55 - Chapter on Fasting in al-Muharram

2429 - Musaddad and Qutaybah ibn Sa'id narrated to us, both saying: Abu 'Awanah narrated to us, from Abu Bishr, from Humayd ibn 'Abd al-Rahman, from Abu Hurayrah, who said: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "The most excellent fast after the month of Ramadan is the month of Allah, al-Muharram, and the most excellent prayer after the obligatory prayer is prayer in the night." Qutaybah did not say "month"; he said: "Ramadan."(1)

2430 - Ibrahim ibn Musa narrated to us, 'Isa narrated to us, 'Uthman — meaning Ibn Hakim — narrated to us, saying: I asked Sa'id ibn Jubayr about fasting in Rajab, and he said: Ibn 'Abbas informed me that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, used to fast until we would say: He will not break his fast, and he would break his fast until we would say: He will not fast.(2)

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(1) Its chain is authentic. Musaddad: he is Ibn Musarhad al-Asadi, and Abu 'Awanah: he is al-Waddah ibn 'Abdullah al-Yashkuri, and Abu Bishr: he is Ja'far ibn Iyas.
Muslim (1163), al-Tirmidhi (440) and (750), and al-Nasa'i in "al-Kubra" (1314) and (2919) also narrated it via Qutaybah, with this chain.
Muslim (1163), Ibn Majah (1742), and al-Nasa'i (2917) and (2918) also narrated it via Muhammad ibn al-Muntashir, from Humayd ibn 'Abd al-Rahman, with it.
Al-Nasa'i (1315) also narrated it via Shu'bah, from Abu Bishr, with it, as mursal.
It is in "Musnad Ahmad" (8026) and (8534), and "Sahih Ibn Hibban" (2563) and (3636).

(2) Its chain is authentic. 'Isa: he is Ibn Yunus al-Sabi'i.
Muslim (1157) also narrated it from Ibrahim ibn Musa, with this chain.
Muslim also (1157) narrated it via two paths, from 'Uthman ibn Hakim, with it.
Al-Bukhari (1971), Muslim (1157), Ibn Majah (1711), and al-Nasa'i (2667) also narrated it via Abu Bishr, from Sa'id ibn Jubayr, with it.
It is in "Musnad Ahmad" (1998) and (2046).