Continuation of the answer regarding the ruling on fasting on Saturday if it coincides with a virtuous day?

The Shaykh : A person who fasts the best fast, as stated in the hadith of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), the fast of Dawud (peace be upon him), fasting one day and breaking the fast the next, may find that it coincides with a Saturday. He asks whether he should fast it. We say no. Why? Because this is not an obligation, so let it go. Likewise, if one of the white days—the thirteenth, fourteenth, or fifteenth—coincides with a Saturday, should we fast it? The answer is no. So take this as a rule and be at ease. If an objector objects to you, turn to him with the door of the festival, and he has no escape from it whatsoever. No one can ever prioritize fasting on the day of the festival if it coincides with a virtuous day, such as Monday or Thursday. What does the objector do here? If he is a scholar, he turns back on his heels and says, "We do not fast it. Why? Because the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade fasting on the day of the festival." Thus, the prohibition is prioritized over the virtue. This is a consistent rule, so be at ease. This is what I wanted to remind you of, on the occasion of the hadith of Abu Qatadah, which combines the virtue of fasting. How do you handle these virtues when they conflict with a prohibition? The prohibition is prioritized over the virtue. But I mentioned this previously, and I repeat the reminder, for the reminder benefits the believers, and with this I conclude this session, which is specific to me. I say: He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: So, does the Muslim who leaves off fasting on Monday or Thursday because it coincided with a prohibition leave off fasting that day in vain, or is it in response to the Wise Lawgiver, in obedience to His noble Messenger, in obedience to Him (peace and blessings be upon him)? Thus, he left off fasting that day for the sake of Allah. Will it be in vain? The answer is no, because the Prophet (may Allah bless him and his family) said: So I hope you will memorize these two words from me. If someone confronts you, asking, "How do we leave off fasting on the day of 'Ashura, which expiates the sins of a year, and the day of 'Arafah, which expiates the sins of two years, for the sake of this hadith?" I say, my brother, this hadith is strange; this hadith is anomalous. This hadith is authentic, and whoever weakens it is the one who is weak, because he weakens it without knowledge. So, if someone confronts you, confront them: "Why do you not fast on Thursday or Monday or the day of the festival?" He says: "Because it was forbidden to fast on the day of the festival." Our answer is exactly your answer. Otherwise, memorize the second matter, which is the hadith of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him): Our reality now, or today, regarding 'Ashura: if the day of 'Ashura is Friday, as per the Jordanian calendar, then we will fast tomorrow, because we fasted on Thursday. Thus, we have attained the expiation of a year. And if, as we were told from Saudi Arabia, that 'Ashura is Saturday, then we left it off, and we have not lost anything...

The questioner : Excuse me, the opposite.

The Shaykh : How? How?

The questioner : The opposite.

Another questioner : Jordan, Saturday.

Another questioner : Jordan, Saturday, and Saudi Arabia.

The Shaykh : Yes, you got it right. In any case, as I say, the Syrian proverb: "Like a saw, it cuts on the way up and on the way down." So we are winners, whether 'Ashura is tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. Because if 'Ashura is tomorrow, we will fast it, because we preceded Friday with Thursday. And if it is the day after tomorrow, we left it off for the sake of Allah, and Allah will compensate us with something better than it. This is what I wanted to remind you of. And Glory be to You, O Allah, and praise be to You. I bear witness that there is no god but You. I seek Your forgiveness and I repent to You. I am at the point where I said it was a private session.

The questioner : May Allah reward you, O Shaykh.