صحيح مسلم
Muslim
كتاب الصيامThe Book of Fasting
باب اسْتِحْبَابِ صِياَمِ ثَلاَثَةِ أَيَّامٍ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ وَصَوْمِ يَوْمِ عَرَفَةَ وَعَاشُورَاءَ وَالاِثْنَيْنِ وَالْخَمِيسِ.Chapter: It is recommended to fast three days of every month, and to fast on the days of 'Arafah and 'Ashura', and to fast on Mondays and Thursdays
حَدَّثَنَا شَيْبَانُ بْنُ فَرُّوخَ ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَارِثِ ، عَنْ يَزِيدَ الرِّشْكِ ، قَالَ : حَدَّثَتْنِي مُعَاذَةُ الْعَدَوِيَّةُ ، أَنَّهَا سَأَلَتْ عَائِشَةَ زَوْجَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ، " أَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ 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 " .
Mu'adha al-'Adawiyya reported that she asked 'A'isha, the wife of the Apostle of Allah (ﷺ) , whether the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) observed fasts for three days during every month. She said: Yes. I said to her: Which were (the particular) days of the month on which he observed fast? She said: He was not particular about the days of the month on which to observe fast..
Related hadith on this topic
Explanation & Benefits
Shaykh Maulana Abdul Aziz Alvi
Hadith Commentary: Benefits and Issues:
From this hadith, it is understood that the practice of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) was not fixed and constant, but he would encourage his companions to fast on the "white days" (Ayyam al-Beedh), i.e., the 13th, 14th, and 15th of the lunar month. Therefore, if one is to fast only three days, then these are the most virtuous days to do so.
From this hadith, it is understood that the practice of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) was not fixed and constant, but he would encourage his companions to fast on the "white days" (Ayyam al-Beedh), i.e., the 13th, 14th, and 15th of the lunar month. Therefore, if one is to fast only three days, then these are the most virtuous days to do so.
Source: Tuhfat al-Muslim: Commentary on Sahih Muslim, Page: 2744
Shaykh Dr. Abdur Rahman Freywai
Commentary:
Note:
(In the chain of narration, Khaythamah ibn Abi Khaythamah Abu Nasr Basri is weak in hadith transmission.)
Note:
(In the chain of narration, Khaythamah ibn Abi Khaythamah Abu Nasr Basri is weak in hadith transmission.)
Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhi – Majlis ‘Ilmi Dar al-Da‘wah, New Delhi Edition, Page: 746
Maulana Ataullah Sajid
Benefits and Issues:
From this, it is understood that apart from the middle days of the month, any three days can be observed as fasts, because the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) would sometimes fast three days without specifying or designating particular days, so that it would not be considered obligatory. In this way, sometimes he (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) would fast three days at the beginning of the month; thus, those Companions (radi Allahu anhum) who were aware of these initial days narrated accordingly. Therefore, there is no contradiction between fasting on the white days (ayyam al-beedh) and fasting at the beginning of the month.
However, it is preferable to fast the three days of the white days (ayyam al-beedh), because the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) commanded this, as has been mentioned in hadith number 1707.
From this, it is understood that apart from the middle days of the month, any three days can be observed as fasts, because the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) would sometimes fast three days without specifying or designating particular days, so that it would not be considered obligatory. In this way, sometimes he (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) would fast three days at the beginning of the month; thus, those Companions (radi Allahu anhum) who were aware of these initial days narrated accordingly. Therefore, there is no contradiction between fasting on the white days (ayyam al-beedh) and fasting at the beginning of the month.
However, it is preferable to fast the three days of the white days (ayyam al-beedh), because the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) commanded this, as has been mentioned in hadith number 1707.
Source: Commentary on Sunan Ibn Mājah by Mawlānā ‘Atā’ullāh Sājid, Page: 1709
