it is of other days. Then certain people come and testify that it is of the month of Ramadan. Certain people say that it is not reliable. He (the Imam) said, £ Yes, that is true.’ I then said that they say, ‘You fasted and did not know if it was of the month of Ramadan or of other days.’ He (the Imam) said, ’Yes, that is true. You can depend on it; it is something in which Allah granted you a fortunate chance. A doubtful day is fasted as that of al-Sha’ban and not as that of the month of Ramadan; he prohibited one’s fasting alone on a doubtful day. During the night one forms his intention to fast as a day of al-Sha’ban and if it happens to be of the month of Ramadan, it is sufficient for it by the favor from Allah, most High, because of the ease He has granted to His servants; otherwise, they would have been destroyed.’”

7. Sahl ibn Ziyad has narrated from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Rifa’ah from a man who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah , has said, ‘Once I went to abu al- ‘Abbas in al-Hirah and he asked, “O abu ‘Abd Allah, what do you say about today’s fast?” I replied, “It is up to the Imam to decide; if you fast we also fast, if you do not fast, we also will not fast.” He then said, “O slave, prepare the table.” I ate with him and I knew, by Allah, that it was a day of the month of Ramadan. My not fasting and instead Qada’ (compensatory fast) was easier for me than my neck being cut off and Allah is not worshipped.’”

8. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from ‘Ubays ibn Hisham from al-Hadramiy ibn ‘Abd al-Malik from Muhammad ibn Hakim who has said the following: “I once asked abu al-Hassan , about the case of a day about which people have doubts. People think if one fasts on such a day, it is like destroying one day of fasting in the month of Ramadan. He (the Imam) said, ‘They have spoken a lie. If it is of the month of Ramadan, it is a fortunate chance for him; and if it is of other days then it is like any of the past days.’”

9. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ayyub ibn Nuh from al-‘ Abbas ibn ‘Amir from Dawud ibn al-Husayn from a man of our people who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah , has said, ‘I, in the time of abu al- ‘Abbas, once was in al-Hirah, when I went before him and people had doubts about the fast, and that day, by Allah, was of the month of Ramadan. I said Salam (the phrase of offering greeting of peace) to him and he asked, “O abu ‘Abd Allah, have you fasted today?” I replied, “No, I have not fasted;” the table was before him. He said, “Come close and eat.” He (the Imam) said, ‘I went close and ate, and said, “I fast with you and eat with you.’” A man then said to abu ‘Abd Allah , ‘Did you eat on the day of the month of Ramadan?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, by Allah, eating on one day of the month of Ramadan is more beloved to me than my neck being cut off.’”