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White days: fasting the 13th, 14th and 15th of the lunar month
Fasting the white days each month is like fasting the whole year. A simple sunnah practised by the Prophet ﷺ.
The upcoming white days
| Hijri month | Approximate dates |
|---|---|
| Jumada al-Akhirah 1448 | Around 22, 23 and 24 November 2026 |
| Rajab 1448 | Around 22, 23 and 24 December 2026 |
| Sha‘ban 1448 | Around 20, 21 and 22 January 2027 |
| Shawwal 1448 | Around 21, 22 and 23 March 2027 (Ramadan is fasted in full) |
Calculated dates, to within a day depending on the moon sighting. See the Hijri calendar for the current month.
How to fast the white days
- Eat suhoor before dawn: “Take suhoor, for in it there is blessing” (Sahih al-Bukhari, 1923).
- Make the intention to fast for Allah.
- Stop eating and drinking from dawn (fajr) until sunset.
- Break the fast at maghrib with dates or water, and say the dua for breaking the fast.
Other recommended fasts
| Fast | Virtue |
|---|---|
| Monday and Thursday | Deeds are presented to Allah on these days (At-Tirmidhi, 747) |
| Day of Arafah | Expiates the sins of two years (Sahih Muslim, 1162); see Eid al-Adha |
| Ashura | Expiates the sins of the past year (Sahih Muslim, 1162) |
| Six days of Shawwal | With Ramadan, like a year of fasting (Sahih Muslim, 1164) |
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You may be wondering…
What are the white days?
They are the 13th, 14th and 15th days of each month of the Hijri calendar. They are called “white” (bid) because their nights are lit by the full moon. Abu Dharr reported: “The Prophet ﷺ ordered us to fast three days each month: the white days, the 13th, 14th and 15th” (An-Nasa’i, 2422).
What is the virtue of fasting the white days?
Fasting three days a month equals fasting the whole year, because each good deed is worth ten times its value (Sahih al-Bukhari, 1979). It is one of the three pieces of advice the Prophet ﷺ gave Abu Hurayrah (Sahih al-Bukhari, 1981).
Can the white days be fasted in Dhul-Hijjah?
The 13th of Dhul-Hijjah is one of the days of tashriq, on which fasting is forbidden (Sahih Muslim, 1141). That month, fast the 14th and 15th, or three other days.
Must the intention be made the night before?
For a voluntary fast, the intention may be made the same morning, if you have not eaten or drunk since dawn (Sahih Muslim, 1154). For an obligatory fast, the intention is made at night.
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