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TYPES OF FAST (SAUM)
Shaikh Saduq
(r.a.) had
narrated a
tradition from
the Infallible
Imam Ali Zain-al-Abedin
(a.s.) in his
book Man La
Yahzuhruhu al-Faqih,
volume 2 pages
52-54:
“Fast is of
forty different
types: ten are
as obligatory as
the fasts of the
month of Ramzan;
ten are
prohibited;
fourteen are
optional: one
may fast during
them or he may
not; add to that
the three
different kinds
of conditional
fast. Add also
disciplinary
fast,
permissible
fast, and the
fast making up
for one who had
to go on a
journey or who
fell sick.
Obligatory
Fasts: It
includes the
fast of the
month of Ramazan
and of two
consecutive
months for each
one day of fast
in the month of
Ramazan
deliberately
missed, and
the fast of two
consecutive
months as an
atonement for
“Zihar”;
Surah Mujadela
Ayahs 2-4
refers. Another
of such fast is
fasting for two
consecutive
months if a
Muslim kills
another
Muslim by
mistake and
is unable to
free a slave.
Surah Nisa Ayah
92 refers.
Another such
obligatory fast
is fasting for
three days as
act of atonement
for breaking
an oath if
one is unable to
feed the needy;
Surah Mai’dah
Ayah 89 refers.
Yet another
obligatory fast
is fasting for
three days if
one is
injured while
shaving his head
while performing
pilgrimage
rites and
he cannot offer
sacrifice and
additional seven
days when he
returns home;
Surah Baqarah
Ayah 196 refers.
And the fast of
one who hunts
and is still
in “Ihram”
is also
obligatory;
Surah Ma’idah
Ayah 95 refers.
Then the Imam
(a.s.) turned
toward al-Zuhry
and said: “Do
you know how its
equivalent is
met by fasting?
The (hunted)
game is first to
be estimated,
then the
estimated value
is to be
measured by its
equivalent in
charity, then
such a measure
is to be
weighed, so he
should fast one
day for each
half of measured
unit.” And the
fast of Nazr and
I’tekaf is also
obligatory.
Prohibited
Fasts: It is
forbidden to
fast on
Eid-al Fitr,
Eid-al Azha, the
three days of
Tashreeq
(the cutting and
sun-drying of
sacrificed
meat), and the
fast of doubt:
Allah ordered us
to fast it with
the month of
Sha’ban and
every one among
us is prohibited
from singling
himself out to
fast when
everyone else is
not sure whether
it is the
inception of the
month of Ramazan
or not.” Al-Zuhry
said: “May I be
sacrificed for
you! But if he
did not fast
during the month
of Sha’ban, what
should he do?”
The Imam Said:
“He should make
the intention on
the uncertain
night that he is
fasting the
month of
Sha’ban; so, if
it turns out to
be the month of
Ramazan, he will
receive his
reward, but if
it becomes
evident that it
was indeed the
month of
Sha’ban, he will
not have
committed any
harm.”
Al-Zuhry asked
the Imam: “How
can the
voluntary fast
be made up for
compulsory one?”
The Imam (a.s.)
replied: “If
someone
voluntarily fast
one day during
the month of
Ramazan without
knowing that it
was the month of
Ramazan, then he
finds out that
it was, should
he fast again?
The obligation
is regarding the
day itself.
Wisal fast
(fasting only
the last day of
each Lunar
month) is
prohibited, and
to fast each day
of your life is
likewise
prohibited.
Optional
Fasts: It is
to fast on
Fridays,
Thursdays and
Mondays,
the white
(13, 14, and 15
of Lunar months
as the moon
shines during
them) days,
the first six
days during the
month of Shawwal
following the
month of Ramzan,
the fast on the
standing at
Arafat, all
these occasions
are optional;
one may or may
not fast during
those days.
Permission
Fasts: A
woman cannot
fast an optional
fast without the
permission of
her husband;
a slave may not
fast without the
permission of
his master, and
a guest may not
fast an optional
fast except with
the permission
of his host;
the Noble
Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.)
said: “Whoever
visits some
folks, he should
not observe an
optional fast
except with
their
permission.”
Disciplinary
Fasts: A boy
reaching
adolescence is
ordered to fast
as he reaches
the age of
adulthood,
though it is not
obligatory on
him to do so.
Likewise, if one
is forced, due
to a sudden
ailment, to
break his fast
at the inception
of the day, then
he gains his
strength
thereafter, he
should fast rest
of the day as a
self-disciplinary
act although he
is not obliged
to do so.
Likewise, if a
traveler eats at
the beginning of
the day then
reaches home, he
should abstain
from eating for
rest of the day
as a
self-disciplinary
act and not not
as an
obligation. As
regarding the
fast of one who
forgets and eats
or drinks, or if
he does so only
as a measure of
“Taqiyya”,
without doing so
on purpose,
Allah, the Most
Exalted and Most
Great, has
permitted him to
do so and will
reward him for
it.
As regarding the
fast when
travelling or
suffering from
ailment,
there are
different
opinions on this
subject. But as
far AhlulBayt is
concerned,
one should break
his fast and
make it up
latter as
Allah, the Most
Exalted and Most
Great says: “And
if one of you is
sick or
travelling, (the
fast of) a
number on other
days (suffices)”
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