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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books The Role of the in Building the Virtuous Community Book Eight: The System of Devotional Acts of the Virtuous Community Monthly Acts of Worship Devotional acts repeated each month are limited because the daily, weekly, yearly course of devotional acts and those dedicated to the various anniversaries and occasions are distributed among the months of the year. Nonetheless, some devotional acts are reported as recommended every month at regular intervals.

Prayer on the First Day of the Month There is a special prayer, with special acts offered on the first day of each month. Some religious scholars[^1] used to offer this prayer on a regular basis and pay special attention to it.

According to the report of Shaykh al-Tusi—in his book of Misbah al-Mutahajjid and through a chain of authority, which has been determined to be authentic by some scholars, such as al-Wahid al-Bahbahani—Imam al-Jawad (‘a) has said: At the beginning of each month and on the first day, a two-unit prayer may be offered. In the first unit, Surah al-Fatihah is recited once and Surah al-Tawhid repeated thirty times. In the second, Surah al-Fatihah is recited once and Surah al-Qadr repeated thirty times.

After completing it, alms should be given. One who does so will gain safety throughout that month. [^2] Sayyid Ibn Tawus has reported, without mentioning the chain of authority, another two-unit prayer. In each unit of this prayer Surah al-Fatihah and Surah al-An’am (No. 6) are recited once, to be offered on the eve of the first day of each month.

Three-Day Fasting Each Month As maintained by numerous traditions, one of the highly recommended acts performed by the Holy Prophet (S) persistently up to the end of his blessed lifetime was to fast on three days each month. In his book of man-la-yahdhuruhu’l-faqih , Shaykh al-Saduq has reported through a valid chain of authority that Imam al-Sadiq (‘a) said: The Holy Prophet (S) observed fasting for such a long time that people thought that he would not break his fast.

He then broke his fast for such a long time that they thought that he would never fast anymore. He then followed the practice of Prophet David (‘a) in fasting; that is, he fasted once every two days. Until he departed life, he used to regularly fast for three days every month.