Page:Selections from Muhammadan Traditions - tr. William Goldsack (1923).djvu/116

96 and Thursdays, and I wish that my actions should be placed before Him whilst I am fasting,"—At Tirmidhí.

It is related from Ibn ʿAbbás that he said,' Verily the Apostle of God came to Madína and found the Jews fasting on the day of ʿÁshura. Therefore the Apostle of God said to them, "What is this day which you are observing by a fast?" They replied, "This is a great day. On it God saved Moses and his people, and drowned Pharaoh and his people; so Moses fasted on that day out of gratitude; and we fast thereon." Then the Apostle of God said, "We are more worthy of and nearer to Moses than ye." Then the Apostle of God fasted on that day, and ordered the people to fast thereon.'—Muslim, Al Bukhárí.

It is related from Umm Salamah that, 'The Apostle of God used to fast on Saturdays and Sundays more than on any other day, and used to say, "Verily these two days are festivals of the polytheists, and I like to act contrary to them."'—Aḥmad.

It is related from Abú Hurairah that, 'The Prophet used to fast on Mondays and Thursdays, and it was said, "O Apostle of God, thou fastest on Mondays and Thursdays?" He replied, "Verily on Mondays and Thursdays God forgives every Muslim except the two who are alienated from one another. He says, 'Leave them alone until they become reconciled.'"'—Aḥmad, Ibn Májah.

It is related from Umm Hání that she said, 'On the day of the conquest of Mecca, Fáṭimah came and sat on the Apostle's left, and Umm Hání sat on his right. Then there came a girl with a vessel containing drink, and she gave it to him, and he drank from it. Then she gave it to Umm Hání, and she drank from it. Then she said, "O Apostle of God, I have broken my fast, for I was fasting." He said to her, "Were you carrying out anything (omitted from a previous fast)?" She said, "No." He said, "Then it will do you no harm, if it was a voluntary fast,"'—Abú Dáud, At Tirmidhí.—And in another tradition from Aḥmad and At Tirmidhí it runs, 'She said, "O Apostle of God, beware, verily I was fasting." He replied, "The performer of a voluntary fast is his own master; if he wishes he may fast, and if he wishes he may break the fast."'