7 Functions of Ayyamul Bidh Fasting in Islam

Ayyamul bidh fasting is one of sunnah fasting that is highly recommended in Islam. Ayyamul bidh fasting is usually done on the day of 13th, 14th, and 15th in the month of Hijri. Ayyamul bidh fasting has some functions or benefits that are very good such as below:

1. Following the sunnah of the Prophet

Ayyamul bidh fasting is a fasting that is usually done by the Prophet during his life. Doing ayyamul bidh fasting is one of the forms of example of the Prophet’s sunnah.

From Abu Hurairah radhiyallahu’anhu, he said,

أَوْصَانِى خَلِيلِى بِثَلاَثٍ لاَ أَدَعُهُنَّ حَتَّى أَمُوتَ صَوْمِ ثَلاَثَةِ أَيَّامٍ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ ، وَصَلاَةِ الضُّحَى ، وَنَوْمٍ عَلَى وِتْرٍ

“My beloved (who was the Prophet shallallahu ‘alahi wa sallam) left me with three advice that I did not leave it until I died: 1- fasting three days every month, 2- doing Duha prayer, 3- doing Witr prayer before sleep.” (Hadith Al-Bukhari no. 1178)

2. Getting a reward that is the same as fasting for a year

Ayyamul bidh fasting not only gains a reward, but also the reward that is obtained is the same as fasting for a year. Indeed a reward that is too great for those who do it.

From ‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr bin Al ‘Ash, the Prophet shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said,

صَوْمُ ثَلاَثَةِ أَيَّامٍ صَوْمُ الدَّهْرِ كُلِّهِ

“Fasting three day every month is the same as fasting for a year.” (Hadith Al-Bukhari no. 1979)

3. Getting two happiness

People who do ayyamul bidh fasting will get two happiness as Allah has promised. From Abu Hurairah that said, the Prophet shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam once said:

“Every Bani Adam deed is multiplied, one kindness with ten kindness until seven hundred times. Allah subhana hua ta’ala said, “Except fasting, he is for Me and I Am who rewards it. He left his lust and food for Me.” Fasting people have two happiness. Happiness when breaking time and happiness when meeting Rabb. Indeed the smell of people’s mouth who are fasting is more fragrant on the side of Allah than kasturi oil.” (Hadith Abu Hurairah)

4. Getting a special door in heaven

People who like to do fasting, including ayyamul bidh fasting, will get a special entrance in heaven. They will enter heaven through a door that can only passed by people who like fasting.

The Prophet said,

إن في الجنة بابًا يقال له: الريان، يدخل منه الصائمون يوم القيامة لا يدخل منه أحد غيرهم. يقال: أين الصائمون؟ فيقومون لا يدخل منه أحد غيرهم، فإذا دخلوا أغلق فلم يدخل منه أحد

“Indeed in heaven, there is a door that is called “Ar Rayyan” that will be entered by people who often do fasting later on the doomsday, will not enter from the door except people who like fasting. It is said: Which people are fasting? Then they stand up and will not enter through the door except them, if they have entered, then the door is closed so that no one enters through it again.” (Hadith Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

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5. Getting forgiveness

Ayyamul bidh fasting not only gives a reward to those who do it, but also all sins will be forgiven.  This is in accordance with the promise of Allah in Qur’an,

إِنَّ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَالْمُسْلِمَاتِ وَالْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ وَالْقَانِتِينَ وَالْقَانِتَاتِ وَالصَّادِقِينَ وَالصَّادِقَاتِ وَالصَّابِرِينَ وَالصَّابِرَاتِ وَالْخَاشِعِينَ وَالْخَاشِعَاتِ وَالْمُتَصَدِّقِينَ وَالْمُتَصَدِّقَاتِ وَالصَّائِمِينَ وَالصَّائِمَاتِ وَالْحَافِظِينَ فُرُوجَهُمْ وَالْحَافِظَاتِ وَالذَّاكِرِينَ اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا وَالذَّاكِرَاتِ أَعَدَّ اللَّهُ لَهُمْ مَغْفِرَةً وَأَجْرًا عَظِيمًا

“Indeed the Muslim men and Muslim women, the believing men and believing women, the obedient men and obedient women, the men and women who are right (their faith), and the men and women who are patient (their obedience), and the men and women who are solemn, and the man and women who give alms, and the men and women who do fasting, and the man and women who keep their honor (their lust), and the men and women who remember Allah a lot, Allah has prepared for them forgiveness and a great reward.” (Al-Ahzab: 35)

6. Keeping yourself from immorality

Ayyamul bidh fasting will also protect us from other immoral acts, especially adultery. Therefore, those who have not married are highly recommended to do this sunnah fasting as a self-control.

The Prophet shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said,

يَامَعْشَرَالشَبَابِ مَنْ اسْتَطَاعَ مِنْكُمُ الْبَاءَةَ فَلْيَتَزَوَّجْ فَإِنَّهُ أَغَضُّ لِلْبَصَرِ وَأَحْصَنُ لِلْفَرْجِ وَمَنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَعَلَيْهِ بِالصَّوْمِ فَإِنَّهُ لَهُ وِجَاءٌ

“O all youngsters, whoever among you has been able to ba’ah[3] should get married, because marriage is more look down, and more respectful. Whoever has not been able to get married should fasting because fasting is wijaa’ (the lust breaker) for them.” (Hadith Al-Bukhari 4/106 and Muslim no. 1400 from Ibnu Mas’ud)

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7. Keeping away from hell

Ayyamul bidh fasting will also keep us away from hell. This is because ayyamul bidh fasting keeps us away from doing sins and makes us get a great reward.

The Prophet shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam,

مَا مِنْ عَبْدٍ يَصُوْمُ يَوْمًا فِي سَبِيْلِ اللَّهِ إِلاَّبَاعَدَ اللَّهُ بَذَلِكَ وَجْهَهُ عَنِ النَّارِ سَبْعِيْنَ خَرِيْفًا

“There is no servant who is fasting in the way of Allah except Allah will keep him away (because of his fasting) from hell as far as seventy seasons.” (Hadith Al-Bukhari 6/35), Muslim 1153 from Abu Sa’id Al-Khudry, this is the lafadz of Muslim, the words of the Prophet: “70 seasons” that is: 70-year journey, as it is said in Fathul Bari 6/48)

Those were 7 functions of ayyamul bidh fasting in Islam that are very good to do routinely. That is all for this brief article. Hopefully we belong to people who can often do this sunnah of the Prophet and is in the line of pious people. Aamiin.