My close friend (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) advised me with three: fasting three days of every month, the two Rak‘ahs of Duha, and performing Witr before I sleep

Chapter: To fast the 13th, 14th and 15th of the lunar months.

Authentic hadith of Sahih al-Bukhari Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih al-Bukhari 1981

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مَعْمَرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَارِثِ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو التَّيَّاحِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو عُثْمَانَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ أَوْصَانِي خَلِيلِي صلى الله عليه وسلم بِثَلاَثٍ

صِيَامِ ثَلاَثَةِ أَيَّامٍ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ، وَرَكْعَتَىِ الضُّحَى، وَأَنْ أُوتِرَ قَبْلَ أَنْ أَنَامَ‏.‏

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported:

My close friend (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) advised me with three: fasting three days of every month, the two Rak‘ahs of Duha, and performing Witr before I sleep."

Reported by Al-Bukhari (No. 1981, 1178), Muslim (No. 721a, 721c), Abu Dawud (No. 1432), At-Tirmidhi (No. 760), An-Nasa’i (No. 1677, 2369, 2405, 2406, 2407), Ahmad (No. 6841, 6883, 7147, 7199, 7222, 7278, 7279, 7347) and Ad-Darimi (No. 1418, 1681).

Explanation

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) informs that his beloved friend and companion (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) advised and entrusted him with three things:

First: Fasting three days of every month.

Second: Performing the two Rak‘ahs (unit of prayer) of Duha (forenoon prayer) daily.

Third: Performing Witr before sleeping for whoever fears not waking up at the end of the night.

Lessons

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) gave his Companions different pieces of advice based on his knowledge of their conditions and what suits each of them, as Jihad is suitable for the strong one, worship is suitable for the devoted worshipper, knowledge is suitable for the knowledgeable, and so on.
Ibn Hajar al-‘Asqalāni said about his statement: (fasting three days of every month); this apparently refers to the White Days, namely the 13th, 14th, and 15th of the Hijri month.
Ibn Hajar al-‘Asqalāni said: It signifies that it is recommended to pray Witr before sleep for the one who is not confident about waking up.
The importance of these three deeds, given the fact that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), advised a number of his Companions to observe them.
Ibn Daqīq al-‘Eid said about his statement: (the two Rak‘ahs of Duha): Perhaps he mentioned the minimum with which the deed is confirmed, and this indicates that the Duha prayer is recommended and that its minimum number of Rak‘ahs is two.
Time of the Duha prayer: It starts almost 15 minutes after sunrise, and its time extends to almost 10 minutes before noon. Its number: Its minimum number of Rak‘ahs is two; however, there is a difference in opinion regarding the maximum; it is said: eight Rak‘ahs, and it is said: Its maximum has no limit.
Time of Witr: It starts right after the ‘Ishā’ prayer until the break of dawn. Its minimum number of Rak‘ahs is one, and the maximum is eleven Rak‘ahs.

Explanation in Arabic

يُخْبِرُ أبو هريرةَ رضي الله عنه أنَّ حبيبَه وصاحبَه النبيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أوصاه وعَهِدَ إليه بثلاث خصالٍ:

الأولى: صوم ثلاثة أيام من كل شهر.

الثانية: ركعتي الضُّحَى كل يوم.

الثالثة: الوِتْر قبل النوم؛ وذلك لِمَن خاف أن لا يَستيقظ آخر الليل.

اختلاف وصايا النبيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم لأصحابه: مَبنيٌّ على عِلْمِه صلى الله عليه وسلم بأحوال أصحابه، وما يُناسِب كلَّ واحد منهم، فالقوي يُناسبه الجهاد، والعابد تُناسبه العبادة، والعالِم يُناسبه العِلْم، وهكذا.
قال ابن حجر العسقلاني في قوله: صوم ثلاثة أيام من كل شهر، الذي يظهر أن المراد بها البِيْض؛ وهي: يوم الثالث عشر، والرابع عشر، والخامس عشر، من الشهر الهجري.
قال ابن حجر العسقلاني: فيه استحباب تقديم الوتر على النوم، وذلك في حقِّ مَن لم يَثِق بالاستيقاظ.
أهمية هذه الأعمال الثلاثة؛ لوصية النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم عَدَدًا من أصحابه بها.
قال ابن دقيق العيد في قوله: (وركعتي الضحى): لعلّه ذَكَر الأقَلَّ الذي يوجد التأكيد بفعله، وفي هذا دلالة على استحباب صلاة الضحى، وأنَّ أقلها ركعتان.
وقت صلاة الضحى: من بعد شروق الشمس بربع ساعة تقريبًا، ويَمتَد وقتُها إلى ما قبل الظهر بعشر دقائق تقريبًا، وعددها: أقلها ركعتان، واختُلف في أكثرها؛ فقيل: ثماني ركعات، وقيل: لا حد لأكثرها.
وقت الوتر: من بعد صلاة العشاء إلى طلوع الفجر، وأقله ركعة، وأكثره إحدى عشرة ركعة.

Classical commentary

Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani — Fath al-Bari

قَوْله : ( حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مَعْمَرٍ ) هُوَ عَبْد اللَّه بْن عَمْرو , وَالْإِسْنَاد كُلُّهُ بَصْرِيُّونَ وَأَبُو عُثْمَان هُوَ النَّهْدِيُّ , وَقَدْ رَوَى عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَة جَمَاعَةٌ كُلٌّ مِنْهُمْ أَبُو عُثْمَان , لَكِنْ لَمْ يَقَع فِي الْبُخَارِيّ حَدِيثٌ مَوْصُولٌ مِنْ رِوَايَة أَبِي عُثْمَان عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَة إِلَّا مِنْ رِوَايَة النَّهْدِيِّ , وَلَيْسَ لَهُ عِنْد الْبُخَارِيّ سِوَى هَذَا وَآخَرُ فِي الْأَطْعِمَةِ , وَوَقَعَ عِنْد مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ شَيْبَانَ عَنْ عَبْد الْوَارِث بِهَذَا الْإِسْنَاد فَقَالَ فِيهِ " حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو عُثْمَان النَّهْدِيُّ " وَتَقَدَّمَ هَذَا الْحَدِيث فِي أَبْوَاب التَّطَوُّع مِنْ طَرِيقٍ أُخْرَى عَنْ أَبِي عُثْمَان النَّهْدِيِّ , وَقَدْ تَقَدَّمَ الْكَلَ…

Scholar	Grade	Applies to	Work
Al-Bukharid. 256 AH	Authenticصحيح	The hadith	صحيح البخاري No. 1981

Grades of other versions (2)

Al-Baghawi صح مثله عن أبي الدرداء، عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم — شرح السنة (2/493)
Al-Daraqutni غريبٌ من حديثه، عَن أبي هريرة لم يروه عنه غير أيوب بن نهيك، تَفَرَّدَ بهِ مبشر بن إسماعيل. — أطراف الغرائب (2/304)

Other versions

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih al-Bukhari 1178

My friend (the Prophet) advised me to do three things and I shall not leave them till I die, these are: To fast three days every month, to offer the Duha prayer, and to offer witr before sleeping.

أَوْصَانِي خَلِيلِي بِثَلاَثٍ لاَ أَدَعُهُنَّ حَتَّى أَمُوتَ صَوْمِ ثَلاَثَةِ أَيَّامٍ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ، وَصَلاَةِ الضُّحَى، وَنَوْمٍ عَلَى وِتْرٍ‏.‏

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih Muslim 721a

three fasts during every month, two rak'ahs of the forenoon prayer, and observing Witr prayer before going to bed.

أَوْصَانِي خَلِيلِي صلى الله عليه وسلم بِثَلاَثٍ بِصِيَامِ ثَلاَثَةِ أَيَّامٍ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ وَرَكْعَتَىِ الضُّحَى وَأَنْ أُوتِرَ قَبْلَ أَنْ أَرْقُدَ ‏

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih Muslim 721c

My friend Abu'l-Qasim (ﷺ) instructed me to do three things, and the rest of the hadith is the same.

وَحَدَّثَنِي سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ مَعْبَدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا مُعَلَّى بْنُ أَسَدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ مُخْتَارٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الدَّانَاجِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو رَافِعٍ الصَّائِغُ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا…

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Differing grades Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sunan Abu Dawud 1432

My friend (i.e. the Prophet) instructed me to observe three practices that I do not leave while traveling nor while resident, to pray two rak`ahs in the forenoon, to fast three days every month and not to sleep but after observing the witr.

أَوْصَانِي خَلِيلِي صلى الله عليه وسلم بِثَلاَثٍ لاَ أَدَعُهُنَّ فِي سَفَرٍ وَلاَ حَضَرٍ رَكْعَتَىِ الضُّحَى وَصَوْمِ ثَلاَثَةِ أَيَّامٍ مِنَ الشَّهْرِ وَأَنْ لاَ أَنَامَ إِلاَّ عَلَى وِتْرٍ ‏.‏

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Jami' at-Tirmidhi 760

"The Messenger of Allah took a covenant from me for three: To not sleep except after performing Witr, to fast three days of every month, and to perform the Duha prayer."

لاَ أَنَامَ إِلاَّ عَلَى وِتْرٍ وَصَوْمَ ثَلاَثَةِ أَيَّامٍ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ وَأَنْ أُصَلِّيَ الضُّحَى ‏.‏

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sunan an-Nasa'i 1677

"My dearest friend advised me (to do) three things: 'To sleep after praying Witr, to fast three days each month, and to pray two rak'ahs of Fajr.'"

النَّوْمِ عَلَى وِتْرٍ وَصِيَامِ ثَلاَثَةِ أَيَّامٍ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ وَرَكْعَتَىِ الضُّحَى ‏.‏

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

See all 39 versions

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sunan an-Nasa'i 2369

"The Messenger of Allah commanded me to pray two Rakahs of Duha, and not to sleep until I had prayed witr, and to fast three days each month."

أَمَرَنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِرَكْعَتَىِ الضُّحَى وَأَنْ لاَ أَنَامَ إِلاَّ عَلَى وِتْرٍ وَصِيَامِ ثَلاَثَةِ أَيَّامٍ مِنَ الشَّهْرِ ‏.‏

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Differing grades Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sunan an-Nasa'i 2405

"The Messenger of Allah enjoyed three things upon me: To sleep after praying Witr, to perform Ghusal on Friday, and to fast three days of each month." (Sahih).

أَمَرَنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِثَلاَثٍ بِنَوْمٍ عَلَى وِتْرٍ وَالْغُسْلِ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ وَصَوْمِ ثَلاَثَةِ أَيَّامٍ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ ‏.‏

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Differing grades Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sunan an-Nasa'i 2406

"The Messenger of Allah commanded me to pray two Rakahs of Duah,nt to sleep until after praying Witr and to fast three days of each month. (Sahih).

أَمَرَنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِرَكْعَتَىِ الضُّحَى وَأَنْ لاَ أَنَامَ إِلاَّ عَلَى وِتْرٍ وَصِيَامِ ثَلاَثَةِ أَيَّامٍ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ ‏.‏

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Differing grades Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sunan an-Nasa'i 2407

"The Messenger of Allah commanded me to sleep after praying Witr, to perform Ghusl on Friday and to fast three days of each month." (Sahih).

أَمَرَنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِنَوْمٍ عَلَى وِتْرٍ وَالْغُسْلِ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ وَصِيَامِ ثَلاَثَةِ أَيَّامٍ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ ‏.‏

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Not graded Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Musnad Ahmad 6841