Question

Is the following narration reliable:

عن ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم: من صام يوم عرفة كان له كفارة سنتين ومن صام يوما من المحرم فله بكل يوم ثلاثون يوما

It is reported from Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn Abbas (radiyallahu ‘anhuma) that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “The one who observes the fast of the day of ‘Arafah will have two years of his sins forgiven, and the one who fasts during the month of Muharram, for each day that he fasts he will receive the reward of fasting for an entire month.”

Answer

Since Muharram is from the four sacred months and is actually the best of the four, voluntary (nafl) fasts in this month would indeed be more rewarding than in other months. See here for details.

However, this particular Hadith is recorded by Imam Tabarani (rahimahullah) with a very weak chain.

(Al-Mu’jamus Saghir, vol. 2, pg. 71. Also see Al-Amalil Mutlaqah of Ibn Hajar & Mawsu’ah ibn Hajar Al-Hadithiyyah, vol. 2, pg. 409).

The first part of the Hadith is well supported. See here.

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best,

Answered by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar

Checked by: Mawlana Haroon Abasoomar