Fasting is a significant manifestation of spiritual strength. Allah Almighty has described fasting in the Quran as a primary cause of taqwa (piety). Fasting purifies the tongue and heart, hands and feet, eyes and ears, and the body and soul, making the limbs seek the pleasure of the Lord during the state of fasting. The obligatory fast of Ramadan comes once a year, but beyond that, a Muslim should arrange to observe voluntary (nafl) fasts as much as possible according to their convenience. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ observed various types of voluntary fasts, one of which is the fasts of Ayyam al-Beed, which hold great virtue. Besides the general virtues of fasting, the fasts of Ayyam al-Beed have their own specific merits mentioned. The Prophet ﷺ was consistent in observing them and also emphasized and encouraged his Ummah (community) to do so.
In light of this importance and virtue, here is some significant information regarding the fasts of Ayyam al-Beed:
Imam Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani (may Allah have mercy on him) states:
“Ayyam al-Beed are the days whose nights are moonlit and not dark, and they are three, as mentioned: the night of the full moon, the night before it, and the night after it. The word ‘Beed’ (بِيض) with a kasra on the ‘ba’ is the plural of ‘Abyad’ and it refers to those nights in which the moon is clear and bright from the beginning of the night until its end.” (1)
Furthermore, Imam al-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) says:
“As for the reason these nights are called ‘white,’ Ibn Qutaybah and the majority of scholars have stated that it is because they remain white from the rising of the moon until its setting, and the opposite has also been said.” (2)
Many authentic and explicit hadiths have been narrated from the Prophet ﷺ in which he described the virtues of the fasts of Ayyam al-Beed, advised them, and encouraged them. Some of these hadiths are noted below:
1- عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه، قَال:
“أَوْصَانِي خَلِيلِي صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِثَلَاثٍ، بِصِيَامِ ثَلَاثَةِ أَيَّامٍ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ، وَرَكْعَتَيِ الضُّحَى، وَأَنْ أُوتِرَ قَبْلَ أَنْ أَرْقُدَ”.
Translation: Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “My dearest friend (the Prophet ﷺ) advised me to do three things: to fast three days of every month, to pray two rak’ahs of Duha, and to pray Witr before going to sleep.” (3)
2- عن مُعَاذَةُ الْعَدَوِيَّةُ، أَنَّهَا سَأَلَتْ عَائِشَةَ زَوْجَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ:
«أَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَصُومُ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ؟»
قَالَتْ: «نَعَمْ»، فَقُلْتُ لَهَا:
«مِنْ أَيِّ أَيَّامِ الشَّهْرِ كَانَ يَصُومُ؟»
قَالَتْ: «لَمْ يَكُنْ يُبَالِي مِنْ أَيِّ أَيَّامِ الشَّهْرِ يَصُومُ»
Translation: It is narrated from Mu’adhah al-Adawiyyah that she asked the Mother of the Believers, Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), “Did the Messenger of Allah ﷺ fast three days every month?” She said, “Yes.” I then asked her, “From which days of the month did he fast?” She said, “He was not particular about which days of the month he would fast.” (4)
3- عَنْ أَبِي قَتَادَةَ: رَجُلٌ أَتَى النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، فَقَالَ: كَيْفَ تَصُومُ؟ فَغَضِبَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، فَلَمَّا رَأَى عُمَرُ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ، غَضَبَهُ، قَالَ: رَضِينَا بِاللهِ رَبًّا، وَبِالْإِسْلَامِ دِينًا، وَبِمُحَمَّدٍ نَبِيًّا، نَعُوذُ بِاللهِ مِنْ غَضَبِ اللهِ وَغَضَبِ رَسُولِهِ، فَجَعَلَ عُمَرُ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ يُرَدِّدُ هَذَا الْكَلَامَ حَتَّى سَكَنَ غَضَبُهُ، فَقَالَ عُمَرُ: يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ، كَيْفَ بِمَنْ يَصُومُ الدَّهْرَ كُلَّهُ؟ قَالَ: «لَا صَامَ وَلَا أَفْطَرَ» – أَوْ قَالَ – «لَمْ يَصُمْ وَلَمْ يُفْطِرْ» قَالَ: كَيْفَ مَنْ يَصُومُ يَوْمَيْنِ وَيُفْطِرُ يَوْمًا؟ قَالَ: «وَيُطِيقُ ذَلِكَ أَحَدٌ؟» قَالَ: كَيْفَ مَنْ يَصُومُ يَوْمًا وَيُفْطِرُ يَوْمًا؟ قَالَ: «ذَاكَ صَوْمُ دَاوُدَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام» قَالَ: كَيْفَ مَنْ يَصُومُ يَوْمًا وَيُفْطِرُ يَوْمَيْنِ؟ قَالَ: «وَدِدْتُ أَنِّي طُوِّقْتُ ذَلِكَ» ثُمَّ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «ثَلَاثٌ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ، وَرَمَضَانُ إِلَى رَمَضَانَ، فَهَذَا صِيَامُ الدَّهْرِ كُلِّهِ، صِيَامُ يَوْمِ عَرَفَةَ، أَحْتَسِبُ عَلَى اللهِ أَنْ يُكَفِّرَ السَّنَةَ الَّتِي قَبْلَهُ، وَالسَّنَةَ الَّتِي بَعْدَهُ، وَصِيَامُ يَوْمِ عَاشُورَاءَ، أَحْتَسِبُ عَلَى اللهِ أَنْ يُكَفِّرَ السَّنَةَ الَّتِي قَبْلَهُ»
Translation: It is narrated from Abu Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him) that a man came to the Prophet ﷺ and asked, “How do you fast?” The Messenger of Allah ﷺ became angry at his question. When ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) saw his anger, he said, “We are pleased with Allah as our Lord, with Islam as our religion, and with Muhammad as our Prophet. We seek refuge in Allah from the anger of Allah and His Messenger.” ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) kept repeating these words until the Prophet’s ﷺ anger subsided. Then ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) asked, “O Messenger of Allah, what about one who fasts the entire year?” He ﷺ replied, “He has neither fasted nor has he broken his fast,” or he said, “He did not fast and he did not break his fast.” He asked, “What about one who fasts for two days and breaks the fast for one day?” He ﷺ replied, “And who can do that?” He asked, “What about one who fasts one day and breaks the fast one day?” He ﷺ replied, “That is the fast of Dawud (David), peace be upon him.” He asked, “What about one who fasts for one day and breaks the fast for two days?” He ﷺ replied, “I wish I were given the strength for that.” Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Fasting three days of every month and from one Ramadan to the next Ramadan is like fasting for a lifetime. I hope from Allah that fasting on the day of Arafah will expiate the sins of the preceding year and the coming year, and I hope from Allah that fasting on the day of Ashura will expiate the sins of the preceding year.” (5)
4- عَنْ أَبِي ذَرٍّ، قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ:
“مَنْ صَامَ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ فَذَلِكَ صِيَامُ الدَّهْرِ”. فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ تَصْدِيقَ ذَلِكَ فِي كِتَابِهِ:{مَنْ جَاءَ بِالْحَسَنَةِ فَلَهُ عَشْرُ أَمْثَالِهَا} الْيَوْمُ بِعَشْرَةِ أَيَّامٍ”.
Translation: Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Whoever fasts three days every month, that is the fast of a lifetime.” Then Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, revealed a confirmation of this in His book: {Whoever comes [on the Day of Judgement] with a good deed will have ten times the like thereof} [Al-An’am: 160]. So one day is equal to ten days. (6)
5- عن عبد الله بن عمرو بن العاص قال: أُخْبِرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، أَنَّهُ يَقُولُ: لَأَقُومَنَّ اللَّيْلَ وَلَأَصُومَنَّ النَّهَارَ مَا عِشْتُ، فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ:”آنْتَ الَّذِي تَقُولُ ذَلِكَ؟”، فَقُلْتُ لَهُ: قَدْ قُلْتُهُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ:”فَإِنَّكَ لَا تَسْتَطِيعُ ذَلِكَ فَصُمْ وَأَفْطِرْ وَنَمْ وَقُمْ وَصُمْ مِنَ الشَّهْرِ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ فَإِنَّ الْحَسَنَةَ بِعَشْرِ أَمْثَالِهَا وَذَلِكَ مِثْلُ صِيَامِ الدَّهْرِ”، قَالَ قُلْتُ: فَإِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ، قَالَ:”صُمْ يَوْمًا وَأَفْطِرْ يَوْمَيْنِ”، قَالَ: قُلْتُ: فَإِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، قَالَ:”صُمْ يَوْمًا وَأَفْطِرْ يَوْمًا وَذَلِكَ صِيَامُ دَاوُدَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام وَهُوَ أَعْدَلُ الصِّيَامِ”، قَالَ: قُلْتُ: فَإِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ، قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: “لَا أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ”، قَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَمْرٍ وَرَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا: لَأَنْ أَكُونَ قَبِلْتُ الثَّلَاثَةَ الْأَيَّامَ الَّتِي قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ:”أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِنْ أَهْلِي وَمَالِي “.
Translation: It is narrated from ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr ibn al-‘As (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was informed that he (‘Abdullah) was saying, “I will surely stand in prayer all night and fast all day as long as I live.” The Messenger of Allah ﷺ asked, “Are you the one who says that?” I replied, “I did say that, O Messenger of Allah.” The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Indeed, you will not be able to do that. So, fast and break your fast, sleep and stand for prayer, and fast three days of the month, for a good deed has a ten-fold reward, and that is like fasting for a lifetime.” I said, “But I am capable of more than that.” He ﷺ said, “Fast for one day and break your fast for two days.” I said, “But I am capable of more than that, O Messenger of Allah.” He ﷺ said, “Fast one day and break your fast one day. That is the fast of Dawud (peace be upon him), and it is the most moderate of fasts.” I said, “I am capable of more than that.” The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “There is nothing better than that.” ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr (may Allah be pleased with them both) later said, “Had I accepted the three days which the Messenger of Allah ﷺ mentioned, it would have been more beloved to me than my family and my wealth.” (7)
6- عَنْ جَرِيرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَنْ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ
“صِيَامُ ثَلَاثَةِ أَيَّامٍ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ صِيَامُ الدَّهْرِ وَأَيَّامُ الْبِيضِ صَبِيحَةَ ثَلَاثَ عَشْرَةَ وَأَرْبَعَ عَشْرَةَ وَخَمْسَ عَشْرَةَ”.
Translation: It is narrated from Jarir ibn ‘Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) from the Prophet ﷺ who said: “Fasting three days of every month is like fasting for a lifetime, and the Ayyam al-Beed (the bright days) are the thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth.” (8)
7- عن ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم “كان لا يدع صوم أيام البيض في سفر ولا حضر”
Translation: Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrated that “The Prophet ﷺ would not leave the fasting of Ayyam al-Beed, whether on a journey or at home.” (9)
8- عن موسى بن سلمة قال: سألت ابن عباس عن صيام ثلاثة أيام البيض، فقال:”كان عمر يصومهن…”.
Translation: It is narrated from Musa ibn Salamah (may Allah have mercy on him) that he said: I asked Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) about fasting the three days of al-Beed, and he replied, “‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) used to fast them.” (10)
9- عن زر رحمه الله قال: “كان عبد الله يصوم الأيام البيض”.
Translation: Zirr (may Allah have mercy on him) said, “‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) used to fast the Ayyam al-Beed.” (11)
10- عن قتادة عن الحسن “انه كان يصوم الأيام البيض”
Translation: Qatadah ibn Di’amah al-Sadusi (may Allah have mercy on him) narrated that Hasan al-Basri (may Allah have mercy on him) used to fast the Ayyam al-Beed. (12)
Ibn Battal (may Allah have mercy on him) states:
It is narrated from the righteous predecessors (Salaf as-Salih) among the Companions, such as ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab, Ibn Mas’ud, and Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with them), and among the Tabi’in, such as Hasan al-Basri and Imam Nakh’i (may Allah have mercy on them), that they used to fast the Ayyam al-Beed. (13)
There are several scholarly opinions on this matter. Hafiz Ibn Hajar (may Allah have mercy on him), quoting his teacher al-‘Iraqi from his commentary on Tirmidhi, mentioned nine opinions and even a tenth one. The details can be found in Fath al-Bari, and a summary of these opinions is presented below:
Imam al-Nawawi states in Al-Majmu’ Sharh al-Muhadhdhab:
“The Ayyam al-Beed are the thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth of every month, and this is the correct and well-known position upon which the scholars are established.” (15)
Similarly, in his commentary on Sahih Muslim, Imam al-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) mentioned the scholarly consensus on defining Ayyam al-Beed as the thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth. (16)
Ibn Qudamah al-Hanbali (may Allah have mercy on him) declared these three fasts of Ayyam al-Beed as recommended (mustahabb) in his book Al-Mughni. (19)
Likewise, Imam al-Nawawi al-Shafi’i (may Allah have mercy on him) said in Al-Majmu’ that it is recommended (mustahabb) to fast three days of Ayyam al-Beed every month, and there is a consensus among scholars on this recommendation. (20)
Similarly, Imam al-Samarqandi al-Hanafi writes in his book Tuhfat al-Fuqaha’:
“The abundance of hadiths regarding the fasts of Ayyam al-Beed indicates that it is recommended (mustahabb) and a Sunnah (prophetic practice).” (21)
However, among the Malikis, based on a narration of dislike (karahah) from Imam Malik (may Allah have mercy on him), the fasts of Ayyam al-Beed are considered disliked (makruh). But some Maliki scholars, offering an excuse for Imam Malik’s position, have declared these fasts to be a Sunnah and recommended. (22)
Therefore, the majority of jurists and scholars have deemed fasting on these days to be recommended (mustahabb) and a Sunnah.
May Allah, the Lord of Glory, grant us all the ability to observe these fasts. (Ameen, O Lord of the worlds).
(1) Fath al-Bari Sharh Sahih al-Bukhari: 4/226
(2) Al-Majmu’: 6/409
(3) Agreed upon: (Al-Bukhari: 1981 | Muslim: 1672)
(4) Sahih Muslim: Kitab al-Siyam, Hadith no. 2744
(5) Sahih Muslim: Hadith no. 2746
(6) Sunan al-Tirmidhi: 762 – Sahih
(7) Agreed upon: (Al-Bukhari: 1976 | Muslim: 2729)
(8) Sunan al-Nasa’i: 2422 / Hasan by Al-Albani in Sahih al-Targhib: (1/251)
(9) Narrated by al-Tabarani in al-Kabeer, graded Hasan by al-Suyuti and Sahih by al-Albani in Sahih al-Jami’, no. 4848
(10) Narrated by al-Harith ibn Abi Usamah in his Musnad (Bughyat al-Bahith: 1/219) – Its narrators are trustworthy: “Sahih”.
(11) Narrated by al-Tabari in Tahdhib al-Athar Musnad ‘Ali: (2/757: H 1213) – “Its chain is Hasan”.
(12) Narrated by al-Tabari in Tahdhib al-Athar: 1217 – “Sahih”.
(13) Sharh Ibn Battal: 4/125
(14) Fath al-Bari: 4/227 – Umdat al-Qari: 9/167
(15) Al-Majmu’ Sharh al-Muhadhdhab: 6/385
(16) Sharh Sahih Muslim by Imam al-Nawawi: 8/49
(17) Narrated by: Al-Bukhari 3/52 (1979), and Muslim 3/164 (1159) (187).
(18) Sahih al-Jami’: 2608 and Sahih al-Targhib wa’l-Tarhib: 1036
(19) Al-Mughni by Ibn Qudamah: 3/59
(20) Al-Majmu’: 6/385 and Sharh Muslim: 8/49
(21) Tuhfat al-Fuqaha’ by al-Samarqandi: 1/344
(22) Al-Sharh al-Kabeer by al-Dardir: 1/517 – and Al-Kafi by Ibn ‘Abd al-Barr: 1/129
(23) Hashiyat al-Suyuti ‘ala al-Nasa’i: 3/455
Umm Muhammad Khushnuma Muslihuddin
Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah al-Mukarramah
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