The chief means by which a servant draws near to the Lord is worship. Through it the servant comes very close to the Lord. Worship includes prayer, fasting, hajj, zakat and more. Prayer is prescribed as the servant’s daily worship — that is, obligatory (fard). The month prescribed for fasting is Ramadan. Just as prayer has Sunnah and nafl beyond the obligatory, so alongside the obligatory fasts of Ramadan there are provisions for nafl and Sunnah fasts. The fasts of Ayyam al-Bidh are one such Sunnah.
In Arabic, “Ayyam al-Bidh” means the bright or luminous days. On these days of each month the moon gives its full light at the full moon, which is why they are known as Ayyam al-Bidh. The 13th, 14th and 15th of the Hijri month are Ayyam al-Bidh, the bright days. This fast is kept on the 13th, 14th and 15th of every Hijri (Arabic) lunar month. The Prophet (peace be upon him) encouraged this fast and described its many virtues. In the hadith of the Prophet it is narrated from Abu Zarr al-Ghifari (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “If you wish to fast three days a month, then fast on the 13th, 14th and 15th.” (Tirmidhi: 761)
How to keep the Ayyam al-Bidh fast
It is kept on the 13th, 14th and 15th of every Arabic month. The rules of this fast are the same as those of the obligatory fast. Making the intention (niyyah) for the fast is essential. The intention is made in the heart. It is best to make it at night or before dawn (fajr). (Muslim: 1151)
The virtues of the Ayyam al-Bidh fast
According to the narrations of Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Nasa’i and other hadith collections, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) instructed the companions to keep the Ayyam al-Bidh fast. In the hadith this fast is declared equal to fasting the whole year. It is narrated from Abu Hurayra (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever fasts three days each month, for him it is equal to fasting the whole year.” (Bukhari: 1979)
It is narrated from Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “O young people! Those among you who can afford to marry should marry, for marriage restrains the gaze and guards chastity. And whoever cannot afford it should fast, for fasting curbs his desire.” (Bukhari: 1566; Muslim: 1400)
Fasting creates taqwa and self-restraint in us. It teaches us to control our eyes, ears, tongue and even the self (nafs). It acts as a shield against all sins. It moves us to struggle against the self, to be generous and magnanimous towards people, and prepares us to hold fast to the command of the Lord.
Fasting is a form of worship whose reward Allah Himself will bestow. It frees people from sin and defilement, controls base desires and spreads the light of faith in the heart. May Allah the Almighty grant us all the ability to take part in His worship and to perform nafl worship alongside the obligatory, and grant us His nearness in return for each of our deeds. Amin.
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