Shaykh Muḥammad b. ʿAlī al-Ṣaduq · 1,647 narrations in this edition
سَأَلَ هِشَامُ بْنُ اَلْحَكَمِ أَبَا عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: عَنْ عِلَّةِ اَلصِّيَامِ فَقَالَ «إِنَّمَا فَرَضَ اَللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ اَلصِّيَامَ لِيَسْتَوِيَ بِهِ اَلْغَنِيُّ وَ اَلْفَقِيرُ وَ ذَلِكَ أَنَّ اَلْغَنِيَّ لَمْ يَكُنْ لِيَجِدَ مَسَّ اَلْجُوعِ فَيَرْحَمَ اَلْفَقِيرَ لِأَنَّ اَلْغَنِيَّ كُلَّمَا أَرَادَ شَيْئاً قَدَرَ عَلَيْهِ فَأَرَادَ اَللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَنْ يُسَوِّيَ بَيْنَ خَلْقِهِ وَ أَنْ يُذِيقَ اَلْغَنِيَّ مَسَّ اَلْجُوعِ وَ اَلْأَلَمِ لِيَرِقَّ عَلَى اَلضَّعِيفِ فَيَرْحَمَ اَلْجَائِعَ».
Hisham ibn al-Hakam asked Abu Abdullah Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (a.s) about the reason for fasting. Imam (a.s) said: "Allah (swt), the Almighty, prescribed fasting so that the rich and the poor may become equal. This is because the rich would not experience the pain of hunger to have mercy on the poor, as the rich, whenever they desire something, can obtain it. Thus, Allah (swt), the Almighty, willed to make His creation equal and to let the rich taste the pain of hunger and suffering so that they would feel compassion for the weak and have mercy on the hungry."
وَ كَتَبَ أَبُو اَلْحَسَنِ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُوسَى اَلرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ إِلَى مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ فِيمَا كَتَبَ مِنْ جَوَابِ مَسَائِلِهِ: «عِلَّةُ اَلصَّوْمِ لِعِرْفَانِ مَسِّ اَلْجُوعِ وَ اَلْعَطَشِ لِيَكُونَ ذَلِيلاً مُسْتَكِيناً مَأْجُوراً مُحْتَسِباً صَابِراً وَ يَكُونَ ذَلِكَ دَلِيلاً لَهُ عَلَى شَدَائِدِ اَلْآخِرَةِ مَعَ مَا فِيهِ مِنَ اَلاِنْكِسَارِ لَهُ عَنِ اَلشَّهَوَاتِ وَاعِظاً لَهُ فِي اَلْعَاجِلِ دَلِيلاً عَلَى اَلْآجِلِ لِيَعْلَمَ شِدَّةَ مَبْلَغِ ذَلِكَ مِنْ أَهْلِ اَلْفَقْرِ وَ اَلْمَسْكَنَةِ فِي اَلدُّنْيَا وَ اَلْآخِرَةِ.
Abu al-Hasan Imam Ali ibn Musa al-Ridha (a.s) wrote to Muhammad ibn Sinan in response to his questions: "The reason for fasting is to understand the feeling of hunger and thirst, so that one becomes humble, submissive, rewarded, mindful, and patient. It serves as a reminder of the hardships of the Hereafter. Additionally, it breaks one’s desires and acts as a preacher in this world, guiding toward the Hereafter. Through fasting, one comprehends the severity of the state of the poor and destitute in this world and the Hereafter."
وَ كَتَبَ حَمْزَةُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ إِلَى أَبِي مُحَمَّدٍ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: لِمَ فَرَضَ اَللَّهُ اَلصَّوْمَ فَوَرَدَ فِي اَلْجَوَابِ «لِيَجِدَ اَلْغَنِيُّ مَسَّ اَلْجُوعِ فَيَمُنَّ عَلَى اَلْفَقِيرِ.
Hamza ibn Muhammad wrote to Abu Muhammad (a.s) asking: "Why did Allah (swt) make fasting obligatory?" The response came (from Imam (a.s)): "So that the rich may feel the pain of hunger and thus show generosity to the poor."
وَ رُوِيَ عَنِ اَلْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ أَنَّهُ قَالَ: «جَاءَ نَفَرٌ مِنَ اَلْيَهُودِ إِلَى رَسُولِ اَللَّهِ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ فَسَأَلَهُ أَعْلَمُهُمْ عَنْ مَسَائِلَ فَكَانَ فِيمَا سَأَلَهُ أَنَّهُ قَالَ لَهُ لِأَيِّ شَيْءٍ فَرَضَ اَللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ اَلصَّوْمَ عَلَى أُمَّتِكَ بِالنَّهَارِ ثَلاَثِينَ يَوْماً وَ فَرَضَ اَللَّهُ عَلَى اَلْأُمَمِ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ اَلنَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ «إِنَّ آدَمَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ لَمَّا أَكَلَ مِنَ اَلشَّجَرَةِ بَقِيَ فِي بَطْنِهِ ثَلاَثِينَ يَوْماً فَفَرَضَ اَللَّهُ عَلَى ذُرِّيَّتِهِ ثَلاَثِينَ يَوْماً اَلْجُوعَ وَ اَلْعَطَشَ وَ اَلَّذِي يَأْكُلُونَهُ بِاللَّيْلِ تَفَضُّلٌ مِنَ اَللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ عَلَيْهِمْ وَ كَذَلِكَ كَانَ عَلَى آدَمَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ فَفَرَضَ اَللَّهُ ذَلِكَ عَلَى أُمَّتِي ثُمَّ تَلاَ هَذِهِ اَلْآيَةَ: « كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ اَلصِّيٰامُ كَمٰا كُتِبَ عَلَى اَلَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ. `أَيّٰاماً مَعْدُودٰاتٍ » » قَالَ اَلْيَهُودِيُّ صَدَقْتَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ فَمَا جَزَاءُ مَنْ صَامَهَا فَقَالَ اَلنَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ «مَا مِنْ مُؤْمِنٍ يَصُومُ شَهْرَ رَمَضَانَ اِحْتِسَاباً إِلاَّ أَوْجَبَ اَللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى لَهُ سَبْعَ خِصَالٍ أَوَّلُهَا يَذُوبُ اَلْحَرَامُ فِي جَسَدِهِ وَ اَلثَّانِيَةُ يَقْرُبُ مِنْ رَحْمَةِ اَللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ اَلثَّالِثَةُ يَكُونُ قَدْ كَفَّرَ خَطِيئَةَ آدَمَ أَبِيهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ وَ اَلرَّابِعَةُ يُهَوِّنُ اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ سَكَرَاتِ اَلْمَوْتِ وَ اَلْخَامِسَةُ أَمَانٌ مِنَ اَلْجُوعِ وَ اَلْعَطَشِ يَوْمَ اَلْقِيَامَةِ وَ اَلسَّادِسَةُ يُعْطِيهِ اَللَّهُ بَرَاءَةً مِنَ اَلنَّارِ وَ اَلسَّابِعَةُ يُطْعِمُهُ اَللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ مِنْ طَيِّبَاتِ اَلْجَنَّةِ » قَالَ صَدَقْتَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ ».
It is narrated from Imam al-Hasan ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib (a.s) that he said: "A group of Jews came to the Messenger of Allah (swt) (peace and blessings be upon him and his family), and the most learned among them asked him about certain matters. Among the questions he asked was: 'Why did Allah (swt), the Almighty, prescribe fasting during the day for your community for thirty days, while He prescribed fasting for more than that for other nations?' The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said: 'When Adam (a.s) ate from the tree, the effect of it remained in his stomach for thirty days. Therefore, Allah (swt), the Almighty, prescribed for his progeny thirty days of hunger and thirst. And what they eat at night is a favor from Allah (swt), the Almighty, upon them. The same was the case with Adam (a.s). Thus, Allah (swt) prescribed it for my Ummah.' Then he recited this verse: "Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may attain taqwa. [It is for] a fixed number of days." (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:183) The Jewish man said: 'You have spoken the truth, O Muhammad (saws). What is the reward for one who fasts them?' The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) replied: 'No believer fasts the Month of Ramadan sincerely, seeking its reward, except that Allah (swt), Blessed and Exalted, grants him seven virtues: 1. The first is that the forbidden (haram) in his body melts away. 2. He will draw closer to the mercy of Allah (swt), the Almighty. 3. He will have atoned for the sin of his father, Adam (a.s). 4. Allah (swt) will ease for him the throes of death. 5. He will have security from hunger and thirst on the Day of Resurrection. 6. Allah (swt) will grant him immunity from the Fire. 7. Allah (swt), the Almighty, will feed him from the pure delights of Paradise.' The Jewish man said: 'You have spoken the truth, O Muhammad (saws).'"
قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: «بُنِيَ اَلْإِسْلاَمُ عَلَى خَمْسَةِ أَشْيَاءَ عَلَى اَلصَّلاَةِ وَ اَلزَّكَاةِ وَ اَلْحَجِّ وَ اَلصَّوْمِ وَ اَلْوَلاَيَةِ ».
Abu Ja’far (Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (a.s)) said: "Islam is built upon five things: prayer, almsgiving, pilgrimage, fasting, and wilayah (divinely appointed leadership)."
وَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ: «اَلصَّوْمُ جُنَّةٌ مِنَ اَلنَّارِ ».
The Messenger of Allah (swt) (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said: "Fasting is a shield from the Fire."
وَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ: «اَلصَّائِمُ فِي عِبَادَةٍ وَ إِنْ كَانَ نَائِماً عَلَى فِرَاشِهِ مَا لَمْ يَغْتَبْ مُسْلِماً ».
The Messenger of Allah (swt) (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said: "The fasting person is in a state of worship, even if he is sleeping on his bed, as long as he does not backbite a Muslim."
وَ قَالَ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ: «قَالَ اَللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى «اَلصَّوْمُ لِي وَ أَنَا أَجْزِي بِهِ » وَ لِلصَّائِمِ فَرْحَتَانِ حِينَ يُفْطِرُ وَ حِينَ يَلْقَى رَبَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ اَلَّذِي نَفْسُ مُحَمَّدٍ بِيَدِهِ لَخُلُوفُ فَمِ اَلصَّائِمِ عِنْدَ اَللَّهِ أَطْيَبُ مِنْ رِيحِ اَلْمِسْكِ».
The Messenger of Allah (swt) (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said: "Allah (swt), Blessed and Exalted, said: 'Fasting is for Me, and I will reward it.' And the fasting person has two joys: one when he breaks his fast and one when he meets his Lord (azj), the Almighty. By the One in whose hand is the soul of Muhammad (saws), the breath of the fasting person is more fragrant to Allah (swt) than the scent of musk."
وَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ لِأَصْحَابِهِ: «أَ لاَ أُخْبِرُكُمْ بِشَيْءٍ إِنْ أَنْتُمْ فَعَلْتُمُوهُ تَبَاعَدَ اَلشَّيْطَانُ عَنْكُمْ كَمَا تَبَاعَدَ اَلْمَشْرِقُ مِنَ اَلْمَغْرِبِ» قَالُوا بَلَى يَا رَسُولَ اَللَّهِ قَالَ «اَلصَّوْمُ يُسَوِّدُ وَجْهَهُ وَ اَلصَّدَقَةُ تَكْسِرُ ظَهْرَهُ وَ اَلْحُبُّ فِي اَللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ اَلْمُؤَازَرَةُ عَلَى اَلْعَمَلِ اَلصَّالِحِ يَقْطَعُ دَابِرَهُ وَ اَلاِسْتِغْفَارُ يَقْطَعُ وَتِينَهُ وَ لِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ زَكَاةٌ وَ زَكَاةُ اَلْأَبْدَانِ اَلصِّيَامُ »
The Messenger of Allah (swt) (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said to his companions: "Shall I not inform you of something that, if you do it, will cause Satan to be distanced from you as far as the east is from the west?" They said: "Yes, O Messenger of Allah (swt)." The Prophet (saws) said: "Fasting blackens his face, charity breaks his back, love for the sake of Allah (swt), the Almighty, and mutual support in good deeds cut off his roots, and seeking forgiveness cuts off his aorta. For everything, there is a purification, and the purification of the body is fasting."
وَ قَالَ اَلصَّادِقُ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ لِعَلِيِّ بْنِ عَبْدِ اَلْعَزِيزِ: «أَ لاَ أُخْبِرُكَ بِأَصْلِ اَلْإِسْلاَمِ وَ فَرْعِهِ وَ ذِرْوَتِهِ وَ سَنَامِهِ» قَالَ بَلَى قَالَ «أَصْلُهُ اَلصَّلاَةُ وَ فَرْعُهُ اَلزَّكَاةُ وَ ذِرْوَتُهُ وَ سَنَامُهُ اَلْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اَللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَ لاَ أُخْبِرُكَ بِأَبْوَابِ اَلْخَيْرِ اَلصَّوْمُ جُنَّةٌ مِنَ اَلنَّارِ ».
Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (a.s) said to Ali ibn Abdul Aziz: "Shall I not inform you about the foundation of Islam, its branch, its pinnacle, and its peak?" He said: "Yes." The Imam (a.s) said: "Its foundation is prayer, its branch is almsgiving, and its pinnacle and peak are striving in the way of Allah (swt), the Almighty. Shall I not inform you about the gateways to goodness? Fasting is a shield from the Fire."
وَ قَالَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: فِي قَوْلِ اَللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ: « وَ اِسْتَعِينُوا بِالصَّبْرِ وَ اَلصَّلاٰةِ » قَالَ «يَعْنِي بِالصَّبْرِ اَلصَّوْمَ».
Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (a.s) said regarding the saying of Allah (swt), the Almighty: "And seek help through patience and prayer" (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:45): (Imam (a.s) said) "By patience, it means fasting."
وَ قَالَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: «إِذَا نَزَلَتْ بِالرَّجُلِ اَلنَّازِلَةُ أَوِ اَلشِّدَّةُ فَلْيَصُمْ فَإِنَّ اَللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَقُولُ: « وَ اِسْتَعِينُوا بِالصَّبْرِ وَ اَلصَّلاٰةِ » »
Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (a.s) said: "If a person faces a calamity or hardship, let him fast, for Allah (swt), the Almighty, says: "And seek help through patience and prayer" (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:45)