Fasting the White Days
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Question: I found in the book *Zad al-Ma'ad* by Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) used to fast the white days, which are the thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth of every month. He would fast them while traveling and while resident.And in another place: I found that it is forbidden to fast the days of Tashriq, knowing that the last of them is the thirteenth. How do we reconcile these two statements?
Answer: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) encouraged fasting three days of every month, whether from the beginning, the middle, or the end of the month, but the best is that these three days be the white days: the thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth. This is the best. If one fasts them on other days of the month, there is no harm in that; he has performed what is prescribed and will receive the reward, if Allah wills.
As for the days of Tashriq, there is a prohibition against fasting them because they are days of festival, eating, drinking, and remembrance of Allah (Mighty and Majestic). It is forbidden to fast them, except for a pilgrim who is unable to provide the sacrificial animal for Tamattu' or Qiran. The pilgrim performing Qiran or Tamattu' is obligated to provide the sacrificial animal. If he does not find the sacrificial animal, he must fast three days during Hajj, even if that coincides with the days of Tashriq. In the hadith of A'ishah, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:.
This is a specific exception to the prohibition of fasting on these days in this case. As for days other than the days of Tashriq, it is best to fast the white days.
Question: Is it true that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) never left fasting the white days, whether traveling or resident, or is it a recommended fast?
Answer: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) used to fast voluntarily and fast frequently.He used to fast to the point where it was said: He would not break his fast, and he would break his fast to the point where it was said, "He does not fast." The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) used to fast frequently, both while resident and while traveling. As for his consistently fasting the white days, I do not know; nothing comes to my mind regarding that at the moment.
Answer: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) encouraged fasting three days of every month, whether from the beginning, the middle, or the end of the month, but the best is that these three days be the white days: the thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth. This is the best. If one fasts them on other days of the month, there is no harm in that; he has performed what is prescribed and will receive the reward, if Allah wills.
As for the days of Tashriq, there is a prohibition against fasting them because they are days of festival, eating, drinking, and remembrance of Allah (Mighty and Majestic). It is forbidden to fast them, except for a pilgrim who is unable to provide the sacrificial animal for Tamattu' or Qiran. The pilgrim performing Qiran or Tamattu' is obligated to provide the sacrificial animal. If he does not find the sacrificial animal, he must fast three days during Hajj, even if that coincides with the days of Tashriq. In the hadith of A'ishah, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
He prohibited fasting on the days of Tashriq, except for the sake of the sacrificial animal for Tamattu' or Qiran.
نهى أن تصام أيام التشريق إلا عن دم متعة أو قرانThis is a specific exception to the prohibition of fasting on these days in this case. As for days other than the days of Tashriq, it is best to fast the white days.
Question: Is it true that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) never left fasting the white days, whether traveling or resident, or is it a recommended fast?
Answer: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) used to fast voluntarily and fast frequently.He used to fast to the point where it was said: He would not break his fast, and he would break his fast to the point where it was said, "He does not fast." The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) used to fast frequently, both while resident and while traveling. As for his consistently fasting the white days, I do not know; nothing comes to my mind regarding that at the moment.