Chapter on Fasting Three Days in Every Month and What Has Come Concerning That

Muhammad ibn Yaqub, from al-Husayn ibn Muhammad, from Mualla ibn Muhammad, from al-Washsha, from Hammad ibn Uthman, from Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him, who said: I heard Imam عليه السلام saying: “The Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, may Allah سبحانه وتعالى bless him and his family, fasted until it was said: 'he does not break the fast; (meaning that the blessed Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم is always fasting) Then the Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم broke the fast until it was said: ‘he does not fast’; (meaning that the blessed Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم does not fast at all) Then the Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم fasted the fast of Dawud عليه السلام, peace be upon him; one day and one day not; Then the Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم, peace be upon him, was taken (died) while upon fasting three days in the month.” And the Imam عليه السلام said: “(fasting three days in a month) equal the fasting of the lifetime, and they remove the rancor (wahar) of the chest.” Hammad said: “So I asked: What is al-wahar?” Imam عليه السلام said: “Al-wahar is whispering (al-waswasah).” Hammad said: “So I asked: ‘Which days are they?’” Imam عليه السلام said: “The first Thursday in the month, and the first Wednesday after the tenth (of the month), and the last Thursday in it.” So I (narrator) replied: “Why did these become the days that are fasted?” Imam عليه السلام said: “Indeed, those before us from the nations, when punishment descended upon one of them, it descended on these feared days.”