Nasai

Urdu footnote:
“The nine days of Dhu al-Hijjah.” It is narrated from Aisha radi Allahu anha in Sahih Muslim: I never saw the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam fasting during these days. (Sahih Muslim, al-I'tikaf, Hadith: 1176) However, instead of considering this as a contradiction, it should be understood as a matter of lack of knowledge, i.e., Aisha radi Allahu anha has negated her own knowledge. This does not necessarily mean that the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam did not fast. Hafsa radi Allahu anha saw him fasting, so she reported the fast.

In the above-mentioned twenty-eight narrations, the various states of the voluntary fasts of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam), may my father, mother, self, and soul be sacrificed for him, have been described, and there is no contradiction among them. Sometimes he would fast in one manner, and at other times in another manner. And this is more appropriate, because in voluntary (nafl) fasts, one should take ease into consideration. To adopt one method and adhere to it so strictly that departing from it is considered sinful falls under the category of extremism and unnecessary hardship in religion. Therefore, the matter of voluntary acts should be kept open, for voluntary acts depend on happiness and enthusiasm. However, the instructions of the Shari‘ah should be kept in view, for example: one should not fast continuously; one should not fast on the days of Eid or the days of Tashreeq; one should not fast on doubtful days or on the last days of Sha‘ban, and so on.