‘a limited number of days.’ He said: It was prescribed for them to fast three days of every month, and he did not specify the month.

‘a limited number of days,’ he said: This was the fasting of the people before that, then Allah obligated upon the people the month of Ramadan.

And the Second Aspect:

1631 - I read to Muhammad ibn al-Fadl: Muhammad ibn ‘Ali ibn al-Hasan ibn Shaqiq narrated to us, Muhammad ibn Muzahim informed us, Bukayr ibn Ma’ruf narrated to us from Muqatil ibn Hayyan: ‘a limited number of days’ means the days of Ramadan, thirty days.

His saying: ‘So whoever among you is ill or on a journey’

And through him from Muqatil ibn Hayyan, regarding His saying: ‘So whoever among you is ill or on a journey’ in the first fasting [obligation], ‘then an equal number of other days.’

1632 - My father narrated to us, Ibn Nufayl al-Harrani narrated to us, ‘Isa ibn Yunus narrated to us, from al-A’mash, from ‘Amr ibn Murrah, from ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Abi Layla, who said: The companions of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, narrated to us, saying: Fasting was transitioned through three states. As for the sick, permission was given to whoever found it difficult to break their fast and to feed a poor person for every day, and they had no further obligation until it was abrogated by: ‘then an equal number of other days,’ and they were ordered to fast.

His saying: ‘then an equal number of other days’

1633 - Abu Sa’id al-Ashaj narrated to us, Abu Khalid—meaning al-Ahmar—narrated to us, from Dawud ibn Abi Hind, from ‘Ikrimah, from Ibn ‘Abbas: If he wishes, he may fast them consecutively, and if he wishes, he may fast them separately, because Allah says: ‘then an equal number of other days.’

It was reported from Abu ‘Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah, Mu’adh ibn Jabal, Abu Hurayrah, ‘Amr ibn al-‘As, Anas ibn Malik, Rafi’ ibn Khadij, ‘Ubaydah al-Salmani, ‘Ubayd ibn ‘Umayr, Sa’id ibn al-Musayyib, Abu Salamah ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman, Abu Ja’far, Salim, ‘Ata’, Abu Maysarah, Tawus, ‘Abd al-Rahman al-Aswad, Sa’id ibn Jubayr, al-Nakha’i, al-Hakam, ‘Ikrimah, ‘Ata’ ibn Dinar, Abu al-Zinad, Qatadah, Zayd ibn Aslam, Rabi’ah, Makhul, al-Hasan ibn Salih, al-Thawri, Malik, al-Awza’i, al-Shafi’i, Ahmad ibn Hanbal, and Ishaq ibn Rahwayh, all of whom said: It may be made up separately.