The Difference Between Ayyamul Bidh Fasting and Fasting 3 Days Every Month

The Difference Between Ayyamul Bidh Fasting and Fasting 3 Days Every Month!

Fasting Ayyamul Bidh (the White Days) is a fast performed on the 13th, 14th, and 15th of every Hijri month, except for Ramadan. They are called Ayyamul Bidh because during those dates, the nights experience a full moon. Some people assume that fasting 3 days every month is identical to Ayyamul Bidh fasting. Are they the same or different? Here are the differences between Ayyamul Bidh fasting and fasting 3 days every month from several perspectives.

First: From the Perspective of Scholarly Review

The scholars agree that fasting 3 days every month is legislated and recommended. This differs from Ayyamul Bidh fasting, whose legislation is a matter of dispute. Regarding the consensus on the recommendation of fasting 3 days every month, Imam Ibnu Qudamah Al-Hanbali mentioned:

وَجُمْلَةُ ذَلِكَ أَنَّ صِيَامَ ثَلَاثَةِ أَيَّامٍ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ مُسْتَحَبٌّ، لَا نَعْلَمُ فِيهِ خِلَافًا

"In general, fasting three days of every month is recommended; we do not know of any disagreement (khilaf) regarding this." (Al-Mughni, 3/180)

Meanwhile, the dispute regarding Ayyamul Bidh fasting was touched upon by Imam Ibnu Rusyd Al-Hafid Al-Maliki, who said:

وَأَمَّا الْمُخْتَلَفُ فِيهِ فَصِيَامُ يَوْمِ عَرَفَةَ وَسِتٍّ مِنْ شَوَّالٍ وَالْغُرَرِ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ

"As for those that are disputed, they are the fast of Arafah, the 6 days of Shawwal, and the ghurar (Ayyamul Bidh) of every month." (Bidayah Al-Mujtahid, 2/70)

Among those who dislike or consider Ayyamul Bidh fasting to be makruh (disliked) is Imam Malik and the Maliki school. Imam Ibnu Rusyd Al-Jadd Al-Maliki narrated:

وَسُئِلَ مَالِكٌ عَنْ صِيَامِ الْغَرِّ الثَّلَاثَةِ الْأَيَّامِ ثَلَاثَةَ عَشَرَ وَأَرْبَعَةَ عَشَرَ وَخَمْسَةَ عَشَرَ قَالَ: "لَيْسَ هَذَا بِبَلَدِنَا وَإِنِّي أَكْرَهُ أَنْ يُتَعَمَّدَ صِيَامُهَا" قَالَ: "وَالْأَيَّامُ كُلُّهَا لِلَّهِ"

“Malik was asked about fasting the three 'gharr' days (Ayyamul Bidh), namely the 13th, 14th, and 15th. He said: 'This is not practiced in our land (Medina).' He also said: 'All days belong to Allah.'" (Al-Bayan wa At-Tahshil, 2/322)

This dislike is also the official position of the Maliki school. Imam Khalil bin Ishaq Al-Maliki stated:

وَصَوْمُ ثَلَاثَةٍ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ وَكُرِهَ الْبِيضُ كَسِتَّةٍ مِنْ شَوَّالٍ

"And (recommended) is fasting 3 days of every month, but (Ayyamul) Bidh is disliked, similar to the 6 days of Shawwal." (Mukhtashar Khalil p. 61)

Second: From the Perspective of Evidentiary Basis

The fast whose authenticity is agreed upon by the hadith scholars (Al-Bukhari and Muslim) is the narration for fasting 3 days every month. This is based on the statement of Abu Hurairah:

أَوْصَانِي خَلِيلِي صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِثَلاَثٍ: "صِيَامِ ثَلاَثَةِ أَيَّامٍ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ وَرَكْعَتَيِ الضُّحَى وَأَنْ أُوتِرَ قَبْلَ أَنْ أَنَامَ"

"My close friend (the Prophet ﷺ) advised me to do three things: to fast three days of every month, to pray two rak'ahs of Dhuha, and to pray Witr before going to sleep." (HR. Al-Bukhari: 1981 and Muslim: 721)

This differs from Ayyamul Bidh fasting, for which the specific details are not narrated by Imam Al-Bukhari or Imam Muslim. In the narration of Muslim, it is stated that the Prophet ﷺ fasted without specifically singling out certain days, as told by Mu’adzah Al-‘Adawiyah:

سَأَلْتُ عَائِشَةَ زَوْجَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: "أَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَصُومُ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ؟" قَالَتْ: "نَعَمْ" فَقُلْتُ لَهَا: "مِنْ أَيِّ أَيَّامِ الشَّهْرِ كَانَ يَصُومُ؟" قَالَتْ: "لَمْ يَكُنْ يُبَالِي مِنْ أَيِّ أَيَّامِ الشَّهْرِ يَصُومُ"

"I asked Aisha, the wife of the Prophet: 'Did the Messenger of Allah ﷺ fast three days of every month?' She said: 'Yes.' I asked: 'Which days of the month did he fast?' She replied: 'He did not care which days of the month he fasted.'" (HR. Muslim: 1160)

Third: From the Perspective of the Prophet's Practice

Among the routines of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was fasting 3 days every month. He performed this fast without regard to specific dates, as mentioned by Aisha above. There were times when the Prophet ﷺ performed this fast on days other than Ayyamul Bidh. Ummu Salamah, the wife of the Prophet, said:

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَصُومُ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ: الِاثْنَيْنِ وَالْخَمِيسَ مِنْ هَذِهِ الْجُمُعَةِ، وَالِاثْنَيْنِ مِنَ الْمُقْبِلَةِ

"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to fast three days of every month: Monday and Thursday of this week, and Monday of the following week." (HR. An-Nasai: 2365)

While not denying that the Prophet ﷺ occasionally fasted on Ayyamul Bidh, as stated by Abdullah bin Mas’ud:

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَصُومُ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ مِنْ غُرَّةِ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ...

"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to fast three days during the white days (Ayyamul Bidh) of every month..." (HR. An-Nasai: 2368 and At-Tirmidhi: 742)

Fourth: From the Perspective of the Month of Dzulhijjah

Ayyamul Bidh fasting cannot be fully performed in the month of Dzulhijjah for those who hold that the last day of Tasyriq is the 13th of Dzulhijjah. This is because Ayyamul Bidh begins on the 13th, while the days of Tasyriq (days on which fasting is forbidden) end on that same day. This differs from the general 3-day monthly fast, which can be done on any day.

Fifth: There Is No Exclusive Virtue for Ayyamul Bidh

The virtue of "fasting for a lifetime" is not obtained exclusively through Ayyamul Bidh fasting. It can also be obtained through fasting any 3 days of the month. The Prophet ﷺ said:

صَوْمُ ثَلَاثَةٍ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ وَرَمَضَانَ إِلَى رَمَضَانَ صَوْمُ الدَّهْرِ

"Fasting three days of every month and Ramadan to the next Ramadan is equivalent to fasting for a lifetime (year)." (HR. Muslim: 1162 from Abu Qatadah Al-Anshari)

Conclusion

This shows that fasting 3 days every month does not have to be done during Ayyamul Bidh or the middle of the month; any days will suffice. For those who find it difficult to perform Ayyamul Bidh, they have not lost the opportunity for the 3-day monthly fast. We should not mistakenly believe that the 3-day monthly fast is only Ayyamul Bidh, causing us to abandon the practice if we miss those specific dates. In fact, performing the 3-day monthly fast on any day is excellent, as there is no difference in the core virtue: both are regarded as fasting the whole year.

Wallahu a’lam bis shawab.