Ayyaam al-Beed - “The White Days”
Reading time: 10 - 16 minutes
Bismillaahir Rahmaanir Raheem All praise is due to Allaah who has made the sun and the moon run on their fixed courses. And may Allaah, the Lord of the Worlds send peace and blessings upon the seal of the Prophets and Messengers, Muhammad the son of ‘Abdullaah,
To proceed,
Allaah, the Exalted, has guided us to the religion of Islaam and caused us to enjoy the sweetness of obedience and worship through fasting. Fasting is indeed one of the greatest forms of worship as it is something which is just for Allaah, and Allaah will give multiple rewards without measure for it. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “[Allaah says:] Fasting is Mine and it is I Who give reward for it.” (Al-Bukhaari, Fath, no. 1904) The virtues of fasting are immense, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “There is nothing equivalent to fasting.” (Al-Nisaa’i, 4/165; see also Saheeh al-Targheeb, 1/413) And he (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The one who fasts has two joys: the joy of breaking his fast and, when he meets his Lord, the joy of having fasted.” (Reported by Muslim, 2/807) And he (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Fasting will be an intercession for the slave on the Day of Resurrection, when it will say: “O Lord, I stopped him from eating and drinking during the day, so let me intercede for him.” (Reported by Ahmad, 2/174; al-Bayhaqi classed its isnaad as hasan in al-Mujtama’, 3/181; see also Saheeh al-Targheeb, 1/411). And he (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Fasting is a protection and a strong fortress against the Fire.” (Reported by Ahmad, 2/402; see also Saheeh al-Targheeb, 1/411 and Saheeh al-Jaami’, 3880). And he (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever fasts one day for the sake of Allaah, Allaah will keep his face seventy years’ distance away from the Fire because of it.” (Reported by Muslim, 2/808) Voluntary fasts will make up for any shortfall in our obligatory fasts. Examples of voluntary fasts include ‘Aashooraa’, the Day of ‘Arafaah, al-Ayyaam al-Beed (the “White Days”), Mondays and Thursdays, six days of Shawwaal, and increased fasting during the months of Muharram and Sha’baan. With regards to the fast of “al-Ayyaam al-Beed,” then it is mustahabb (highly recommended) 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.” (Reported 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.” (Reported 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.” (Reported by al-Tirmidhi (761); al-Nasaa’i (2424). And classed as hassan by al-Tirmidhi, and al-Albaani agreed with him in Irwa’ al-Ghaleel, 947.) These three “white days” are named so because they are the days in which the moon is full and it is a beloved Sunnah of the Allaah’s Messenger (May Allaah bless him and grant him peace) to fast on these days. Ibn Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) would that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) never used to leave fasting o the days of ‘full white’, neither in travel, nor during residency.
{Authentic, alAlbaani in Shahih al-Jami}
The three white days for Rabee’uth-Thani are as follows:
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Saturday 19th April 2008 - 13th
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Sunday 20th April 2008 - 14th
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Monday 21st April 2008 - 15th
With exams and coursework pressure looming we may have become so engrossed with our studies that our eemaan may need a little attention. What better way to rejuvenate it then by fasting for the sake of Allaah subhana wa ta’aala? For fasting increases our Taqwa of our Lord, as Allaah says in Surat al-Baqarah: “O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed upon you as it was obliged upon those before you so that you may attain Taqwa.” Furthermore, like with every act of worship and every tradition of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), there is always benefit in what the Allaah and His Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) command, teach, advise and recommend for us to do. In fact, there is a medical relationship between fasting the fast of “al-Ayyaam al-Beed” and a well-known scientific fact, namely that there is a relationship between man’s movements and activities in life and movement of the Moon round the Earth. A researcher studied police files of crimes committed during the three white days mentioned in the above Prophetic Hadeeth. He found out that the number of crimes committed during those days is much greater than the number of crimes committed during the other days of the lunar month. He also found out that observing the Fast during those days, i.e. the 13th, 14th, and 15th of each lunar month, is very helpful in calming down people’s feelings and reactions, particularly those who are nervous or high-strung. In this context, it must be reiterated that Allaah’s Messenger, (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), does not speak out of his own personal human experience or knowledge. Nay! Whatever he (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) says is Divine Revelation from the Allaah, All-Mighty, Most Gracious. There might indeed be a relationship between movement of the Moon round the Earth and neuro-psychic disorders; but the influence of Islaamic Fast in calming down and treatment of such disorders is indisputable.
And by the Mercy of our Lord, this period of abstinence will also be a reminder of His many blessings upon us for we will increase in our empathy with those who do not have food or drink. Perhaps a much needed reminder when we may be so grossed in our own world.
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