How do you fast? The Messenger of Allah ﷺ felt annoyed. When 'Umar (Allah be pleased with him) noticed his annoyance, he said: We are well pleased with Allah as our Lord, with Islam as our code of life, and with Muhammad as our Prophet. We seek refuge with Allah from the anger of Allah and that of His Messenger. 'Umar kept on repeating these words till his (the Prophet's) anger calmed down. Then Umar said: Messenger of Allah, what is the position of one who fasts perpetually? He ﷺ said: He neither fasted nor broke it, or he said: He did not fast and he did not break it. 'Umar said: What about him who fasts for two days and does not fast one day? He ﷺ said: Is anyone capable of doing that? He ('Umar) said: What is the position of him who fasts for a day and doesn't fast on the other day? Thereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: That is the fast of David (peace be upon him). He ('Umar) said: What about him who fasts one day and doesn't fast for two days. Thereupon he (the Messenger of Allah) said: I wish I were given the strength to do that. Thereafter he ﷺ said: Fasting three days every month and that of Ramadan every year is a perpetual fasting. I seek from Allah that fasting on the day of 'Arafa may atone for the sins of the preceding and the coming years, and I seek from Allah that fasting on the day of Ashura may atone for the sins of the preceding year.  

رَجُلٌ أَتَى النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَقَالَ كَيْفَ تَصُومُ فَغَضِبَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَلَمَّا رَأَى عُمَرُ ؓ غَضَبَهُ قَالَ رَضِينَا بِاللَّهِ رَبًّا وَبِالإِسْلاَمِ دِينًا وَبِمُحَمَّدٍ نَبِيًّا نَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ غَضَبِ اللَّهِ وَغَضَبِ رَسُولِهِ فَجَعَلَ عُمَرُ ؓ يُرَدِّدُ هَذَا الْكَلاَمَ حَتَّى سَكَنَ غَضَبُهُ فَقَالَ عُمَرُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ كَيْفَ بِمَنْ يَصُومُ الدَّهْرَ كُلَّهُ قَالَ لاَ صَامَ وَلاَ أَفْطَرَ أَوْ قَالَ لَمْ يَصُمْ وَلَمْ يُفْطِرْ قَالَ كَيْفَ مَنْ يَصُومُ يَوْمَيْنِ وَيُفْطِرُ يَوْمًا قَالَ وَيُطِيقُ ذَلِكَ أَحَدٌ قَالَ كَيْفَ مَنْ يَصُومُ يَوْمًا وَيُفْطِرُ يَوْمًا قَالَ ذَاكَ صَوْمُ دَاوُدَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ قَالَ كَيْفَ مَنْ يَصُومُ يَوْمًا وَيُفْطِرُ يَوْمَيْنِ قَالَ وَدِدْتُ أَنِّي طُوِّقْتُ ذَلِكَ ثُمَّ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ ثَلاَثٌ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ وَرَمَضَانُ إِلَى رَمَضَانَ فَهَذَا صِيَامُ الدَّهْرِ كُلِّهِ صِيَامُ يَوْمِ عَرَفَةَ أَحْتَسِبُ عَلَى اللَّهِ أَنْ يُكَفِّرَ السَّنَةَ الَّتِي قَبْلَهُ وَالسَّنَةَ الَّتِي بَعْدَهُ وَصِيَامُ يَوْمِ عَاشُورَاءَ أَحْتَسِبُ عَلَى اللَّهِ أَنْ يُكَفِّرَ السَّنَةَ الَّتِي قَبْلَهُ  

[Machine] A man asked the Prophet ﷺ about his fasting. He became angry and said, "Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) is satisfied, or he said, 'We are satisfied with Allah as our Lord, Islam as our religion, and Muhammad as our Messenger, and our pledge is a pledge." Then Umar or another man stood up and said, "O Messenger of Allah, there is a man who fasts continuously." He said, "He does not fast nor break his fast. What he fasts and what he breaks his fast with is fasting two days and breaking his fast for one day." He said, "Who can endure that?" He said, "He can break his fast for one day and fast for one day." He said, "I wish Allah would strengthen us for that." He said, "Fasting one day and breaking the fast for one day." He said, "What about the fasting of Monday and Thursday?" He said, "That is a day on which I was born and on which revelation was sent down to me." He said, "Fasting three days of each month and Ramadan to Ramadan is the fasting of the whole year, and its breaking of fast." He said, "What about fasting on the day of Arafah?" He said, "It expiates for the previous and coming year." He said, "What about fasting on the day of Ashura?" He said, "It expiates for the previous year."  

أَنَّ رَجُلًا سَأَلَ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ عَنْ صَوْمِهِ؟ فَغَضِبَ فَقَالَ عُمَرُ رَضِيتُ أَوْ قَالَ رَضِينَا بِاللهِ رَبًّا وَبِالْإِسْلَامِ دِينًا قَالَ وَلَا أَعْلَمُهُ إِلَّا قَدْ قَالَ وَبِمُحَمَّدٍ رَسُولًا وَبَيْعَتِنَا بَيْعَةً قَالَ فَقَامَ عُمَرُ أَوْ رَجُلٌ آخَرُ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ رَجُلٌ صَامَ الْأَبَدَ قَالَ لَا صَامَ وَلَا أَفْطَرَ أَوْ مَا صَامَ وَمَا أَفْطَرَ قَالَ صَوْمُ يَوْمَيْنِ وَإِفْطَارُ يَوْمٍ قَالَ وَمَنْ يُطِيقُ ذَاكَ؟ قَالَ إِفْطَارُ يَوْمَيْنِ وَصَوْمُ يَوْمٍ قَالَ لَيْتَ اللهَ ﷻ قَوَّانَا لِذَلِكَ قَالَ صَوْمُ يَوْمٍ وَإِفْطَارُ يَوْمٍ قَالَ ذَاكَ صَوْمُ أَخِي دَاوُدَ قَالَ صَوْمُ الِاثْنَيْنِ 10 وَالْخَمِيسِ؟ قَالَ ذَاكَ يَوْمٌ وُلِدْتُ فِيهِ وَأُنْزِلَ عَلَيَّ فِيهِ قَالَ صَوْمُ ثَلَاثَةِ أَيَّامٍ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ وَرَمَضَانَ إِلَى رَمَضَانَ صَوْمُ الدَّهْرِ وَإِفْطَارُهُ قَالَ صَوْمُ يَوْمِ عَرَفَةَ؟ قَالَ يُكَفِّرُ السَّنَةَالْمَاضِيَةَ وَالْبَاقِيَةَ قَالَ صَوْمُ يَوْمِ عَاشُورَاءَ؟ قَالَ يُكَفِّرُ السَّنَةَ الْمَاضِيَةَ  

[Machine] A man came to the Prophet ﷺ and said, "O Prophet of Allah, how do you fast?" The Prophet became angry. When Umar saw this, he said, "We are satisfied with Allah as our Lord, Islam as our religion, and Muhammad ﷺ as our Prophet. We seek refuge with Allah from the anger of Allah and the anger of His Messenger." He kept repeating this until the anger of the Prophet subsided. Then he asked, "O Prophet of Allah, how can someone fast for two days and break their fast on one day?" The Prophet asked, "Can anyone endure that?" The man said, "Then how can someone fast for one day and break their fast on another day?" The Prophet said, "That was the fasting of my brother Dawud." The man asked, "Then how about someone who fasts for one day and breaks their fast for two days?" The Prophet said, "I wish I had been spared from that."  

أَنَّ رَجُلًا أَتَى النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَقَالَ يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ كَيْفَ تَصُومُ؟ قَالَ فَغَضِبَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ فَلَمَّا رَأَى ذَلِكَ عُمَرُ قَالَ رَضِينَا بِاللَّهِ رِبًا وَبِالْإِسْلَامِ دَيْنًا وَبِمُحَمَّدٍ ﷺ نَبِيًّا نَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ غَضِبِ اللَّهِ وَغَضِبِ رَسُولِهِ وَجَعَلَ يُرَدِّدُهَا حَتَّى سَكَنَ مِنْ غَضِبِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَقَالَ يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ كَيْفَ مَنْ يَصُومُ يَوْمَيْنِ وَيُفْطِرُ يَوْمًا؟ قَالَ «وَيُطِيقُ ذَلِكَ أَحَدٌ؟ » قَالَ فَكَيْفَ مَنْ يَصُومُ يَوْمًا وَيُفْطِرُ يَوْمًا قَالَ «ذَاكَ صَوْمُ أَخِي دَاوُدَ» قَالَ فَكَيْفَ بِمَنْ يَصُومُ يَوْمًا وَيُفْطِرُ يَوْمَيْنِ؟ قَالَ «وَدِدْتُ أَنِّي طُوِّقْتُ ذَاكَ»  

[Machine] An Arab man came to the Prophet ﷺ and said to him, "O Prophet of Allah, how do you fast or how do you observe fasting?" The Prophet ﷺ remained silent and did not respond to him. When his anger subsided, Umar ibn Al-Khattab asked him and said, "O Prophet of Allah, how do you fast or how do you observe fasting? Have you seen anyone who fasts the entire year?" He replied, "No, he neither fasts nor breaks his fast." Umar said, "O Messenger of Allah, what if someone fasts two days and breaks his fast for one day?" The Prophet ﷺ said, "If someone is able to do that, O Umar, I would have wished to do it." Umar said, "O Messenger of Allah, what if someone fasts one day and breaks his fast for one day?" The Prophet ﷺ said, "That is the fasting of Prophet David (upon him be peace)." Umar then asked, "O Prophet of Allah, what if someone fasts on the day of Arafah?" The Prophet ﷺ said, "It makes up for the previous year and the year after it." Umar asked, "What if someone fasts three days from each month?" The Prophet ﷺ said, "That is the fasting of the entire year." Umar asked, "What if someone fasts on the day of Ashura?" The Prophet ﷺ said, "It makes up for the previous year." Umar said, "O Messenger of Allah, what if someone fasts on Mondays?" The Prophet ﷺ said, "That is the day I was born and the day I received Prophethood."  

أَنَّ أَعْرَابِيًّا أَتَى النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَقَالَ لَهُ يَا نَبِيَّ اللهِ كَيْفَ صَوْمُكَ أَوْ كَيْفَ تَصُومُ قَالَ فَسَكَتَ عَنْهُ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ فَلَمْ يَرُدَّ عَلَيْهِ شَيْئًا فَلَمَّا أَنْ سَكَنَ عَنْهُ الْغَضَبُ سَأَلَهُ عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ فَقَالَ لَهُ يَا نَبِيَّ اللهِ كَيْفَ صَوْمُكَ أَوْ كَيْفَ تَصُومُ أَرَأَيْتَ مَنْ صَامَ الدَّهْرَ كُلَّهُ؟ قَالَ لَا صَامَ وَلَا أَفْطَرَ أَوْ قَالَ مَا صَامَ وَمَا أَفْطَرَ قَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ أَرَأَيْتَ مَنْ صَامَ يَوْمَيْنِ وَأَفْطَرَ يَوْمًا؟ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ وَمَنْ يطِيقُ ذَلِكَ يَا عُمَرُ لَوَدِدْتُ أَنِّي فَعَلْتُ ذَلِكَ قَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ أَرَأَيْتَ مَنْ صَامَ يَوْمًا وَأَفْطَرَ يَوْمًا؟ قَالَ ذَاكَ صَوْمُ دَاوُدَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فَقَالَ يَا نَبِيَّ اللهِ أَرَأَيْتَ مَنْ صَامَ يَوْمَ عَرَفَةَ؟ قَالَ يُكَفِّرُ السَّنَةَ وَالسَّنَةَ الَّتِي قَبْلَهَا قَالَ أَرَأَيْتَ مَنْ صَامَ ثَلَاثًا مِنَ الشَّهْرِ؟ قَالَ ذَاكَ صَوْمُ الدَّهْرِ قَالَ أَرَأَيْتَ مَنْ صَامَ يَوْمَ عَاشُورَاءَ؟ قَالَ يُكَفِّرُ السَّنَةَ قَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ أَرَأَيْتَ مَنْ صَامَ يَوْمَ الِاثْنَيْنِ؟ قَالَ ذَاكَ يَوْمٌ وُلِدْتُ فِيهِ وَيَوْمٌ أُنْزِلَتْ عَلَيَّ فِيهِ النُّبُوَّةُ  

[Machine] A Bedouin asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about his fasting, so the Prophet ﷺ became angry until it was evident on his face. Then 'Umar ibn al-Khattab stood up and said, "We are pleased with Allah as our Lord, Islam as our religion, and you as our Prophet. I seek refuge in Allah from the anger of Allah and the anger of His Messenger." 'Umar continued repeating this until he calmed down. Then he said, "O Messenger of Allah, what do you say about a man who fasts the entire year?" The Prophet ﷺ said, "He neither fasts nor breaks his fast." 'Umar asked, "What about someone who fasts two days and breaks his fast for one day?" The Prophet ﷺ replied, "Whoever is capable of doing so may do it." 'Umar asked again, "And what about someone who breaks his fast for two days and fasts one day?" The Prophet ﷺ said, "I wish that I were given the ability to do that." 'Umar asked, "O Messenger of Allah, what do you say about fasting on Mondays?" The Prophet ﷺ said, "That is the day I was born and the day on which revelation was sent down to me." 'Umar asked, "O Messenger of Allah, what do you say about fasting for one day and breaking the fast on the next day?" The Prophet ﷺ said, "That is the fasting of my brother Dawud (David), ﷺ ." 'Umar asked, "O Messenger of Allah, what do you say about fasting on the day of 'Ashura'?" The Prophet ﷺ said, "Indeed, I hope that Allah will forgive the sins of the previous year." 'Umar asked, "O Messenger of Allah, what do you say about fasting on the day of Arafah?" The Prophet ﷺ said, "Indeed, I hope that Allah will forgive the sins of the previous and upcoming year."  

أَنَّ أَعْرَابِيًّا سَأَلَ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ عَنْ صَوْمِهِ فَغَضِبَ حَتَّى عُرِفَ ذَلِكَ فِي وَجْهِهِ فَقَامَ عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ ؓ فَقَالَ رَضِينَا بِاللهِ رَبًّا وَبِالْإِسْلَامِ دِينًا وَبِكَ نَبِيًّا أَعُوذُ بِاللهِ مِنْ غَضَبِ اللهِ وَغَضَبِ رَسُولِهِ فَلَمْ يَزَلْ عُمَرُ ؓ يُرَدِّدُ ذَلِكَ حَتَّى سَكَنَ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ مَا تَقُولُ فِي رَجُلٍ يَصُومُ الدَّهْرَ كُلَّهُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ لَا صَامَ وَلَا أَفْطَرَ أَوْ قَالَ مَا صَامَ وَمَا أَفْطَرَ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ كَيْفَ بِمَنْ يصُومُ يَوْمَيْنِ وَيُفْطِرُ يَوْمًا فَقَالَ وَمَنْ يَطِيقُ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ كَيْفَ بِمَنْ يفْطِرُ يَوْمَيْنِ وَيَصُومُ يَوْمًا فَقَالَ لَوَدِدْتُ أَنِّي طُوِّقْتُ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ فَمَا تَقُولُ فِي صَوْمِ يَوْمِ الِاثْنَيْنِ فَقَالَ ذَلِكَ يَوْمٌ وُلِدْتُ فِيهِ وَأُنْزِلَ عَلَيَّ فِيهِ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ فَمَا تَقُولُ فِي رَجُلٍ يَصُومُ يَوْمًا وَيُفْطِرُ يَوْمًا فَقَالَ ذَلِكَ صَوْمُ أَخِي دَاوُدَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ قَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ فَمَا تَقُولُ فِي صَوْمِ يَوْمِ عَاشُورَاءَ قَالَ إِنِّي لَأَحْتَسِبُ عَلَى اللهِ ﷻ أَنْ يُكَفِّرَ السَّنَةَ قَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ فَمَا تَقُولُ فِي صَوْمِ يَوْمِ عَرَفَةَ قَالَ إِنِّي لَأَحْتَسِبُ عَلَى اللهِ أَنْ يُكَفِّرَ السَّنَةَ الَّتِي قَبْلَهَا وَالسَّنَةَ الَّتِي بَعْدَهَا