3 DAYS OF FASTING IN A MONTH; MONDAYS AND THURSDAYS; 9TH AND 10TH
MUHARRAM.
ASSEMBLED BY
MALLAM ABBA ABANA, KUBWA, ABUJA, NIGERIA
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WEDNESDAY 7TH MUHARRAM 1439 AH – 27TH SEPTEMBER 2017 CE
Bismillah
Walhamdulillah Was Salaatu Was Salaam 'ala Rasulillah. As-Salaam Alaikum
Wa-Rahmatullahi Wa-Barakatuhu.
Praise be to
Allaah; we seek His help and His forgiveness. We seek refuge with Allaah from
the evil of our own souls and from our bad deeds. Whomsoever Allaah guides will
never be led astray, and whomsoever Allaah leaves astray, no one can guide. I
bear witness that there is no god but Allaah, and I bear witness that Muhammad
(Sallalhu alaihi Wasalam) is His slave and Messenger.
PREAMBLE
Fasting Three Days Of Each Month Or Fasting On Mondays And Thursdays; When
Are The Three Days Of Each Month – Is It The 13th, 14th And 15th Of Each Month
Or Al-Ayyaam Al-Beed. To Fast On
The Eleventh (Of Muharram) As Well As ‘Ashoora’?
Question Presented By
A Brother
Assalamu Alaikum: *attention learned mallam Abbba*
What is the ruling on the narrative below pls. It is
trending....
A week full of great beneficial opportunities for fasting in
this month of Muharram
Next Thursday 28/09/2017)
8/01/1439 deeds taken up
Friday (29/09/2017)
09/01/1437 Day of Taasi'a
Saturday (30/09/2017)
10/01/1437 Day of 'Aashura
Sunday
(01/10/2017)
11/01/1437 Day after 'Aashura encouraged fast to
differentiate between the Jewish fast
Monday
(02/10/2017)
12/01/1439 normal Monday fast deeds taken up
Tuesday (03/10/2017)
13/01/1439 first day of the 3days fasting of the lunar month
Wednesday (04/10/2017)
14/01/1439 second day of the 3days lunar month fasting
Thursday (05/10/2017)
15/01/1439 both last day of the 3days monthly lunar fasting
and day deeds are taken up
*where are those who love to compete for goodness- the gate
of arrayan in paradise for only the fasting servants?*
Please share you never can tell who may fast as a result of
your sharing this information.
Remember the one that directs others to goodness get same
reward as the doer of that good act.
RESPONSES
PRAISE BE TO ALLAH.
The week long fast likely refers to 3 days of fasting in a month; Mondays
and Thursdays; 9th and 10th Muharram which are Days
of Taasi'a and 'Aashura etc.
The person smartly used to
tabulate the happenings within the week as if something special is
happening. These are normal fasting
periods for some people but the presentation made above as if special attention
is called upon.
1.0 TO FAST ON MONDAYS AND
THURSDAYS OR ON THREE DAYS OF EACH MONTH
If
we want to discover which is better, fasting on Mondays and Thursdays or
fasting three days of each month, we find that fasting on Mondays and Thursdays
is better than fasting on three days of each month, because if a person fasts
on Mondays and Thursdays each week, that means that he is fasting eight days
each month, so he will have done both: fasted on Mondays and Thursdays and
fasted three days of the month.
The
three days of each month may be fasted at the beginning of the month, in the
middle or at the end, and may be done separately or consecutively, but it is
better to fast on the ayaam al-beed, which are the days on which the moon is
full, namely the 13th, 14th and 15th of each
lunar month.
There
follow a number of ahaadeeth which encourage fasting on Mondays and
Thursdays:
1 –
It was narrated from Abu Qataadah al-Ansaari that the Messenger of Allaah
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was asked about fasting on Mondays.
He said: “On that day I was born, and on it the Revelation came to me.”
Narrated by Muslim, 1162.
2 –
It was narrated that ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) said: The
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was keen to fast on Mondays
and Thursdays. Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 745; al-Nasaa’i, 2361; Ibn Maajah,
1739; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Targheeb, 1044.
3 –
It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the
Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Deeds
are shown (to Allaah) on Mondays and Thursdays, and I like my deeds to be shown
when I am fasting.” Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 747; classed as saheeh by
al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Targheeb, 1041.
The
following ahaadeeth encourage fasting on three days of each month:
1 –
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 sleeping after Witr. Narrated by al-Bukhaari,
1124; Muslim, 721.
2 –
It was narrated from Mu’aadhah al-‘Adawiyyah that she asked ‘Aa’ishah, the wife
of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), “Did the Messenger
of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) fast three days of every
month?” She said, “Yes.” She said to her: “Which days of the month did he
fast?” She said, “He did not mind which days of the month he would fast.”
Narrated by Muslim, 1160.
3 –
It was narrated from Jareer ibn ‘Abd-Allaah (may Allaah be pleased with him)
that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Fasting
three days of each month is fasting for a lifetime, and ayaam al-beed are the
thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth.” Narrated by al-Nasaa’i, 2420; classed as
saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Targheeb, 1040.
4 –
It was narrated that Abu Dharr (may Allaah be pleased with him) 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-Nasaa’i, 2424; classed as
saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Targheeb, 1038.
There
is broad scope in the command to fast three days, as it says in the hadeeth of
‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her), but the best days of the month for
fasting are the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth, as it says in the other
saheeh ahaadeeth.
Shaykh
Muhammad ibn Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked:
When fasting three days of every month, is it essential that it be only on the
ayyaam al-beed? Or is it permissible to fast any three days of the month?
He
replied: It is permissible to fast at the beginning of the month, in the
middle or at the end, on consecutive days or separately. But it is better if it
is done on the three ayyaam al-beed, which are the thirteenth, fourteenth and
fifteenth. ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) said: The Prophet (peace
and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to fast on three days of every month,
and he did not mind whether he fasted at the beginning or at the end of the
month. End quote. Majmoo’ Fataawa al-Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen,
20/question no. 376. And Allaah knows best.
2.0 ENCOURAGEMENT TO FAST
AL-AYYAAM AL-BEED AND THE MONTH OF SHA’BAAN
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 sexual intercourse) 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”[Holy Quran
Chapter al-A’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 bid’ah (an innovation) to fast three
days in Sha’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-Nasaa’i (2424).
This
hadeeth was classed as hasan by al-Tirmidhi, and al-Albaani agreed with him in Irwa’
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 braod 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. 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/ question no. 376.
Thirdly:
Perhaps the one who told you not to fast on those days in this month (Sha’baan)
said that because he knew that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him) forbade fasting in the latter part of Sha’baan.
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 Sha’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 Sha’baan, and he used to fast all of Sha’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. And Allaah
knows best.
3.0 FASTING AL-AYYAAM AL-BEED
IS DONE ACCORDING TO THE LUNAR CALENDAR, NOT THE SOLAR
Here
we will explain in brief the virtues of fasting.
The
virtues of fasting are immense, and a number of saheeh ahaadeeth state this,
such as the following:
Fasting
is something which is just for Allaah, and Allaah will give multiple rewards
without measure for it. The hadeeth says: “[Allaah says:] Fasting is Mine and
it is I Who give reward for it.” (Al-Bukhaari, Fath, no. 1904)
“There
is nothing equivalent to fasting.” (Al-Nisaa’i, 4/165; see also Saheeh
al-Targheeb, 1/413)
“The
prayer (du’aa’) of the fasting person will not be refused.” (Reported by
al-Bayhaqi, 3/345; see also al-Silsilah al-Saheehah, 1797)
“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)
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).
“The
smell (coming from the mouth of) the fasting person is better in the sight of
Allaah than the scent of musk.” (Muslim, 2/808).
“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)
“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)
“Whoever
fasts a day seeking the pleasure of Allaah and then dies [i.e. that is the last
thing he does] will enter Paradise.” (Reported by Ahmad, 5/391; see also Saheeh
al-Targheeb, 1/412)
“In
Paradise there is a gate called al-Rayyaan, through which those who fast will
enter, and no-one else will enter through it. After they have entered, it will
be locked and no-one else will enter it.” (Al-Bukhaari, Fath, no. 1797).
Voluntary
fasts will make up for any shortfall in obligatory fasts. Examples of voluntary
fasts include ‘Aashooraa’, the Day of ‘Arafaah, al-Ayaam al-Beed (the “White
Days”), Mondays and Thursdays, six days of Shawwaal, and increased fasting
during the months of Muharram and Sha’baan.
What
is meant by al-Ayaam al-Beed is the 13th, 14th, and 15th
of each lunar month, because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “They
ask you about the new moons. Say: These are signs to mark fixed periods of time
for mankind and for the pilgrimage…” [al-Baqarah 2:189]. So the
timing of certain acts of worship and the ‘iddah (waiting period for women who
have been divorced or widowed, etc.) are worked out according to the lunar
months of the Hijri or Islamic calendar, not the solar months of the Gregorian
or Western calendar. The fasts which you have observed according to the solar
calendar most likely do not correspond with the lunar calendar, but in any case
you will be rewarded, in sha Allaah, for the days that you have fasted, because
you have fasted them voluntarily for the sake of Allaah. But if you wish to
earn the reward that is specifically for fasting Ayaam al-Beed, which the
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) urged us to do, you should
find out the timings according to the lunar calendar and fast according to it.
We
ask Allaah to increase His blessings upon you, to help you adhere to His
religion, to give you the strength to do that which will please Him and to
increase your reward, for He is the All-Hearing Who answers prayers. Do not
forget us in your prayers whilst you are fasting. May Allaah bless our Prophet
Muhammad.
4.0 THE VIRTUE OF FASTING ‘ASHOORA’
Fasting
the day of ‘Ashoora’ does expiate for the past year, because the Prophet (peace
and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Fasting the day of ‘Arafah I hope
Allaah will expiate thereby for the year before it and the year after it, and
fasting the day of ‘Ashoora’ I hope Allaah will expiate thereby for the year
that came before it.” Narrated by Muslim, 1162. This is by the bounty that
Allaah bestows upon us, whereby fasting one day expiates for the sins of a
whole year. And Allaah is the Owner of great bounty.
The
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to be very keen to
make sure he fasted on the day of ‘Ashoora’ because of its great status. It was
narrated that Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: I never saw
the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) so keen to make sure he
fasted any day and preferring it over another except this day, the day of
‘Ashoora’, and this month – meaning Ramadaan. Narrated by al-Bukhaari,
1867.
What
is meant by being keen to make sure he fasted it is so as to earn its
reward.
Secondly:
With
regard to the reason why the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) fasted on the day of ‘Ashoora’ and urged the people to do likewise is
mentioned in the hadeeth narrated by al-Bukhaari (1865) from Ibn ‘Abbaas (may
Allaah be pleased with him), who said: The Prophet (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) came to Madeenah and saw the Jews fasting on the day of
‘Ashoora’. He said, “What is this?” They said, “This is a good day, this is the
day when Allaah saved the Children of Israel from their enemy and Moosa fasted
on this day.” He said, “We are closer to Moosa than you.” So he fasted on this
day and told the people to fast.
The
words “this is a good day” – according to a version narrated by Muslim, “This
is a great day when Allaah saved Moosa and his people and drowned Pharaoh and
his people.”
The
words “so Moosa fasted on this day” – Muslim added in his report: “In gratitude
to Allaah, so that is we fast on this day.”
According
to another version narrated by al-Bukhaari, “So we fast it out of respect for
it.”
The
words “and told the people to fast” – according to another version narrated by
al-Bukhaari, “He said to his companions, ‘You are closer to Moosa than them, so
fast this day.”
Thirdly:
The
expiation of sins that is achieved by fasting ‘Ashoora’ refers to minor sins;
with regard to major sins, they need separate repentance.
Al-Nawawi
(may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
Fasting
the day of ‘Arafaah expiates for all minor sins, in othr words this brings
forgiveness for all sins except for major sins.
Then
he said: Fasting the day of ‘Arafaah is an expiation for two years, and
the day of ‘Ashoora is an expiation for one year, and if a person’s Ameen
coincides with the Ameen of the angels, his previous sins will be forgiven…
Each of the things mentioned may bring expiation. If he does something that
expiates for minor sins he will be expiated, and if there are no minor or major
sins, it will be recorded for him as good deeds and he will rise in status
thereby… If there is one or more major sins and no minor sins, we hope that it
will reduce his major sins. Al-Majmoo’ Sharh al-Muhadhdhab, part
6.
Shaykh
al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: The expiation of
purification, prayer, and fasting Ramadaan, ‘Arafah and ‘Ashoora’ applies to minor
sins only. Al-Fataawa al-Kubra, part 5.
5.0 MUSTAHABB TO FAST ON THE
ELEVENTH (OF MUHARRAM) AS WELL AS ‘ASHOORA’
The
scholars regarded it as mustahabb to fast on the eleventh of Muharram because
it was narrated from the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him)
that he instructed people to fast on this day. This is seen in the report
narrated by Ahmad from Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him) who said:
The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Fast
the day of ‘Ashoora’, and be different from the Jews with regard to it; fast
the day before it or the day after it.”
The
scholars differed regarding the soundness of this hadeeth. Shaykh Ahmad Shaakir
classed it as hasan, but the editors of the Musnad classed it as
da‘eef.
It
was also narrated by Ibn Khuzaymah with the same wording. Al-Albaani said: Its
isnaad is da‘eef, because of the poor memory of Ibn Abi Layla, and it was
contradicted by a mawqoof report narrated by ‘Ata’ and others from Ibn ‘Abbaas,
the isnaad of which is saheeh according to at-Tahhaawi and al-Bayhaqi. End
quote.
If
the hadeeth is hasan, that is all well and good. If it is da‘eef, then da‘eef
hadeeths about such matters are tolerated by the scholars, because its weakness
is minor; it is not false or fabricated, and it speaks about virtuous deeds.
Moreover, it is narrated from the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon
him) that he encouraged fasting in the month of Muharram. Indeed the Messenger
of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “The best fast after
Ramadaan is the month of Allah Muharram.” Narrated by Muslim, 1163.
Al-Bayhaqi
narrated this hadeeth in as-Sunan al-Kubra with the wording mentioned
above, and in another report with the wording “Fast one day before it and one
day after it,” saying “and” instead of “or”.
Al-Haafiz
Ibn Hajar narrated it in It-haaf al-Mahrah (2225) as follows: “Fast one
day before it and one day after,” and he said: It was narrated by Ahmad and
al-Bayhaqi with a da‘eef isnaad, because of the weakness of Muhammad ibn Abi
Layla, but he is not the only one who narrated it; Saalih ibn Abi Saalih ibn
Hayy followed him in that. End quote.
This
report indicates that it is mustahabb to fast on the ninth, the tenth and the
eleventh.
The
scholars also mentioned another reason for it being mustahabb to fast on the
eleventh, which is to be on the safe side with regard to the tenth day, because
people may be mistaken in sighting the new moon of Muharram, and it may not be
known exactly which day is the tenth. So if the Muslim fasts on the ninth, the
tenth and the eleventh, then he will have fasted ‘Ashoora’ for certain. Ibn Abi
Shaybah narrated in al-Musannaf (2/313) from Tawoos (may Allah have
mercy on him) that he used to fast one day before it and one day after it, for
fear of missing it.
Imam
Ahmad said: whoever wants to fast ‘Ashoora’ should fast on the ninth and the
tenth, unless there is some uncertainty about the months, in which case he
should fast for three days. Ibn Sireen said that. End quote. Al-Mughni,
4/441
Thus
it becomes clear that it is not correct to describe fasting three days as being
an innovation (bid‘ah).
But
if a person misses fasting on the ninth, and he fasts only on the tenth, there
is nothing wrong with that, and it is not makrooh. But if he adds the eleventh
to it, that is better. Al-Mardaawi said in al-Insaaf (3/346):
It
is not makrooh to single out the tenth for fasting, according to the correct
view. Shaykh Taqiy ad-Deen (Ibn Taymiyah) agreed that it is not makrooh. End
quote.
And Allah
knows best.
Sources
Islam Q&A, 128423, Islam Q&A, 21775
Islam Q&A, 2122, Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid
Islam Q&A, 49867, Islam Q&A, 69781
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