Hearts can sicken from the multitude of sins, and souls can grow heavy from the burdens of disobedience. There is no more effective remedy or beneficial cure than an act of worship that purifies the spirits, cleanses the souls, and brings the servant closer to his Master.
Among those acts of worship that Allah has made easy for His servants—acts that require little effort yet yield great reward—is one that many people overlook: fasting three days every month.
It is a simple act of worship. It does not exhaust the body nor burden the soul. Yet, it elevates one's ranks, expiates sins, opens the gates of Paradise, and is a path to Allah's pleasure.
Whoever wishes to cure his heart, purify his chest, and place a protective barrier between himself and the Hellfire, let him seize these three days and establish them as a consistent practice in his life. For it is a gate from the gates of good, a means of salvation, and a great provision for a Day when wealth and children will not benefit, except for one who comes to Allah with a sound heart.
(1) Fasting Three Days a Month is a Prophetic Practice
Whoever wishes to follow in the footsteps of the Beloved ﷺ should emulate his guidance. He used to fast three days every month—a simple Sunnah with a great reward.
Mu'adhah Al-'Adawiyyah said: "I asked 'Aishah, the wife of the Prophet ﷺ: 'Did the Messenger of Allah ﷺ fast three days every month?' She said, 'Yes.' I asked her, 'Which days of the month did he fast?' She said, 'He did not mind on which days of the month he fasted.'"
📚 [Sahih Muslim (1160)]
This hadith shows that the Prophet ﷺ was diligent in this Sunnah, fasting three days each month without specifying particular days, indicating ease and mercy upon his Ummah.
(2) Fasting Three Days a Month was a Recommendation of the Prophet ﷺ
The recommendations of the Prophet ﷺ to his companions are priceless treasures. Among them is a great recommendation: fasting three days every month. Do you maintain this practice?
Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: "My close friend ﷺ advised me to do three things: to fast three days every month, to pray two rak'ahs of Duha, and to pray Witr before sleeping."
📚 [Sahih al-Bukhari (1981)]
Abu Ad-Darda' reported: "My beloved ﷺ advised me with three things I will never abandon as long as I live: to fast three days every month, to pray Duha, and not to sleep until I have prayed Witr."
📚 [Sahih Muslim (722)]
This Prophetic advice confirms that fasting three days a month is an act of worship a Muslim should maintain, just like Witr and Duha.
A precious Prophetic recommendation—do you uphold it as the Prophet ﷺ advised?
(3) Fasting Three Days a Month Equals Fasting an Entire Year
A simple deed equivalent to fasting a whole lifetime. Just three days each month. Seize this immense virtue and do not deprive yourself of the reward. 🌿
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Fast three days a month, for a good deed is multiplied ten times, and that is like fasting for a lifetime."
📚 [Sahih Muslim (1159)]
🔹 Because a good deed is multiplied tenfold, fasting three days equals thirty days—like fasting the entire month.
🔹 Thus, it is as if the Muslim has fasted the entire year, even though he only fasted three days per month.
🔹 This is from Allah's mercy and facilitation, making a small deed great in reward.
💡 So, seize this immense virtue and do not deprive yourself of the reward of fasting a lifetime.
(4) Fasting Three Days a Month Removes the 'Heat' from the Chest
💡 Hearts become troubled with worries and distress. Fasting is their cure. Three days each month remove the 'heat' from the chest and plant serenity.
In a hadith: "Shall I not tell you of something that removes the 'war' (heat/illness) of the chest? Fasting three days of every month."
📚 [Sahih Sunan an-Nasa'i (2249)]
"What removes the 'war' of the chest": It is said this refers to its anxiety and whispers; or its malice; or the impurities and hardness that settle in the heart.
🔹 Fasting purifies the heart from rancor and hatred, planting within it serenity and tranquility.
🔹 The 'heat of the chest' is the distress, anxiety, and malice that afflict the soul—fasting is its treatment.
🔹 Thus, fasting is an act of worship that reforms the heart just as it reforms the body.
Make fasting three days a means of drawing closer to your Lord, a cure for your heart, a relief for your chest, and purity for your soul. 🌿
(5) The Gate of Ar-Rayyan Awaits the Fasting
In Paradise, there is a special gate through which only those who fasted will enter: the Gate of Ar-Rayyan. Do you hope to be among its people?
Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Whoever is among the people who fast will be called from the gate of Ar-Rayyan."
📚 [Sahih al-Bukhari (1897) and Muslim (1027)]
🌸 Fasting three days a month makes you among the people of fasting who will be called on the Day of Resurrection from the Gate of Ar-Rayyan.
🔹 The Gate of Ar-Rayyan is a special gate in Paradise; only those who fasted may enter through it.
🔹 This is a tremendous honor, a divine medal, awarded only to those who were diligent in the worship of fasting.
🌸 Do you hope for your name to be called on the Day of Resurrection: "O servant of Allah, this is the Gate of Ar-Rayyan, enter it in peace"?
(6) The Supplication of the Fasting Person is Not Rejected
🌿 Days of fasting are seasons for supplication. The du'a of a fasting person is not rejected. Make three days each month an appointment to raise your needs to the heavens.
Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Three supplications are not rejected: the supplication of a parent, the supplication of the fasting person, and the supplication of the traveler."
📚 [(Hasan) Sahih al-Jami' (3032)]
🔹 Fasting three days a month opens for you the door of answered supplication.
🔹 Make your fasting days seasons for du'a, for they are not rejected, by Allah's leave.
🌸 So seize this opportunity and ask for what you love, for the gate of heaven is open.
(7) Two Joys for the Fasting Person
🌿 The fasting person has two joys that no one else attains: a joy in this world when breaking the fast, and a greater joy upon meeting Allah. Taste the sweetness of fasting for three days each month.
Abu Hurairah reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said that Allah said: "Every deed of the son of Adam is for him, except fasting. It is for Me, and I shall reward for it. Fasting is a shield. On the day one of you fasts, he should neither behave obscenely nor foolishly. If someone argues with him or fights him, let him say, 'I am fasting.' By the One in Whose hand is the soul of Muhammad, the breath of the fasting person is more pleasant to Allah than the scent of musk. The fasting person has two joys: he is joyful when he breaks his fast, and he is joyful when he meets his Lord because of his fasting."
📚 [Sahih al-Bukhari (1904) and Muslim (1151)]
🌿 Fasting three days a month grants you a joy in this world and a greater joy on the Day you meet your Lord.
🔹 A joy in this world at Iftar, and a greater joy upon meeting Allah.
🔹 Fasting three days a month grants you both joys, in this life and the Hereafter.
🌿 So taste the sweetness of fasting and await the joy of meeting your Lord.
(8) Fasting is a Shield from the Fire
🔥 Fasting is a protection from the Fire. Three days each month build a fortress for you against desires and sins.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Fasting is a shield."
📚 [Sahih al-Bukhari (1904) and Muslim (1151)]
🔹 Meaning a protection and fortress from the Fire, and a veil from desires.
🔹 Fasting three days a month protects you from sins and places you in a fortress from Allah's wrath.
🔥 Let your fasting be a shield for you in this world and the next.
(9) The Scent of the Fasting Person's Mouth is More Pleasant than Musk
An act of worship beloved to Allah, even in its trace. The scent of the fasting person's mouth is more pleasant than the fragrance of musk. Seize this act of worship.
Abu Hurairah reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said that Allah said: "Every deed of the son of Adam is for him... By the One in Whose hand is the soul of Muhammad, the scent of the fasting person's mouth is more pleasant to Allah than the fragrance of musk."
📚 [Sahih al-Bukhari (1904) and Muslim (1151)]
🔹 Fasting three days a month makes your deeds beloved to Allah, even the scent of your mouth.
🌿 So reflect on the honor of this act of worship in the sight of your Lord.
(10) Fasting will Intercede for its Practitioner on the Day of Resurrection
'Abdullah bin 'Amr reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Fasting and the Quran will intercede for the servant on the Day of Resurrection. Fasting will say, 'O Lord, I prevented him from food and desires during the day, so allow me to intercede for him.' And the Quran will say, 'I prevented him from sleep at night, so allow me to intercede for him.' So they will be allowed to intercede."
📚 [(Hasan Sahih) Musnad Ahmad (6626) and in Sahih at-Targhib (984)]
So, fasting three days a month will grant you an intercessor on the Day of Resurrection.
(11) Fasting Distances One from the Fire by Seventy Autumns
🔥 A single day of fasting distances you from the Fire by seventy years. What then of fasting three days every month?
Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "No servant fasts a single day for the sake of Allah, except that Allah distances his face from the Fire by that day for seventy autumns (years)."
📚 [Sahih al-Bukhari (2840) and Muslim (1153)]
🔹 Every day of fasting distances you from the Fire by a distance of seventy years.
🔹 So what about one who maintains fasting three days every month?
🔥 This is a tremendous protection—seize it and do not neglect it.
(12) Fasting Distances Hell by a Hundred Years' Journey
Fasting distances Hell from you by a journey of a hundred years. Three days each month are a great protection.
'Uqbah bin 'Amir reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Whoever fasts a day for the sake of Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, Allah will distance him from Hell by a journey of a hundred years."
📚 [(Hasan) Sunan an-Nasa'i (2254)]
🔹 Fasting is not merely abstaining from food; it is a protection from the Fire.
🔹 Fasting three days a month distances you from Hell by a long journey.
(13) Fasting Creates a Trench Between You and the Fire
🌿 Fasting places a trench between you and the Fire as vast as the distance between heaven and earth. Let fasting three days each month be your fortress.
Abu Umamah Al-Bahili reported that the Prophet ﷺ said: "Whoever fasts a day for the sake of Allah, Allah will place between him and the Fire a trench as wide as the distance between the heaven and the earth."
📚 [(Hasan Sahih) Sunan at-Tirmidhi (1624)]
(14) Conclusion: Fasting Leads to Entry into Paradise
Whoever has fasting sealed as his last deed enters Paradise. What then of one who maintains three days every month?
Hudhaifah reported: I supported the Prophet ﷺ against my chest, and he said: "Whoever says 'La ilaha illa Allah'... and it is his final deed, will enter Paradise. Whoever fasts a day seeking the Face of Allah, and it is his final deed, will enter Paradise. And whoever gives charity seeking the Face of Allah, and it is his final deed, will enter Paradise."
📚 [(Sahih) Musnad Ahmad (23324)]
🌿 A Concluding Invitation
Fasting three days every month is a simple act of worship, but its reward is immense. It is a Prophetic recommendation, a divine gift, and a means for the forgiveness of sins and expiation of wrongdoings. Let us be diligent in it, remind others of it, and be among the people of fasting who will be called on the Day of Resurrection from the Gate of Ar-Rayyan.
💡 Share this benefit with those you love. Perhaps it will be a cause for you to receive the reward of those who fast and the reward of those who call to good.
"Glory is to You, O Allah, and praise. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except You. I seek Your forgiveness and repent to You."
May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and all his companions.
شارك هذا المقال
share facebook
share whatsApp
share twitter
share telegram
copy
