What are the Three White Days in Islam?

The Three White Days in Islam, or Ayyam al-Bid, refer to each lunar month's 13th, 14th, and 15th. 

These days are considered spiritually significant due to their association with the full moon, which illuminates the night sky. The term "White Days" refers to their radiant brightness. Fasting on these days is highly recommended for Muslims to attain immense spiritual rewards.

The moon appears fully illuminated at night, casting its glow from dusk till dawn. During the day, the sun adds to this brightness, symbolizing purity and renewal.

Let’s explore the significance of white days in Islam. 

The Importance of Lunar Months in Worship

Certain acts of worship, like fasting and calculating iddah (the waiting period after divorce or widowhood), are tied to the lunar calendar. These follow Islamic months, not the solar months of the Gregorian calendar.

If you fasted according to the solar calendar, those fasts may not align with the lunar calendar. However, any voluntary fast done sincerely for Allah’s sake is still rewarded. To gain the specific reward for fasting al-Ayyam al-Bid, as encouraged by the Messenger of Allah (PBUH), it is crucial to follow his guidance.

Understanding the White Days

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) set an example by fasting on special days other than Ramadan throughout the year as a Sunnah. He (PBUH) encouraged his followers to embrace this virtuous practice.

Among these were Mondays, Thursdays, the six days of Shawwal month, and three days of every lunar month known as the White Days in Islam. 

How can fasting three days be equivalent to fasting 30 days? Because for the Ummah of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), every good deed is rewarded tenfold!

An additional significance stems from a profound event in which Allah forgave Prophet Adam (AS) during these days, cleansing his record. For Muslims, the White Days, as highlighted by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), offer a unique opportunity for worship, reflection, and seeking Allah's mercy.

Virtues of Voluntary Acts

Fasting the White Days is a voluntary act of worship. Voluntary deeds bring one closer to Allah and earn His love, as mentioned in the hadith:

Rewards of Voluntary Fasting

The rewards of fasting beyond obligatory acts are immense, with merits known only to Allah.

Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:

1. "Whoever fasts one day for the sake of Allah, Allah will move his face away from the Fire a distance of seventy autumns (years)." (Ibn Majah)
   
2. Fasting is exclusively for Allah, and He promises to reward it abundantly, beyond measure. As stated in the hadith: (Allah says: )"Fasting is Mine, and I will reward it." (Sahih al-Bukhari: 1904)
   
3. There is nothing comparable to fasting. (Al-Nasai, 4/165; see also Sahih al-Targhib, 1/413)
   
4. The supplication (du’a) of the fasting person will never be rejected. (Reported by al-Bayhaqi, 3/345; see also al-Silsilah al-Sahihah, 1797)
   
5. The fasting person experiences two joys: the joy of breaking their fast, and the joy of meeting their Lord with the reward of their fast. (Reported by Muslim, 2/807)
   
6. Fasting will act as an intercessor for the believer on the Day of Judgment, saying: "O Lord, I kept him from eating and drinking during the day, so allow me to intercede for him." (Reported by Ahmad, 2/174; al-Bayhaqi classed its isnad as hasan in al-Mujtama, 3/181; see also Sahih al-Targhib, 1/411)
   
7. The scent that comes from the mouth of the fasting person is more beloved by Allah than the fragrance of musk. (Muslim, 2/808)
   
8. Fasting serves as a shield and a strong fortress against the Fire. (Reported by Ahmad, 2/402; see also Sahih al-Targhib, 1/411 and Sahih al-Jami, 3880)
   
9. Anyone who fasts a day for the sake of Allah and then dies will enter Paradise. (Reported by Ahmad, 5/391; see also Sahih al-Targhib, 1/412)
   
10. In Paradise, there is a gate called al-Rayyan, through which only those who fast will enter. Once they have entered, it will be closed, and no one else will enter through it. (Al-Bukhari, Fath, no. 1797)
    
11. Voluntary fasts, such as those on 'Ashura, the Day of ‘Arafah, the White Days (Ayyam al-Bid), Mondays and Thursdays, and the six days of Shawwal. Additional fasting during Muharram and Sha’ban will make up for any shortcomings in obligatory fasts.
    

In conclusion, Fasting the White Days is a cherished Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). It purifies the soul, instills discipline, and strengthens one’s connection with Allah. By observing these days, Muslims follow in the footsteps of the Prophet. This practice brings immense rewards and fosters divine closeness.

Let us make fasting on these special days a regular practice to reap both worldly and eternal blessings.

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