فاما الاخبار التي وردت في النهي عن صوم شعبان وانه ما صامه أحد من الائمة فالمراد بها انه لم يصمه احد من الائمة ع على ان صومه يجري مجرى شهر رمضان في الفرض والوجوب لان قوما قالوا ان صومه فريضة، وكان أبو الخطاب لعنه الله واصحابه يذهبون إليه ويقولون ان من افطر يوما منه لزمه من الكفارة ما يلزم من افطر يوما من شهر رمضان، فورد عنهم ع الا نكار لذلك وانه لم يصمه احد منهم على هذا الوجه، والاخبار التي تضمنت الفصل بين شهر شعبان وشهر رمضان فالمراد بها النهي عن الوصال الذي بينا فيما مضى انه محرم، وقد دل على هذا التأويل الخبر الذي قدمناه عن محمد بن سليمان عن أبيه عن ابي عبد الله حين قال قلت له: أفلا يفصل بينهما قال: إذا أفطر من الليل فهو فصل، وانما قال رسول الله: لا وصال في صيام يعني لا يصوم الرجل يومين متواليين من غير افطار، وقد يستحب للرجل ان لا يدع السحور.
As for the reports that have come regarding the prohibition of fasting the month of Shaban, and that none of the Imams عليه السلام, peace be upon them, fasted it, what is meant by them is that none of the Imams عليه السلام, peace be upon them, fasted the month of Shaban on the basis that its fasting was like the fasting of the month of Ramadan in obligation and duty. This is because a group claimed that fasting the month of Shaban was obligatory. Abu al-Khattab, may Allah سبحانه وتعالى curse him, and his companions used to hold this view. They used to say that whoever breaks the fast on one day from the month of Shaban becomes liable for the same expiation that is binding upon one who breaks the fast on one day from the month of Ramadan. Therefore, the denial came from the Imams عليه السلام, peace be upon them, regarding this belief, and that none of them fasted the month of Shaban in this manner. As for the reports that mention separating between the month of Shaban and the month of Ramadan, what is meant by them is the prohibition of continuous fasting (wisal), which we have already explained to be forbidden. The report that we presented earlier from Muhammad ibn Sulayman, from his father, from Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him, indicates this interpretation. He said: “I said to Imam عليه السلام: ‘Should he not separate between them?’” Imam عليه السلام said: “If he breaks the fast at night, then that is separation. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم, only said: ‘There is no continuous fasting (wisal) in fasting,’ meaning that a man should not fast two consecutive days without breaking the fast.” And it is recommended for a man not to leave the pre-dawn meal (suhur).
