Is There A Significance In The Numbers ‘3 Days, 40 Days, 4 Months’?

Question: Asalam walikum Mufti Sahib,

Can you tell me if there is any significance in the numbers 3 days  , 40  days and 4months?, because in many Ahadeeth and Quranic text and other religions these numbers are mentioned also .And is there any specific reason why the Tablighi Jamaah choose the numbers Jazak Allah khair.

Answer:Wa Alaikum As Salaam,

There is no special significance in the numbers 3 days, 40 days or 4 months. I do not know of these being mentioned in many Ahadith and Quranic verses. Though these numbers may have been mentioned for certain things, the Prophet (s.a.w) and his beloved companions have not mentioned any significance to these numbers.

For example, it is narrated that the Prophet (s.a.w) used to fast 3 days in every month. This occurred because he loved to fast on the middle days of the month which were 3. These were the 13th, 14th and 15th. Likewise, it is mentioned in another hadith that the Prophet (s.a.w) said, ‘The creation of each of you is brought together in 40 days. And something that clings he becomes, and then a chewed lump for a similar time. The angel is sent to him, and writes four things; his provision, his age, his deeds, and whether he will be wretched or blessed. Then the soul is breathed into him. (Bukhari;Muslim).

Here, in this tradition, the number 40 days has been mentioned, and 120 days have also been mentioned (which is a period of four months). However, these have not been mentioned with a special significance. Instead, it has been stated that the period of 40 days and also 4 months is the amount of time it takes for certain things to be created by Allah (with respect to the birth of a child).
As such, it will not be proper for one to attribute and apply (on his own) any special significance to these numbers when the Shariah itself has not done so.

With respect to why the Tableegh Jamaah has chosen these numbers, this is one which the early responsible scholars of the Jamaah have devised in accordance to their understanding, and what they see may be beneficial for those who take part in going out in Jamaah. These numbers were not adopted on account of any significance or reason in the Shariah.

And Allah Knows Best.

Mufti Waseem Khan.

21/10/2014