I say: It is not hidden from the discerning jurist that the aforementioned exception involves two contradictions: the first is disregarding the narrations that explain and restrict the permissibility of fasting it when coupled with a day before or after it. The second is the absolute prohibition of singling out Friday for fasting. It is known that the absolute remains as such unless something restricts it, and if it is restricted, it cannot be exceeded. The prohibition here cannot be restricted by what has come regarding the virtue of fasting on a specific day—such as ʿArafah, ʿĀshūrāʾ, or the white days—because it contradicts the principle: the prohibitive takes precedence over the permissive, like fasting on Monday or Thursday if it coincides with Eid al-Fiṭr or one of the days of Eid al-Aḍḥá, for it is not fasted, not due to a specific prohibition for this scenario but in application of the aforementioned principle, and what we are dealing with falls under this category. I wrote this—as a clarification and fulfillment of scholarly trust—on the occasion that the Saudi government announced that the Day of ʿArafah would be on Friday in the season of the year (1411 AH), causing confusion among people regarding fasting it, and questions poured in from all countries, especially from some students of knowledge in Algeria. I would respond to them with a summary of what has been mentioned, and some of them reviewed this with me citing the words of the ḥāfiẓ, so I detailed the explanation for them in this manner, reminding them of some narrations mentioned by the ḥāfiẓ himself, one of which states: ".. Friday alone, except in days with it." And in a supporting narration: "except in days of which it is one." The permissibility mentioned by the ḥāfiẓ contradicts the principle and restriction mentioned. On this occasion, I say: There is another ḥadīth similar to this one in terms of sharing the prohibition with an exception in it, which is his (ṣallá Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) saying: "Do not fast on Saturday except in what has been made obligatory upon you..", and it is a ḥadīth that is certainly authentic, and is recorded in "al-Irwāʾ" (number 960). This has perplexed many people, both in the past and present, and I have faced strong resistance from some of the elite, let alone the general public. Its classification with me is like the ḥadīth of Friday, so it is not permissible to add another restriction to it beyond the restriction of "obligation," like some say: "except for those who have a habit of fasting, or..