Encouragement to fast al-ayyaam al-beed
and the month of ShaÂ’baan
Question:
I have developed the habit of fasting al-ayyaam al-beed each month,
praise be to Allaah, but this month I did not fast. When I wanted to fast I was
told that it is not permissible and is bidÂ’ah. I fasted on Monday the 1st of
the month, then I fasted on Wednesday the 19th of ShaÂ’baan, and if Allaah wills
I will fast tomorrow, Thursday, then I will have fasted three days. What is the
ruling? And what is the ruling on fasting a great deal during the month of
ShaÂ’baan?.
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly: Allaah has forbidden us to speak about Him without
knowledge, and He mentions that alongside shirk and major sins.
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Say (O Muhammad): (But) the things that my Lord has indeed forbidden
are Al-Fawaahish (great evil sins and every kind of unlawful acts) whether
committed openly or secretly, sins (of all kinds), unrighteous oppression,
joining partners (in worship) with Allaah for which He has given no
authority, and saying things about Allaah of which you have no knowledge”
[al-AÂ’raaf 7:33]
An example of speaking about Allaah with no knowledge is what is
mentioned in the question, that some people say it is a bidÂ’ah (an
innovation) to fast three days in ShaÂ’baan in the manner described in the
question.
Secondly: it is mustahabb to fast three days each month, and it
is best to fast the ayaam al-beed, which are the 13th, 14th and 15th of
the month.
~~ It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with
him) said:
"My close friend [the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him)] 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."
Narrated by al-Bukhaari (1124); Muslim (721).
~~ It was narrated that ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Amr ibn al-‘Aas (may
Allaah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) 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.”
Narrated by al-Bukhaari (1874); Muslim (1159).
~~ It was narrated that Abu Dharr said: The Messenger of Allaah
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said to me:
“If you fast any part of the month, then fast the thirteenth, fourteenth
and fifteenth.”
Narrated by al-Tirmidhi (761); al-NasaaÂ’i (2424).
This hadeeth was classed as hasan by al-Tirmidhi, and al-Albaani
agreed with him in IrwaÂ’ al-Ghaleel, 947.
Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on
him) was asked:
It was narrated in the hadeeth that the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) advised Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be
pleased with him) to fast three days of each month. When should these fasts
be observed, and should they be one after the other?
He replied:
It is permissible to fast these days 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 Allaah, because the Messenger
of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) did not state any
specific days.
‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) was asked: Did the Messenger of
Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) 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. But
the 13th, 14th and 15th are better, because these are al-ayyaam
al-beed.
Narrated by Muslim, (1160).
Majmoo’ Fataawa al-Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, 10/ question no. 376.
Thirdly: Perhaps the one who told you not to fast on those days in
this month (ShaÂ’baan) said that because he knew that the Prophet (peace
and blessings of Allaah be upon him) forbade fasting in the latter part of
ShaÂ’baan.
In the answer to question no. 49884 we have explained that
this prohibition applies to one who is starting to fast in the latter part
of ShaÂ’baan and does not have a prior habit of fasting.
But if a person starts to fast in the first half of ShaÂ’baan and
continues to fast in the latter half, or he has a prior habit of fasting,
then there is nothing wrong with him fasting in the latter half of
ShaÂ’baan, such as one who has the habit of fasting three days each month, or
fasting on Mondays and Thursdays.
Based on this, there is nothing wrong with you fasting three
days in ShaÂ’baan, even if some of those happen to be in the latter half of
the month.
Fourthly: There is nothing wrong with fasting a great deal in
ShaÂ’baan, indeed that is Sunnah. The Prophet (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) used to fast a great deal during this month.
~~ It was narrated that ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with
her) said:
The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used
to fast until we thought he would not break his fast, and he used not to
fast until we thought he would not fast. I never saw the Messenger of
Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) fast a complete month
except Ramadaan and I never saw him fast more than in ShaÂ’baan.
Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1868; Muslim, 1165.
~~ It was narrated from Abu Salamah that ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah
be pleased with her) said:
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) did not fast in
any month more than ShaÂ’baan, and he used to fast all of ShaÂ’baan and he
used to say: “Do as much of good deeds as you can, for Allaah does not get
tired (of giving reward) until you get tired.” And the most beloved of
prayers to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was
that in which one persists even if it is little. When he offered a prayer
he would persist in doing so.
Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1869; Muslim, 782.
See also question 49884, as referred to above.
And Allaah knows best.
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