يوم شريف وهو اليوم الذي نزل فيه سُورة هَل أَتى في شأن أهل البيت (عليهم السلام) لأنّهم كانوا قد صامُوا ثلاثة أيّام واعطوا فطورهم مِسكيناً ويتيماً وأسيراً وأفطروا على الماء وينبغي على شيعة أهل البيت (عليهم السلام) في هذه الأيّام ولا سيّما في اللّيلة الخامسة والعشرين أن يتأسّوا بمولاهم في التّصدّق على المساكين والأيتام وأن يجتهدوا في اطعامهم وأن يصوموا هذا اليوم

On this blessed day, Surah al-Dahr (Quranic chapter no. 76) was revealed in praise of the Ahl al-Bayt (the Holy Prophet’s immaculate family) for they had observed fasting for three days and given their food to a poor, an orphan, and a captive for three consecutive days. All during these three days, they broke their fasting with nothing but water only.

In view of that, the partisans of the Ahl al-Bayt are required to imitate their leaders on these three days and give alms to the poor and orphans, especially at the twenty-fifth night of Dhu’l-Hijjah, to do their best in offering food to the needy, and to observe fasting on these days.

قصة سورة الدهر

أسد الغابة، ابن الأثير الجزري، ج 5، ص 530

عن مجاهد عن ابن عباس قال: في قوله تعالى: (يُوفُونَ بِالنَّذْرِ ويَخافُونَ يَوْماً كانَ شَرُّه مُسْتَطِيراً ويُطْعِمُونَ الطَّعامَ عَلى حُبِّه مِسْكِيناً ويَتِيماً وأَسِيراً) قال: مرض الحسن والحسين عليهما السلام فعادهما جدهما رسول اللَّه صلى اللَّه عليه (وآله) وسلم وعادهما عامة العرب، فقالوا: يا أبا الحسن لو نذرت على ولدك نذراً، فقال علي عليه السّلام: إن برئا مما بهما صمت للَّه عز وجل ثلاثة أيام شكرا، وقالت فاطمة عليها السلام كذلك، وقالت جارية – يقال لها فضة نوبية – إن برئا سيداي صمت للَّه عز وجل شكرا. فألبس الغلامان العافية وليس عند آل محمد قليل ولا كثير، فانطلق عليّ عليه السّلام إلى شمعون الخيبري فاستقرض منه ثلاثة أصوع من شعير فجاء بها فوضعها فقامت فاطمة عليها السلام إلى صاع فطحنته واختبزته وصلى عليّ عليه السلام مع رسول اللَّه صلى اللَّه عليه (وآله) وسلم ثم أتى المنزل فوضع الطعام بين يديه إذ أتاهم مسكين فوقف بالباب فقال: السلام عليكم أهل بيت محمد، مسكين من أولاد المسلمين اطعموني أطمعكم اللَّه عز وجل على موائد الجنة، فسمعه عليّ عليه السلام فأمرهم فأعطوه الطعام ومكثوا يومهم وليلتهم لم يذوقوا إلا الماء، فلما كان اليوم الثاني قامت فاطمة عليها السلام إلى صاع وخبزته وصلى علي عليه السلام مع النبي صلى اللَّه عليه (وآله) وسلم ووضع الطعام بين يديه إذ أتاهم يتيم فوقف بالباب وقال: السلام عليكم أهل بيت محمد يتيم بالباب من أولاد المهاجرين استشهد والدي اطعموني، فأعطوه الطعام فمكثوا يومين لم يذوقوا إلا الماء، فلما كان اليوم الثالث قامت فاطمة عليها السلام إلى الصاع الباقي فطحنته واختبزته فصلى علي عليه السلام مع النبي صلى اللَّه عليه (وآله) وسلم ووضع الطعام بين يديه إذ أتاهم أسير فوقف بالباب وقال: السلام عليكم أهل بيت النبوة تأسروننا وتشدوننا ولا تطعموننا، أطعموني فاني أسير، فأعطوه الطعام ومكثوا ثلاثة أيام ولياليها لم يذوقوا إلا الماء، فأتاهم رسول اللَّه صلى اللَّه عليه (وآله) وسلم فرأى ما بهم من الجوع فأنزل اللَّه تعالى (هَلْ أَتى عَلَى الإِنْسانِ حِينٌ مِنَ الدَّهْرِ – إلى قوله – لا نُرِيدُ مِنْكُمْ جَزاءً ولا شُكُوراً)

Revelation of Surah al-Dahr:

bn al-Athir al-Jazri, Usd al-Ghabah, vol. 5, page 520:

Mujahid quoted Abdullah ibn Abbas as saying: God states in the Holy Quran, “They perform their vows, and they fear a Day whose evil flies far and wide. And they feed for the love of Him the indigent, the orphan, and the captive. [76:7-8]”

This Quranic verse was revealed on the following occasion: Al-Hasan and Al-Husayn had fallen sick when their grandfather, God’s Messenger, visited them. People also visited them and suggested to their father, Imam Ali, that he should make a vow for the recovery of his two children.

Responding, Imam Ali declared, “If my two sons recover their health, I will fast for three days as gratitude for God.”

Lady Fatima made the same vow and their Nubian bondwoman, Fidda, said, “If my two masters recover health, I will observe fasting as a sign of thanks for God.”

The two boys recovered health while the family of Muhammad did not have anything at all to eat in their house. Imam Ali hurried to Shamun, a Jewish merchant, and borrowed three measures of barley.

When he brought them home, Fatima crushed one measure of barley and then baked it. Ali performed the prayer with God’s Messenger and upon accomplishment came home. When the food was put before him, a poor man stood at the door of their house and said, “Peace be upon you, O members of the Prophet’s household! I am a poor man from the children of Muslims. Please feed me. May God feed you from the dining tables of Paradise!”

Upon hearing that, Ali ordered his family members to give their food to the poor. So, they spent that night and the next day without tasting anything except water.

On the second day (of their fasting days), Fatima baked another measure of barley. When Ali accomplished the prayer with God’s Messenger, he returned home. Once the food was put before him, an orphan stood at the door of their house and said, “Peace be upon you, O members of Muhammad’s household! I am an orphan from the Emigrants, and my father was martyred. Please serve me with food.”

So, they gave him their food and passed that night, as well as the next day, without tasting anything except water.

On the third day, Fatima grinded and baked the last measure of barley. When Ali performed the prayer with God’s Messenger, he returned home (for breaking his fasting). As soon as the food was put before Ali, a prisoner stood at the door of their house and said, “Peace be upon you, O people of the household of the Prophet! Do you take us as captives, tie us, and not feed us? Please, give me food, for I am a captive.”

So, they gave him their food and spent the third night and day without tasting anything except water.

God’s Messenger visited them and noticed how much hungry they were. Hence, God Almighty revealed to him these Quranic verses: “There surely came over man a period of time when he was a thing not worth mentioning… We only feed you for God’s sake; we desire from you neither reward nor thanks…”