٢٢٥ - باب فضل صوم المحرم وشعبان والأشهر الحرم

On the authority of Abū Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The best fasting after Ramaḍān is the month of Allah, al-Muḥarram; and the best prayer after the obligatory (prayer) is the night prayer." Narrated by Muslim.

On the authority of ʿĀʾishah (may Allah be pleased with her), who said: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not fast in any month more than he fasted in Shaʿbān, for he used to fast the whole of Shaʿbān. And in another narration: he used to fast Shaʿbān except for a little. Agreed upon (al-Bukhārī and Muslim).

On the authority of Mujībah al-Bāhiliyyah, from her father or her uncle, that he came to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), then went away and came to him again after a year — and his condition and appearance had changed — and he said: "O Messenger of Allah, do you not recognise me?" He said: "And who are you?" He said: "I am the Bāhilī who came to you last year." He said: "What has changed you, when you were of fine appearance?" He said: "I have not eaten any food since I left you except at night." So the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "You have tormented yourself!" Then he said: "Fast the month of patience (Ramaḍān), and one day from every month." He said: "Give me more, for I have strength." He said: "Fast two days." He said: "Give me more." He said: "Fast three days." He said: "Give me more." He said: "Fast some of the sacred months and leave off, fast some of the sacred months and leave off, fast some of the sacred months and leave off" — and he gestured with his three fingers, closing them together, then releasing them. Narrated by Abū Dāwūd. And "the month of patience" is Ramaḍān.