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الفتح الربانی
Fath al-Rabbani
كتاب الصيامBook of Fasting
بَابُ مَا جَاءَ فِي صَوْمِ شَهْرِ اللَّهِ الْمُحَرَّمِ وَفَضْلِهِChapter: What Has Been Reported Regarding Fasting the Month of Allah Muharram and Its Virtue
Hadith 3901
اُردوEn
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: سُئِلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَيُّ الصَّلَاةِ أَفْضَلُ بَعْدَ الْمَكْتُوبَةِ؟ قَالَ: ((الصَّلَاةُ فِي جَوْفِ اللَّيْلِ))، قِيلَ: أَيُّ الصِّيَامِ أَفْضَلُ بَعْدَ رَمَضَانَ؟ قَالَ: ((شَهْرُ اللَّهِ الَّذِي تَدْعُونَهُ الْمُحَرَّمَ))
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Huraira, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, was asked: "Which prayer is the best after the obligatory prayers?" He, peace and blessings be upon him, replied: "Prayer at any time during the night." Then someone asked: "Which fasts are the best after those of Ramadan?" He, peace and blessings be upon him, replied: "The fasts of Allah’s month, which you call Muharram."
Brief Explanation
Benefits: … It is narrated from Sayyiduna Jundub bin Sufyan radi Allahu anhu that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: “Indeed, the most virtuous prayer after the obligatory (fard) prayers is the prayer performed in the depths of the night, and the most virtuous fasting after Ramadan is the fasting in the month of Allah which you call Muharram.” (Mu’jam Kabir: 2/169)
From these ahadith, it is established that after Ramadan, the fasts of the month of Muharram are the most virtuous. However, the question arises: why did the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam fast abundantly in the month of Sha’ban as compared to Muharram? The answer to this question is found in the following blessed hadith: It is narrated from Sayyiduna Usamah bin Zayd radi Allahu anhu, who said: I said, “O Messenger of Allah! I see you fasting in a month in which I do not see you fasting in any other month as much as you do in this one. (What is the reason)?” He sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: “Which month?” I said: Sha’ban. He sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: “Sha’ban is a month between Rajab and Ramadan, which many people are heedless of. In this month, the deeds of the servants are raised (to the heavens), and I love that my deeds be raised while I am fasting.” (Sahihah: 1898, Nasa’i: 1/322)
The reason that you sallallahu alayhi wa sallam stated for fasting abundantly in the month of Sha’ban makes it clear that there is no contradiction between Sha’ban and Dhu al-Hijjah in this regard; that is, the virtue of each is established in its own place, but in an absolute sense, the virtue of Dhu al-Hijjah is greater, and it is also possible that you sallallahu alayhi wa sallam did not fast in Dhu al-Hijjah due to some excuse.
Fundamentally, this hadith is describing the virtue of voluntary (nafl) prayer at night as compared to during the day. It is a separate matter as to which part of the night performing voluntary prayer is more virtuous. It is established from ahadith that the last third of the night is, in this regard, of greater importance and virtue. (Abdullah Rafiq)
From these ahadith, it is established that after Ramadan, the fasts of the month of Muharram are the most virtuous. However, the question arises: why did the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam fast abundantly in the month of Sha’ban as compared to Muharram? The answer to this question is found in the following blessed hadith: It is narrated from Sayyiduna Usamah bin Zayd radi Allahu anhu, who said: I said, “O Messenger of Allah! I see you fasting in a month in which I do not see you fasting in any other month as much as you do in this one. (What is the reason)?” He sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: “Which month?” I said: Sha’ban. He sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: “Sha’ban is a month between Rajab and Ramadan, which many people are heedless of. In this month, the deeds of the servants are raised (to the heavens), and I love that my deeds be raised while I am fasting.” (Sahihah: 1898, Nasa’i: 1/322)
The reason that you sallallahu alayhi wa sallam stated for fasting abundantly in the month of Sha’ban makes it clear that there is no contradiction between Sha’ban and Dhu al-Hijjah in this regard; that is, the virtue of each is established in its own place, but in an absolute sense, the virtue of Dhu al-Hijjah is greater, and it is also possible that you sallallahu alayhi wa sallam did not fast in Dhu al-Hijjah due to some excuse.
Fundamentally, this hadith is describing the virtue of voluntary (nafl) prayer at night as compared to during the day. It is a separate matter as to which part of the night performing voluntary prayer is more virtuous. It is established from ahadith that the last third of the night is, in this regard, of greater importance and virtue. (Abdullah Rafiq)
