الحمد لله نحمده ونستعينة ونستغفره، ونعوذ بالله من شرور أنفسنا، ومن سيئات أعمالنا ، وأشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له ، وأشهد أن سيدنا محمداً عبده ورسوله ، اللهم صلِّ وسلم وبارك على سيدنا محمد وعلى آله وأصحابه  ومن تبعه إلى يوم الدين

There are certain numbers that appear to have significance in almost all religions, and one of these number is number 3.  For many religions, this number created major confusion that caused changing the fundamental message of all Messengers which is the belief in one God. Allah says:

وَمَآ أَرۡسَلۡنَا مِن قَبۡلِكَ مِن رَّسُولٍ إِلَّا نُوحِىٓ إِلَيۡهِ أَنَّهُ ۥ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنَا۟ فَٱعۡبُدُونِ (٢٥)

“And We sent no messenger before you, but We revealed to him that there is no God but I, so worship Me.” (Al-Anbia 21:25)

Sometimes, it is hard to understand the cause of the confusion in some religions since their text includes many verses that clearly state that God is one. As example in the Bible, there are several verses that without a doubt state that God is One. As examples:

“Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! (Deuteronomy 6:4) 

Jesus answered, “The foremost is, ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is one Lord. (Mark 12:29)

The scribe said to Him, “Right, Teacher; You have truly stated that He is One, and there is no one else besides Him. (Mark 12:33) 

When we examine the Quran and the sayings (hadith) of the Prophet (PBUH), we note that number 3 is frequently mentioned and thus it seems to have significance. 

Number 3 came in the Quran 19 times in 19 Ayat in 15 Surat.   The derivates of the number 3 also came in the Quran, as example:

• Number 30 came 2 times
• Number 300 came1 time.
• Number 3000 came 1 time
• 2/3 came 2 times
• 1/3 came 3 times

We also note several interesting statistics of the Quran related to the multiples of 3.  As example:

The Quran includes 114 Surat which is 38 multiplied by 3.

The Quran includes 30 parts (أجزاء) which is 10 multiplied by 3

The Quran includes 6237 Ayat which is 703 multiplied by 3 times 3.

The following are some example of verses in the Quran that specify number 3:

1/ Allah says regarding the sign He gave to Prophet Zachariah when he was informed that he will have a son at both his and his wife old age; it was to stop speaking for 3 days:

قَالَ رَبِّ اجْعَلْ لِي آَيَةً قَالَ آَيَتُكَ أَلَّا تُكَلِّمَ النَّاسَ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ إِلَّا رَمْزًا (آل عمران 41)

“He [Zachariah] said ‘O my Lord! Make for me a sign!’ He said: Your sign is that you shall not speak to the people for three days except through gestures.”   (Al-Emran 3:41) 

The same sign was repeated in surah Maryam with an additional information that his not speaking was involuntary.

قَالَ رَبِّ ٱجۡعَل لِّىٓ ءَايَةً۬‌ۚ قَالَ ءَايَتُكَ أَلَّا تُكَلِّمَ ٱلنَّاسَ ثَلَـٰثَ لَيَالٍ۬ سَوِيًّ۬ا (١٠)

“He (Zachariah) said: “My Lord! Make for me a sign.” He said: “Your sign is that you shall not speak to the people for three nights, though you will be sound.” (Maryam 19: 10)

So, his sign was not to speak to the people for 3 days, but this was not voluntarily rather it was involuntary; he just cannot speak although he was sound; meaning that he has no sickness of any form.

2/ For those who cannot afford making an offering during the Hajj, they have to fast three days while they are there:

– فَمَنْ تَمَتَّعَ بِالْعُمْرَةِ إِلَى الْحَجِّ فَمَا اسْتَيْسَرَ مِنَ الْهَدْيِ فَمَنْ لَمْ يَجِدْ فَصِيَامُ فَصِيَامُ ثَلَـٰثَةِ أَيَّامٍ فِى ٱلْحَجِّ وَسَبْعَةٍ إِذَا رَجَعْتُمْ تِلْكَ عَشَرَةٌ كَامِلَةٌ (البقرة 196)

“Whoever takes advantage of the Ummrah with the Hajj shall make an offering of whatever animal he can easily afford; however, he who cannot afford any shall fast for three days during the Hajj and for seven days after your return: they are ten in all.” (Al-Baqara 2:196)

3/ The expiation of an oath (كفارة الحنث باليمين) is fasting 3 days.

لَا يُؤَاخِذُكُمُ ٱللَّهُ بِٱللَّغْوِ فِىٓ أَيْمَـٰنِكُمْ وَلَـٰكِن يُؤَاخِذُكُم بِمَا عَقَّدتُّمُ ٱلْأَيْمَـٰنَ فَكَفَّـٰرَتُهُۥٓ إِطْعَامُ عَشَرَةِ مَسَـٰكِينَ مِنْ أَوْسَطِ مَا تُطْعِمُونَ أَهْلِيكُمْ أَوْ كِسْوَتُهُمْ أَوْ تَحْرِيرُ رَقَبَةٍ فَمَن لَّمْ يَجِدْ فَصِيَامُ ثَلَـٰثَةِ أَيَّامٍ ذَٰلِكَ كَفَّـٰرَةُ أَيْمَـٰنِكُمْ إِذَا حَلَفْتُمْ وَٱحْفَظُوٓا۟ أَيْمَـٰنَكُمْ كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمْ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ (المائدة 89)

“Allah does not hold you accountable for your unintentional oaths, but He will hold you accountable for oaths that you have sworn in earnest, its expiation feeding ten needy persons at an average of what you feed your family with, or by clothing them, or by freeing a slave.  However, if one cannot afford such, he has to fast for three days. This is expiation for the oaths that have sworn. Be mindful of your oaths!’  That is how Allah makes His revelation clear to you, so that you may be grateful.” (Al-Maeda 5:89)

4/ The divorced women cannot marry except after three monthly courses

وَالْمُطَلَّقَاتُ يَتَرَبَّصْنَ بِأَنْفُسِهِنَّ ثَلَاثَةَ قُرُوءٍ (البقرة 228)

“And the divorced women shall wait (without remarrying) for three (monthly) courses:” (Al-Baqara 2:228)

5/ After 3 announcements of divorce, the divorce is final, and the woman must marry someone else before she can remarry her first husband.

الطَّلَاقُ مَرَّتَانِ فَإِمْسَاكٌ بِمَعْرُوفٍ أَوْ تَسْرِيحٌ بِإِحْسَانٍ (229)……

“Divorce is pronounced twice and then to return in all fairness ….” (Al-Baqara 2:229)

فَإِنْ طَلَّقَهَا فَلَا تَحِلُّ لَهُ مِنْ بَعْدُ حَتَّى تَنْكِحَ زَوْجًا غَيْرَهُ فَإِنْ طَلَّقَهَا فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِمَا أَنْ يَتَرَاجَعَا إِنْ ظَنَّا أَنْ يُقِيمَا حُدُودَ اللَّهِ (230) (البقرة 230)

“And if he divorces her (the third time), she is not lawful for him unless she marries another man.  Should he too divorce her, it is no sin for them that they return to each other, if they are able to observe the limits set by Allah”. (Al-Baqara 2:230) 

6/ Prophet Saleh gave a 3-day warning to his people before their destruction after they slaughtered the she-camel

وَيَـٰقَوۡمِ هَـٰذِهِۦ نَاقَةُ ٱللَّهِ لَڪُمۡ ءَايَةً۬ فَذَرُوهَا تَأۡڪُلۡ فِىٓ أَرۡضِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا تَمَسُّوهَا بِسُوٓءٍ۬ فَيَأۡخُذَكُمۡ عَذَابٌ۬ قَرِيبٌ۬ (٦٤) فَعَقَرُوهَا فَقَالَ تَمَتَّعُواْ فِى دَارِڪُمۡ ثَلَـٰثَةَ أَيَّامٍ۬‌ۖ ذَٲلِكَ وَعۡدٌ غَيۡرُ مَكۡذُوبٍ۬ (هود)

‘’ O my people! this she-camel of Allah, it is a sign to you, leave her free to eat in in the land of Allah and do not touch her with evil, lest a near punishment should seize you.” (64) But they killed her. So, he said: “Enjoy yourselves in your homes for three days. This is a promise that will not be belied.” (Hud 11:64-65) 

7/ We are protected in our mothers’ wombs with 3 veils.

يَخۡلُقُكُمۡ فِى بُطُونِ أُمَّهَـٰتِڪُمۡ خَلۡقً۬ا مِّنۢ بَعۡدِ خَلۡقٍ۬ فِى ظُلُمَـٰتٍ۬ ثَلَـٰثٍ۬‌ۚ ذَٲلِكُمُ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّكُمۡ لَهُ ٱلۡمُلۡكُ‌ۖ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ‌ۖ فَأَنَّىٰ تُصۡرَفُونَ (٦)

“He creates you in the wombs of your mothers, creation after creation in three veils of darkness, such is Allah your Lord. His is the kingdom. There is no God but He. To where are you turning away?” (Al-Zumur 39:6)

8/ We have 3 periods of full privacy in our homes

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لِيَسۡتَـٔۡذِنكُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ مَلَكَتۡ أَيۡمَـٰنُكُمۡ وَٱلَّذِينَ لَمۡ يَبۡلُغُواْ ٱلۡحُلُمَ مِنكُمۡ ثَلَـٰثَ مَرَّٲتٍ۬‌ۚ مِّن قَبۡلِ صَلَوٰةِ ٱلۡفَجۡرِ وَحِينَ تَضَعُونَ ثِيَابَكُم مِّنَ ٱلظَّهِيرَةِ وَمِنۢ بَعۡدِ صَلَوٰةِ ٱلۡعِشَآءِ‌ۚ ثَلَـٰثُ عَوۡرَٲتٍ۬ لَّكُمۡ‌ۚ لَيۡسَ عَلَيۡكُمۡ وَلَا عَلَيۡهِمۡ جُنَاحُۢ بَعۡدَهُنَّ‌ۚ

“O you who believe! Let those whom your hands possess, and the children among you who have not come to the age of puberty ask your permission (before entering in your room) on three occasions; before Fajr prayer, and while you take off your clothes at noon, and after the ‘Ishâ’ prayer. (These) three times are of privacy for you, other than these times there is no harm on you or on them.” (Al-Noor 24: 58)

These are example for few verses in the Quran where the number 3 has been specified.  Also, many of the sayings of the Prophet (PBUH) specify the number 3. 

As examples of hadith that specified number 3:

1/ Three things make the person feels the sweetness of Eman.  The Prophet (ﷺ) said:

عن أنس بن مالك رضي الله عنه عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال ثلاث من كن فيه وجد حلاوة الإيمان أن يكون الله ورسوله أحب إليه مما سواهما وأن يحب المرء لا يحبه إلا لله وأن يكره أن يعود في الكفر كما يكره أن يقذف في النار  )البخاري(

 “Whoever possesses the following three qualities will have the sweetness of Eman: 1) that Allah and His Messenger are dearer to him than anything else., 2) that he loves a person, and he does not love him except for Allah’s sake.2) that he hates to revert to Atheism (disbelief) as he hates to be thrown into the fire. (Bukhari)

2/ Three things that confirm hypocrisy; The Prophet (PBUH) said:

عن عبد الله بن عمرو قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ثلاث إذا كن في الرجل فهو المنافق الخالص إن حدث كذب وإن وعد أخلف وإن اؤتمن خان 0مسند الإمام أحمد(

Anyone who has these three traits is a hypocrite: 1) Whenever he speaks, he lies. 2) whenever he makes a promise, he does not fulfill it, and 3) Whenever he is entrusted, he breaks the trust.

3/ Three Things that prevent a person from entering in Hell.   The Messenger (ﷺ) said

عن أنس بن مالك – قال : سمعت رسول الله – صلى الله عليه وسلم – يقول : ” ثلاث من كن فيه حرم على النار وحرمت النار عليه : إيمان بالله ، وحب الله – تبارك وتعالى – وأن يلقى في النار فيحترق أحب إليه من أن يرجع إلى الكفر ” . )رواه أحمد(

Whoever has these three traits won’t burn in Hell: 1) Belief in Allah, 2) Loves Allah, and 3) Being thrown into the fire and burnt is more beloved to him than to disbelief.

4/ Allah is pleased with 3 things, and He hates 3 things from you.  The Messenger of Allah [ ﷺ], said,

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ: أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ: إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَرْضَى لَكُمْ ثَلاثًا، وَيَسْخَطُ لَكُمْ ثَلاثًا، يَرْضَى لَكُمْ أَنْ تَعْبُدُوهُ وَلا تُشْرِكُوا بِهِ شَيْئًا، وَأَنْ تَعْتَصِمُوا بِحَبْلِ اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا، وَأَنْ تُنَاصِحُوا مَنْ وَلَّى اللَّهُ أَمْرَكُمْ، وَيَسْخَطُ لَكُمْ: قِيلَ وَقَالَ، وَإِضَاعَةَ الْمَالِ، وَكَثْرَةَ السُّؤَالِ. ) مُسْلِمٌ(

“Allah is pleased with three things from you, and He is hates three things from you. He is pleased that: 1) you worship Him and do not associate anything with Him, 2) that you, all together, take hold of the rope of Allah, and 3) that you give good counsel to the one to whom Allah gives command over you.

He is angry with you for 1) gossiping, 2) wasting your money, and 3) asking too many questions. 

5/ There are 3 kinds of Judges. The Prophet (ﷺ) said:

 عَنْ بُرَيْدَةَ  قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: الْقُضَاةُ ثَلَاثَةٌ: اثْنَانِ فِي النَّارِ، وَوَاحِدٌ فِي الْجَنَّةِ: رَجُلٌ عَرَفَ الْحَقَّ فَقَضَى بِهِ، فَهُوَ فِي الْجَنَّةِ، وَرَجُلٌ عَرَفَ الْحَقَّ فَلَمْ يَقْضِ بِهِ، وَجَارَ فِي الْحُكْمِ، فَهُوَ فِي النَّارِ، وَرَجُلٌ لَمْ يَعْرِفِ الْحَقَّ، فَقَضَى لِلنَّاسِ عَلَى جَهْلٍ، فَهُوَ فِي النَّارِ. )رَوَاهُ الْأَرْبَعَةُ،(

The judges are three: Two judges are in the Fire, and a judge in Paradise. 1) A man who judges without the truth, and he knows that. This one is in the Fire. 2) A judge who judges while not knowing and thus ruins the rights of the people. He is in the Fire. 3) A judge who judges with the truth, that is the one in Paradise. “

6/ The 3 requests that the Prophet (PBUH) asked for.  The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:

عن عامر بن سعد، عن أبيه، أن رسول قَالَ صلى الله عليه وسلم‏”‏ سَأَلْتُ رَبِّي ثَلاَثًا فَأَعْطَانِي ثِنْتَيْنِ وَمَنَعَنِي وَاحِدَةً سَأَلْتُ رَبِّي أَنْ لاَ يُهْلِكَ أُمَّتِي بِالسَّنَةِ فَأَعْطَانِيهَا وَسَأَلْتُهُ أَنْ لاَ يُهْلِكَ أُمَّتِي بِالْغَرَقِ فَأَعْطَانِيهَا وَسَأَلْتُهُ أَنْ لاَ يَجْعَلَ بَأْسَهُمْ بَيْنَهُمْ فَمَنَعَنِيهَا ‏”‏ ‏. أخرجه مسلم

“I asked my Lord three things, and He has granted me two and withheld one. I asked my Lord that my nation should not be destroyed because of famine, and He granted me this. And I asked Him that my nation should not be destroyed by drowning (by deluge) and He granted me this. And I asked Him that there will be no transgression between them., but He did not grant it.

7/ There are only three Masjids that you are allowed to make a special trip to pray in them.  The Prophet (PBUH) said:

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ: أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ (لا تشد الرحال إلا إلى ثلاثة مساجد: المسجد الحرام، ومسجد الرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم، ومسجد الأقصى). صحيح مسلم

“Only three masjids you can take a special trip to visit (for prayers): the Sacred Mosque of Makkah, this mosque of mine (in Madinah), and Al-Aqsa Mosque (in Jerusalem).” (Bukhari and Muslim).

8/ The 3 person whose actions are not recorded.  The Prophet (PBUH) said:

عَنْ عَلِيٍّ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ رُفِعَ الْقَلَمُ عَنْ ثَلَاثَةٍ عَنْ النَّائِمِ حَتَّى يَسْتَيْقِظَ وَعَنْ الصَّبِيِّ حَتَّى يَشِبَّ وَعَنْ الْمَعْتُوهِ حَتَّى يَعْقِلَ – صحيح البخارى

“There are three (persons) whose actions are not recorded: the sleeper until he awakes, the boy till he reaches puberty, and the insane until he comes to reason,

9/ The 3 things that follow the deceased.  The Messenger of Allah said:

عن أنس  عن رسولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ: يتْبعُ الميْتَ ثلاثَةٌ: أهلُهُ ومالُه وعمَلُه، فيرْجِع اثنانِ ويبْقَى واحِدٌ: يرجعُ أهلُهُ ومالُهُ، ويبقَى عملُهُ )متفقٌ عَلَيهِ(. ‏”

“The dead person is followed by three: His family, his wealth and his deeds. Two of them return: his family and his wealth, and only one remains, his deeds. “[8]

 10/ There are 3 forms of legacy for a person.  The Prophet ({BUH) said:

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ إِذَا مَاتَ الْإِنْسَانُ انْقَطَعَ عَنْهُ عَمَلُهُ إِلَّا مِنْ ثَلَاثَةٍ إِلَّا مِنْ صَدَقَةٍ جَارِيَةٍ أَوْ عِلْمٍ يُنْتَفَعُ بِهِ أَوْ وَلَدٍ صَالِحٍ يَدْعُو لَهُ )مسلم(

When the person dies, his deeds end except for three: ongoing charity, beneficial knowledge, or a righteous child who prays for him.” (Muslim)

All what we have heard so far are revelations that involve the number 3.  They address certain legal rules, encouragements, and warnings.   But none of this impacts the key article of belief in the oneness of Allah.   However, it is unfortunate that this number 3 created confusion in the doctrine of several religions.  Allah provided a general warning for all those who suggest there are three gods by saying:

لَّقَدْ كَفَرَ ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ ثَالِثُ ثَلَـٰثَةٍ وَمَا مِنْ إِلَـٰهٍ إِلَّآ إِلَـٰهٌ وَٰحِدٌ وَإِن لَّمْ يَنتَهُوا۟ عَمَّا يَقُولُونَ لَيَمَسَّنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ مِنْهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ

“Indeed, the disbelievers are those who say, ‘Allah is the third of three’ – while there is no god but One God.  If they do not desist from what they say, a painful punishment shall certainly befall such disbelievers.” (Al-Maeda 5:73)

While we may think that only Christians believe in the trinity, this belief exists in several other traditions.

The Greek Mythology suggests three gods: 1) Zeus – ruler of the sky, 2) Poseidon – ruler of the sea, and 3) Hades – ruler of the underworld

The Roman Mythology suggests three equivalent gods: Jupiter, Neptune, and Pluto.

The same concept is in Hinduism, they believe in three gods: Brahma is the Creator, Vishnu is the Preserver, and Mahesh/shive is the Destroyer.  They believe that Lord Mahesh, the third divine godhead in the Trinity, is the supreme and has ultimate power.

While there no three gods in the Jewish tradition, but number 3 is considered important.    In the Jewish tradition of the Kabbalah, it is believed that the soul consists of three parts, with the highest being neshamah (“breath”), the middle being ruach (“wind” or “spirit”) and the lowest being nefesh (“repose”). 

It interesting and may be even unfortunate, that even Muslim scholars were not immune from introducing number 3 in the belief of Muslims including the corner stone of Islam which is Tawheed (Monotheism), Oneness of Allah.  They proposed that the concept of Tawhid involves 3 elements:

1. Tawheed al-Ruboobeeyah (توحيد الربوبية) (The unity of Lordship over all creations)
2. Tawheed al-Uluhiah (وتوحيد الألوهية) (The unity of Godship or Unity of worship).
3. Tawheed al-Asmaa-was-sifaat (توحيد الأسماء والصفات) (The unity of Allah’s name and attributes).

Keep in mind that the Prophet (PBUH) never made this distinction, and this was merely an effort by some scholars, mainly ibn Taymiyyah  (born in 661 H) to explain the concept of Tawhid.  Although this appears to be an innocent explanation of the concept of Tawheed, division occurred among Muslim scholars regarding making such divisions.

In addition, Muslim scholars have also given significance to number three by classifying Allah’s glorious names is 3 categories.  

1. Perfection attributes (صفات الكمال) such as The Creator (الخالق), The Provider (الرزاق) the eternal (الصمد) The First, The Last,
2. Majestic and imposing attributes (صفات الجلال) such as Compeller (الجبار) and the Avenger (المنتقم)
3. Magnificent and Beautiful attributes (صفات الجمال) such as the Merciful (الرحمن), the Forgiver (الغفار), The Gentle (اللطيف)

While number 3 appears to be important for certain legal rulings, its real danger arises when it creeps in the pure belief in Allah.  Therefore, we should only keep its relevance to elements of guidance as we quoted from the Quran and the hadith that mentioned the number.  

In Islam, accomplishing certain tasks in odd numbers is preferred and the first odd number after 1 is 3.

It is interesting to note that number 3 surrounds us and serves as important part in our lives: As examples:

• The first number that denotes summation is number 3, it is the summation of 1 plus 2.
• We establish the location of any point in the space by 3 dimensions.
• Time passes through 3 stages: past, present, and future
• Three is the first number that forms a geometrical figure: the triangle.
• Water is the source of all lives is formed of 3 atoms, two hydron and one oxygen (H₂O)
• There are three key components of each atom, electron, proton, and neutron.
• There are three valence quarks: in a Proton: two up quarks and one down quark,
• All matters have 3 forms: gas, liquid, and solids.
• There are three primary colors: red, yellow, and blue and the other colors come by mixing them.

We pray to Allah to give us the wisdom to appreciate the relevance of number 3 in nature and some Islamic rulings and protect us from confusing our basic belief with this number and cleanse the heart of those who are confused to return to the pure belief in Allah

DUA