The ruling on intending to fast the white days while fasting 'Ashura

Question:
Honorable Shaykh, if I intend to fast the day of 'Ashura, the day before it, and the day after it, and I intend these three days as the white days, will I receive the reward of fasting three days every month?

Answer:
Yes, if he fasts the day of 'Ashura, the day before it, and the day after it, this is the most complete type of fasting 'Ashura. Fasting 'Ashura, as Ibn al-Qayyim mentioned in *Zad al-Ma'ad*, is divided into three categories. The most complete and best is to fast the day before and the day after, meaning he fasts three days. The second type is to fast the day of 'Ashura and the day before it, or the day after it, meaning he fasts two days. The third type is to fast only the day of 'Ashura, without fasting the day before or after, and this is the least in virtue. So if he fasts three days: the day of 'Ashura, the ninth, the tenth, and the eleventh, this is the best, and it suffices for the fasting of three days of the month. It suffices for the fasting of three days of the month, by the saying of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) So if he intends it for 'Ashura and for the fasting of three days of the month, that suffices for him, if Allah wills. As for the white days, these are not the white days. The white days are the thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth; these are the white days. But [this suffices] for the three days of the month. Yes.