22/75. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 2386 — Fasting Three Days Monthly
Fasting for two thirds of one's lifetime
Three Days Monthly Fasting and Purity of the Heart
Sunan an-Nasai : 2386
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 2386
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْعَلاَءِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ، عَنْ أَبِي عَمَّارٍ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ شُرَحْبِيلَ، قَالَ أَتَى رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَا تَقُولُ فِي رَجُلٍ صَامَ الدَّهْرَ كُلَّهُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " وَدِدْتُ أَنَّهُ لَمْ يَطْعَمِ الدَّهْرَ شَيْئًا " . قَالَ فَثُلُثَيْهِ قَالَ " أَكْثَرَ " . قَالَ فَنِصْفَهُ قَالَ " أَكْثَرَ " . قَالَ " أَفَلاَ أُخْبِرُكُمْ بِمَا يُذْهِبُ وَحَرَ الصَّدْرِ " . قَالُوا بَلَى . قَالَ " صِيَامُ ثَلاَثَةِ أَيَّامٍ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ " .
'Amr bin Shurahbil Narrated from:
A man came to the Messenger of Allah and said: 'O Messenger of Allah, what do you say about a man who fasted for the rest of his life?' The Messenger of Allah said: 'I wish that he would never eat for the rest of his life.' He said: 'Two-thirds ( of a lifetime)?' he said: 'That is too much.' He said: 'Half?' He said: 'Shall I not tell you of that which will take away impurity from the heart?' He said: 'Yes.' He said: 'Fasting for three days each month.' 'Ata said: "someone who heard him told me that Ibn 'Umar (said) that the Prophet said: 'Whoever fasts every day of his life, then he has not fasted."
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 2386In-book reference : Book 22, Hadith 297English translation : Vol. 3, Book 22, Hadith 2388
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 2386
This narration again discusses a man who asked about fasting for the rest of his life. The Prophet answered in strong words, then the question moved to fasting two-thirds of a lifetime and half of it. Both were treated as too much in the flow of the report. The Prophet then asked if he should tell them what takes away impurity from the heart, and he said it is fasting three days each month. This hadith about three days monthly fasting is very practical. It teaches that a smaller act, done in the way the Prophet pointed to, can carry deep value. It also keeps a person from treating worship as a test of how much strain he can bear.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet redirected the question from excess to a balanced practice.
- Three days of fasting each month are linked to removing heart impurity.
- The text warns against turning fasting into constant strain.
- Spiritual benefit is tied to following the Prophet’s instruction.
