And he said: "Whoever reads 'Say, He is Allah, [who is] One' (Qul huwa Allahu Ahad), it is as if he had read one-third of the Quran" (6). He intended to liken it to one-third of the Quran in virtue, not in the dislike of adding to it. Once this is established, there is no difference between them being consecutive or separated, at the beginning of the month or at its end; because the hadith was reported regarding them generally, without restriction. And because their virtue is due to the fact that they, together with the month [of Ramadan], become thirty-six days, and a good deed is rewarded tenfold; thus, it becomes like three hundred and sixty days, which is the entire year. So, when this occurs every year, it becomes like fasting the entire year (8). This meaning is achieved even with separation. And Allah knows best.
523 - Issue: He said: (And the fasting of the day (1) of 'Ashura is an expiation for a year, and the day of 'Arafah is an expiation for two years).
The collective meaning is that the fasting of these two days is recommended, based on what Abu Qatadah narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), that he (2) said regarding (3) the fasting (4) of 'Arafah: "I anticipate from Allah that He will expiate the year that..."
(6) Recorded by Muslim, in: The Chapter on the Virtue of Reading 'Say, He is Allah, [who is] One', from the Book of the Traveler. Sahih Muslim 1/556. And Abu Dawud, in: The Chapter on the Surah of al-Samad, from the Book of Witr. Sunan Abi Dawud 1/337. And al-Tirmidhi, in: The Chapter on What Has Been Reported Regarding Surah al-Ikhlas, from the Chapters on the Reward of the Quran. 'Aridat al-Ahwadhi 11/24-26. And al-Nasa'i, in: The Chapter on the Virtue of Reading 'Say, He is Allah, [who is] One', from the Book of Opening. Al-Mujtaba 2/133. And Ibn Majah, in: The Chapter on the Reward of the Quran, from the Book of Etiquette. Sunan Ibn Majah 2/1244, 1245. And al-Darimi, in: The Chapter on the Virtue of 'Say, He is Allah, [who is] One', from the Book of the Virtues of the Quran. Sunan al-Darimi 2/459, 460. And Imam Malik, in: The Chapter on What Has Been Reported Regarding Reading 'Say, He is Allah, [who is] One'..., from the Book of the Quran. Al-Muwatta 1/208, 209. And Imam Ahmad, in: Al-Musnad 2/173, 3/8, 23, 4/122, 5/141, 418, 6/404, 447. (7) In copies [B] and [M]: "and it is". (8) Omitted from: The original, [A]. (1) Omitted from: [B], [M]. (2) Omitted from: The original. (3) Omitted from: [A], [B], [M]. (4) In [A], the addition: "day".
