by Asma bint Shameem
The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam loved to fast the 13th, 14th and 15th of every lunar month.
These are called “the three white days” or “al-Ayyaam al-Beedh” because the moon is FULL on the 14th so these nights of the 13th, 14th and 15th are bright and ‘white’.
🍃The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said:
“If you fast any part of the month, then fast the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth.”
(al-Tirmidhi 761, al-Nasaa’i 2424; hasan by al-Albaani)
If you fast these three days of a month, it’s like you fasted the entire month.
And if you do it EVERY month, it’s like you fasted the entire lifetime.
That’s because each good deed is multiplied by 10.
And a person fasting 3 days of the month will get the reward of fasting 30.
That’s because 3X10=30
🍃The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said:
““Fasting for three days each month and Ramadhaan each year is the fast of a lifetime.” (Saheeh Muslim 1162)
🍃 And he ﷺ said:
“It is sufficient for you to fast three days every month, because for every good deed you will have (the reward of) ten like it, so that will be like fasting for a lifetime.”
(al-Bukhaari 1874, Muslim 1159)
Such is the Mercy and Generosity of Our Rabb!
Alhamdulillaah!
So it’s mustahabb or recommended to fast these three days.
But if you can't fast specifically on the 13th,14th, or 15th of the month, then do try and fast ANY three days of the month.
And they don't have to be continuous.
🍃 Mu’aadhah al-‘Adawiyyah radhi Allaahu anhaa asked Aaishah radhi Allaahu anhaa:
“Did the Messenger of Allaah Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam fast three days of each month?
She said: Yes.
She asked: “In which part of the month did he fast?”
She said:
“He would not bother in which part of the month he would fast.” (Muslim 1160)
But the 13th, 14th and 15th are better, because these are al-ayyaam al-beed.
🍃 The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said:
“Fasting three days of each month is fasting for a lifetime, and ayaam al-beed are the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth.” (al-Nasaa’i, 2420; saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Targheeb, 1040)
🍃 Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said:
“It is permissible to fast at the beginning of the month, in the middle or at the end, on consecutive days or separately.
But it is better if it is done on the three ayyaam al-beed, which are the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth.
‘Aa’ishah radhi Allaahu anhaa said:
“The Prophet ﷺ used to fast on three days of every month, and he did not mind whether he fasted at the beginning or at the end of the month.”
(Majmoo’ Fatawa al-Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, 20/question no. 376)
🔺 Important Points
1. Do keep in mind that fasting on the 13th, 14th and 15th is done according to the LUNAR month and NOT the solar month.
2. If you miss “one” or “two” of the three white days, you can still fast any other day of the month and make it “three”.
It’s not a “three or nothing” situation.
3. Another point to remember is that if you have days left over from Ramadhaan to make up, you can easily fast these three days with the niyyah of making up those fardh fasts and still get the reward of following the sunnah of fasting the three days.
Come, let us fast these beautiful white days...
Let us brighten our faces with the obedience of Allaah and shine like the white moon.... 🌙
And Allaah knows best.
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