Revive a Sunnah

In the name of Allah

Revive a Sunnah: Fasting on Mondays and Thursdays; 3 Days every Month; and the Ayyam al Beed (13th, 14th and 15th of each month)

It was narrated that `Aishah (radi Allahu anha) said: “The Prophet (sallaAllahu ‘alayhi wasallam) was keen to fast on Mondays and Thursdays.” [Tirmidhi, 745; al-Nasaa’, 2361; Ibn Maajah, 1739; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Targheeb, 1044]

The Messenger of Allah (sallaAllahu ‘alayhi wasallam) was asked about fasting on Mondays. He said: “On that day I was born, and on it the Revelation came to me.” [Muslim, 1162]

The Prophet (sallaAllahu ‘alayhi wasallam) mentioned that: “The deeds of the worshipers are presented before Allah on Monday and Thursday, I like my deeds to be presented while I am fasting.” [Nasa’i]

It was narrated that Abu Dharr (radi Allahu anhu) said: The Messenger of Allah (sallaAllahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said to me: “If you fast any part of the month, then fast the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth.” [Tirmidhi, 761; al-Nasaa’i, 2424; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Targheeb, 1038]

It was narrated from Jareer ibn ‘Abd-Allah (radi Allahu anhu) that the Prophet (sallaAllahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said: “Fasting three days of each month is fasting for a lifetime, and ayaam al-beed are the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth.” [Nasaa’i, 2420; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Targheeb, 1040]

Abu Hurayrah (radi Allahu anhu) said: My close friend [the Prophet (sallaAllahu ‘alayhi wasallam)] advised me to do three things which I will not give up until I die: fasting three days of each month, praying Duha and going to sleep after Witr." [Bukhari, 1124; Muslim, 721]

‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Amr ibn al-‘Aas (radi Allahu anhu) said: The Messenger of Allah (sallaAllahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said to me: “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.” [Bukhaari, 1874; Muslim, 1159]

1. Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen (rahimahullah) said: "It is permissible to fast these days (i.e. the 3 days a month) one after the other or separately, and they may be at the beginning of the month, or in the middle, or at the end. The matter is broad in scope, praise be to Allah, because the Messenger of Allah (sallaAllahu ‘alayhi wasallam) did not state any specific days. ‘Aa’ishah (radi Allahu anha) was asked: Did the Messenger of Allah (sallaAllahu ‘alayhi wasallam) fast three days of each month? She said: Yes. It was 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. Narrated by Muslim, (1160). But the 13th, 14th and 15th are better, because these are al-ayyaam al-beed." [Majmoo’ Fataawa al-Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, 10/#376]