Series of Answers by the Eminent Scholar Ata bin Khalil Abu al-Rashtah, Amir of Hizb ut-Tahrir
To the questions of the visitors to his Facebook page "Fiqhi"
To: Rashid al-Radi
Question:
Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh,
Our eminent scholar Ata bin Khalil, may Allah protect and preserve you,
I have a question regarding fasting the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah; is it recommended and considered among the righteous deeds, or is it an innovation (bid’ah) that was not reported from the Messenger of Allah (saw)? I have read some hadiths on this subject that appear to be contradictory, so is it possible to reconcile these hadiths? Please benefit us, and may Allah bless you.
Answer:
Walaikum Assalam Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh,
Regarding the fasting of the nine days of Dhul-Hijjah, especially the ninth day, which is the Day of Arafah, hadiths have been reported on this matter... Similarly, hadiths have been reported regarding the merit of righteous deeds during the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah. It has also been reported from the Mother of the Believers, Aisha (ra), that she did not see the Messenger of Allah (saw) fasting during those ten days... We will mention these hadiths and then provide the reconciliation between them, Allah willing:
First: Reviewing some hadiths regarding fasting the nine days of Dhul-Hijjah:
1- Fasting the nine days of Dhul-Hijjah, including the Day of Arafah
- Muslim narrated in his Sahih from Abu Qatada that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said:
ثَلَاثٌ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ وَرَمَضَانُ إِلَى رَمَضَانَ فَهَذَا صِيَامُ الدَّهْرِ كُلِّهِ، صِيَامُ يَوْمِ عَرَفَةَ أَحْتَسِبُ عَلَى اللَّهِ أَنْ يُكَفِّرَ السَّنَةَ الَّتِي قَبْلَهُ وَالسَّنَةَ الَّتِي بَعْدَهُ، وَصِيَامُ يَوْمِ عَاشُورَاءَ أَحْتَسِبُ عَلَى اللَّهِ أَنْ يُكَفِّرَ السَّنَةَ الَّتِي قَبْلَهُ
"Three days of every month and Ramadan to Ramadan is fasting for a lifetime. Fasting on the Day of Arafah, I hope from Allah that it expiates for the year before it and the year after it. Fasting on the Day of Ashura, I hope from Allah that it expiates for the year before it."
- Muslim narrated in his Sahih from Abu Qatada al-Ansari (ra) that the Messenger of Allah (saw) was asked about fasting on the Day of Arafah, and he said:
يُكَفِّرُ السَّنَةَ الْمَاضِيَةَ وَالْبَاقِيَةَ
"It expiates for the past year and the remaining year."
- Ahmad narrated in his Musnad from Hunaydah bin Khalid, from his wife, from some of the wives of the Prophet (saw), who said:
كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَصُومُ تِسْعَ ذِي الْحِجَّةِ
"The Messenger of Allah (saw) used to fast the nine days of Dhul-Hijjah." (Also narrated by Al-Bayhaqi in Shu'ab al-Iman and Abu Dawood in his Sunan).
2- Righteous deeds in the ten days of Dhul-Hijjah
- Al-Bukhari narrated in his Sahih from Sa'id bin Jubayr, from Ibn Abbas, from the Prophet (saw) that he said:
ما العمل في أيام أفضل منها في هذه، قالوا: ولا الجهاد؟ قال: ولا الجهاد إلا رجل خرج يخاطر بنفسه وماله فلم يرجع بشيء
"No deeds done on other days are superior to those done on these (first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah)." They said, "Not even Jihad?" He said, "Not even Jihad, except for a man who goes out risking himself and his wealth and does not return with anything."
- Al-Bayhaqi narrated in Al-Sunan al-Kubra from Sa'id bin Jubayr, from Ibn Abbas, that the Prophet (saw) said:
ما العمل في أيام أفضل منه في عشر ذي الحجة. قالوا: يا رسول الله، ولا الجهاد في سبيل الله؟ قال: ولا الجهاد في سبيل الله إلا رجل خرج بنفسه وماله في سبيل الله ثم لا يرجع من ذلك بشيء
"No deeds done on other days are superior to those done in the ten days of Dhul-Hijjah." They said, "O Messenger of Allah, not even Jihad in the way of Allah?" He said, "Not even Jihad in the way of Allah, except for a man who goes out with his life and wealth in the way of Allah and then returns with nothing of that." (Also narrated by Ibn Hibban in his Sahih).
3- The Hadith of the Mother of the Believers Aisha (ra)
Muslim narrated in his Sahih from Ibrahim, from Al-Aswad, from Aisha (ra), who said:
مَا رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم صَائِماً فِي الْعَشْرِ قَطُّ
"I never saw the Messenger of Allah (saw) fasting during the ten (days) at all."
Second: Reconciling the evidences:
The first set of hadiths shows that the Messenger of Allah (saw) used to fast the first nine days of Dhul-Hijjah, especially the Day of Arafah...
The second set of hadiths shows the merit of righteous deeds during the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah...
The hadith of Aisha (ra) states that she did not see the Messenger of Allah (saw) fasting during the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah...
As stated in The Islamic Personality (Al-Shakhsiyyah), Volume 3, Chapter of Equivalence and Preference (At-Ta'adul wa at-Tarajih) - point seven:
"(Seventh: The affirmative evidence is preferred over the negative evidence. If two pieces of evidence are found, one affirming and the other denying, the affirming one is preferred because it contains additional knowledge. This is like the report of Bilal that the Prophet (saw) entered the Kaaba and prayed, and the report of Usama that he entered but did not pray; the report of Bilal is preferred.)"
Thus, the affirmative is preferred over the negative. This means the hadiths indicating the Prophet's (saw) fasting of the Day of Arafah and the rest of the first nine days of Dhul-Hijjah are preferred over the hadith of the Mother of the Believers Aisha (ra). Therefore, fasting the nine days of Dhul-Hijjah, especially the ninth day (Arafah), is not an innovation; rather, it carries a very great reward. And Allah is the All-Knowing, Most Wise.
I hope this is sufficient.
Your brother, Ata bin Khalil Abu al-Rashtah
25 Dhul-Qi'dah 1440 AH Corresponding to 28/07/2019 CE
Link to the answer from the Amir's page (may Allah protect him) on Facebook