Caution: Translations of Quran and Ḥadīth may lead to possible misapplications and misinterpretations. This site is intended for students of sacred knowledge that are proficient in comprehending classical Arabic and have a strong foundation in Islamic sciences. Also note that religious injunctions rely on several aspects beyond what one may glean through reading individual aḥādīth.
ahmad:6760ʿAbd al-Razzāq > Maʿmar > al-Zuhrī > Ibn al-Musayyib And ʾAbī Salamah b. ʿAbd al-Raḥman > ʿAbdullāh b. ʿAmr b. al-ʿĀṣ

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ met me and said: Have I not been informed that you told: I shall stand at prayer all the night, and I shall fast during the day ? He said: I think so. Yes, Messenger of Allah, I have said this. He said: Get up and pray at night and sleep ; fast and break your fast ; fast three days every month: that is equivalent to keeping perpetual fast. I said: Messenger of Allah, I have more power than that. He said: Then fast one day and break your fast one day. That is the most moderate fast ; that is the fast of Dawud (David). He said: I have more power than that. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: There is no fast more excellent that it. (Using translation from Abū Dāʾūd 2427)  

أحمد:٦٧٦٠حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ حَدَّثَنَا مَعْمَرٌ عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ عَنِ ابْنِ الْمُسَيِّبِ وَأَبِي سَلَمَةَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْعَاصِ قَالَ

لَقِيَنِي رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺفَقَالَ أَلَمْ أُحَدَّثْ أَنَّكَ تَقُومُ اللَّيْلَ؟ أَوْ أَنْتَ الَّذِي تَقُولُ لَأَقُومَنَّ اللَّيْلَ وَلَأَصُومَنَّ النَّهَارَ؟ قَالَ أَحْسِبُهُ قَالَ نَعَمْ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ قَدْ قُلْتُ ذَلِكَ قَالَ فَقُمْ وَنَمْ وَصُمْ وَأَفْطِرْ وَصُمْ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ وَلَكَ مِثْلُ صِيَامِ الدَّهْرِ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ؟ قَالَ فَصُمْ يَوْمًا وَأَفْطِرْ يَوْمَيْنِ قُلْتُ إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ؟ قَالَ فَصُمْ يَوْمًا وَأَفْطِرْ يَوْمًا وَهُوَ أَعْدَلُ الصِّيَامِ وَهُوَ صِيَامُ دَاوُدَ قُلْتُ إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ؟ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ لَا أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ  


See similar narrations below:

Collected by Bukhārī, Muslim, Nasāʾī, Abū Dāwūd, Ibn Ḥibbān, Nasāʾī's Kubrá
bukhari:1976Abū al-Yamān > Shuʿayb > al-Zuhrī > Saʿīd b. al-Musayyab And ʾAbū Salamah b. ʿAbd al-Raḥman > ʿAbdullāh b. ʿAmr

Messenger of Allah ﷺ was informed that I had taken an oath to fast daily and to pray (every night) all the night throughout my life (so Messenger of Allah ﷺ came to me and asked whether it was correct): I replied, "Let my parents be sacrificed for you! I said so." The Prophet ﷺ said, "You can not do that. So, fast for few days and give it up for few days, offer Salat (prayer) and sleep. Fast three days a month as the reward of good deeds is multiplied ten times and that will be equal to one year of fasting." The Prophet ﷺ said to me, "Fast one day and give up fasting for two days." I replied, "I can do better than that." The Prophet ﷺ said to me, "Fast one day and give up fasting for a day and that is the fasting of Prophet David and that is the best fasting." I said, "I have the power to fast better (more) than that." The Prophet ﷺ said, "There is no better fasting than that."  

البخاري:١٩٧٦حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْيَمَانِ أَخْبَرَنَا شُعَيْبٌ عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي سَعِيدُ بْنُ الْمُسَيَّبِ وَأَبُو سَلَمَةَ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ أَنَّ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عَمْرٍو قَالَ

أُخْبِرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَنِّي أَقُولُ وَاللَّهِ لأَصُومَنَّ النَّهَارَ وَلأَقُومَنَّ اللَّيْلَ مَا عِشْتُ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ قَدْ قُلْتُهُ بِأَبِي أَنْتَ وَأُمِّي قَالَ فَإِنَّكَ لاَ تَسْتَطِيعُ ذَلِكَ فَصُمْ وَأَفْطِرْ وَقُمْ وَنَمْ وَصُمْ مِنَ الشَّهْرِ ثَلاَثَةَ أَيَّامٍ فَإِنَّ الْحَسَنَةَ بِعَشْرِ أَمْثَالِهَا وَذَلِكَ مِثْلُ صِيَامِ الدَّهْرِ قُلْتُ إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ قَالَ فَصُمْ يَوْمًا وَأَفْطِرْ يَوْمَيْنِ قُلْتُ إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ قَالَ فَصُمْ يَوْمًا وَأَفْطِرْ يَوْمًا فَذَلِكَ صِيَامُ دَاوُدَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ وَهْوَ أَفْضَلُ الصِّيَامِ فَقُلْتُ إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ لاَ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ  

bukhari:3418Yaḥyá b. Bukayr > al-Layth > ʿUqayl > Ibn Shihāb > Saʿīd b. al-Musayyab > And ʾAbā Salamah b. ʿAbd al-Raḥman > ʿAbdullāh b. ʿAmr

Messenger of Allah ﷺ was informed that I have said: "By Allah, I will fast all the days and pray all the nights as long as I live." On that, Messenger of Allah ﷺ asked me. "Are you the one who says: 'I will fast all the days and pray all the nights as long as I live?' " I said, "Yes, I have said it." He said, "You cannot do that. So fast (sometimes) and do not fast (sometimes). Pray and sleep. Fast for three days a month, for the reward of a good deed is multiplied by ten time, and so the fasting of three days a month equals the fasting of a year." I said, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! I can do (fast) more than this." He said, "Fast on every third day. I said: I can do (fast) more than that, He said: "Fast on alternate days and this was the fasting of David which is the most moderate sort of fasting." I said, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! I can do (fast) more than that." He said, "There is nothing better than that."  

البخاري:٣٤١٨حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ بُكَيْرٍ حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ عَنْ عُقَيْلٍ عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ أَنَّ سَعِيدَ بْنَ الْمُسَيَّبِ أَخْبَرَهُ وَأَبَا سَلَمَةَ بْنَ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ أَنَّ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عَمْرٍو ؓ قَالَ

أُخْبِرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَنِّي أَقُولُ وَاللَّهِ لأَصُومَنَّ النَّهَارَ وَلأَقُومَنَّ اللَّيْلَ مَا عِشْتُ فَقَالَ لَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَنْتَ الَّذِي تَقُولُ وَاللَّهِ لأَصُومَنَّ النَّهَارَ وَلأَقُومَنَّ اللَّيْلَ مَا عِشْتُ قُلْتُ قَدْ قُلْتُهُ قَالَ إِنَّكَ لاَ تَسْتَطِيعُ ذَلِكَ فَصُمْ وَأَفْطِرْ وَقُمْ وَنَمْ وَصُمْ مِنَ الشَّهْرِ ثَلاَثَةَ أَيَّامٍ فَإِنَّ الْحَسَنَةَ بِعَشْرِ أَمْثَالِهَا وَذَلِكَ مِثْلُ صِيَامِ الدَّهْرِ فَقُلْتُ إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ فَصُمْ يَوْمًا وَأَفْطِرْ يَوْمَيْنِ قَالَ قُلْتُ إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ قَالَ فَصُمْ يَوْمًا وَأَفْطِرْ يَوْمًا وَذَلِكَ صِيَامُ دَاوُدَ وَهْوَ عَدْلُ الصِّيَامِ قُلْتُ إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَفْضَلَ مِنْهُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ لاَ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ  

muslim:1159a[Chain 1] Abū al-Ṭāhir > ʿAbdullāh b. WahbYuḥaddith > Yūnus > Ibn Shihāb [Chain 2] Ḥarmalah b. Yaḥyá > Ibn Wahb > Yūnus > Ibn Shihāb > Saʿīd b. al-Musayyab Waʾabū Salamah b. ʿAbd al-Raḥman > ʿAbdullāh b. ʿAmr b. al-ʿĀṣ > Ukhbir

Is it you who said this? I said to him: Messenger of Allah, it is I who said that. Thereupon the Messenger of Allah may peace be upon him) said: You are not capable enough to do so. Observe fast and break it; sleep and stand for prayer, and observe fast for three days during the month; for every good is multiplied ten times and this is like fasting for ever. I said: Messenger of Allah. I am capable of doing more than this. Thereupon he said: Fast one day and do not fast for the next two days. I said: Messenger of Allah, I have the strength to do more than that. The Prophet ﷺ, said: Fast one day and break on the other day. That is known as the fasting of David (peace be upon him) and that is the best fasting. I said: I am capable of doing more than this. Thereupon the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: There is nothing better than this. 'Abdullah b. 'Amr (Allah be pleased with them) said: Had I accepted the three days (fasting during every month) as the Messenger of Allah ﷺ had said, it would have been more dear to me than my family and my property.  

مسلم:١١٥٩aحَدَّثَنِي أَبُو الطَّاهِرِ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ وَهْبٍ يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ يُونُسَ عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ ح وَحَدَّثَنِي حَرْمَلَةُ بْنُ يَحْيَى أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ أَخْبَرَنِي يُونُسُ عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ أَخْبَرَنِي سَعِيدُ بْنُ الْمُسَيَّبِ وَأَبُو سَلَمَةَ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ أَنَّ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْعَاصِ قَالَ

أُخْبِرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَنَّهُ يَقُولُ لأَقُومَنَّ اللَّيْلَ وَلأَصُومَنَّ النَّهَارَ مَا عِشْتُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ آنْتَ الَّذِي تَقُولُ ذَلِكَ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ قَدْ قُلْتُهُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَإِنَّكَ لاَ تَسْتَطِيعُ ذَلِكَ فَصُمْ وَأَفْطِرْ وَنَمْ وَقُمْ وَصُمْ مِنَ الشَّهْرِ ثَلاَثَةَ أَيَّامٍ فَإِنَّ الْحَسَنَةَ بِعَشْرِ أَمْثَالِهَا وَذَلِكَ مِثْلُ صِيَامِ الدَّهْرِ قَالَ قُلْتُ فَإِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ قَالَ صُمْ يَوْمًا وَأَفْطِرْ يَوْمَيْنِ قَالَ قُلْتُ فَإِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ صُمْ يَوْمًا وَأَفْطِرْ يَوْمًا وَذَلِكَ صِيَامُ دَاوُدَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ وَهُوَ أَعْدَلُ الصِّيَامِ قَالَ قُلْتُ فَإِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لاَ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ قَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَمْرٍو ؓ لأَنْ أَكُونَ قَبِلْتُ الثَّلاَثَةَ الأَيَّامَ الَّتِي قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَحَبُّ إِلَىَّ مِنْ أَهْلِي وَمَالِي  

nasai:2392al-Rabīʿ b. Sulaymān > Ibn Wahb > Yūnus > Ibn Shihāb > Saʿīd b. al-Musayyab Waʾabū Salamah b. ʿAbd al-Raḥman > ʿAbdullāh b. ʿAmr b. al-ʿĀṣ

"I will certainly stand all night (in prayer) and fast every day for as long as I live." The Messenger of Allah said: "Are you the one who said that?" I said: 'I said it, O Messenger of Allah.' The Messenger of Allah said: 'You cannot do that. Fast and break your fast, sleep and stand (in prayer), and fast three days of each month. For a good deed is equal to ten like it, and that is like fasting for a lifetime.' I said: 'But I am able to do bette than that.' He said: 'Fast for one day and break your fast for two days.' I said: 'I am able to do better than that, O Messenger of Allah.' He said: 'Then fast for one day and break your fast for two days.' I said: 'I am able to do better than that, O Messenger of Allah said : 'There is noting better than that."' 'Abdullah said: "If I had accepted the three days that the Messenger of Allah said, that would be dearer to me than my family and my wealth." 'Ata said: "someone who heard him told me that Ibn 'Umar (said) that the Prophet said: 'Whoever fasts every day of his life, then he has not fasted."  

النسائي:٢٣٩٢أَخْبَرَنَا الرَّبِيعُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي يُونُسُ عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي سَعِيدُ بْنُ الْمُسَيَّبِ وَأَبُو سَلَمَةَ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ أَنَّ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْعَاصِ قَالَ

ذُكِرَ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَنَّهُ يَقُولُ لأَقُومَنَّ اللَّيْلَ وَلأَصُومَنَّ النَّهَارَ مَا عِشْتُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَنْتَ الَّذِي تَقُولُ ذَلِكَ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ قَدْ قُلْتُهُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَإِنَّكَ لاَ تَسْتَطِيعُ ذَلِكَ فَصُمْ وَأَفْطِرْ وَنَمْ وَقُمْ وَصُمْ مِنَ الشَّهْرِ ثَلاَثَةَ أَيَّامٍ فَإِنَّ الْحَسَنَةَ بِعَشْرِ أَمْثَالِهَا وَذَلِكَ مِثْلُ صِيَامِ الدَّهْرِ قُلْتُ فَإِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ قَالَ صُمْ يَوْمًا وَأَفْطِرْ يَوْمَيْنِ فَقُلْتُ إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ فَصُمْ يَوْمًا وَأَفْطِرْ يَوْمًا وَذَلِكَ صِيَامُ دَاوُدَ وَهُوَ أَعْدَلُ الصِّيَامِ قُلْتُ فَإِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لاَ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ قَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَمْرٍو لأَنْ أَكُونَ قَبِلْتُ الثَّلاَثَةَ الأَيَّامَ الَّتِي قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَحَبُّ إِلَىَّ مِنْ أَهْلِي وَمَالِي  

nasai:2397Muḥammad b. ʿUbayd > Asbāṭ > Muṭarrif > Ḥabīb b. Abū Thābit > Abū al-ʿAbbās > ʿAbdullāh b. ʿAmr

"The Messenger of Allah said: 'I have heard that you stand (in prayer) all night and fast all day.' I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, I only meant good by that.' He said: 'One who fasts every day of his life has not truly fasted. But I will tell you what fasting for a lifetime means: Three days of every month.' I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, I said: 'I am able to do more than that.' He said 'Observe the fast of Dawud, peace be upon him; he used to fast one day and not the next."' 'Ata said: "someone who heard him told me that Ibn 'Umar (said) that the Prophet said: 'Whoever fasts every day of his life, then he has not fasted."  

النسائي:٢٣٩٧أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عُبَيْدٍ عَنْ أَسْبَاطٍ عَنْ مُطَرِّفٍ عَنْ حَبِيبِ بْنِ أَبِي ثَابِتٍ عَنْ أَبِي الْعَبَّاسِ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو قَالَ

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِنَّهُ بَلَغَنِي أَنَّكَ تَقُومُ اللَّيْلَ وَتَصُومُ النَّهَارَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَا أَرَدْتُ بِذَلِكَ إِلاَّ الْخَيْرَ قَالَ لاَ صَامَ مَنْ صَامَ الأَبَدَ وَلَكِنْ أَدُلُّكَ عَلَى صَوْمِ الدَّهْرِ ثَلاَثَةُ أَيَّامٍ مِنَ الشَّهْرِ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ قَالَ صُمْ خَمْسَةَ أَيَّامٍ قُلْتُ إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ قَالَ فَصُمْ عَشْرًا فَقُلْتُ إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ قَالَ صُمْ صَوْمَ دَاوُدَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ كَانَ يَصُومُ يَوْمًا وَيُفْطِرُ يَوْمًا  

abudawud:2427al-Ḥasan b. ʿAlī > ʿAbd al-Razzāq > Maʿmar > al-Zuhrī > Ibn al-Musayyab And ʾAbī Salamah > ʿAbdullāh b. ʿAmr b. al-ʿĀṣ

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ met me and said: Have I not been informed that you told: I shall stand at prayer all the night, and I shall fast during the day ? He said: I think so. Yes, Messenger of Allah, I have said this. He said: Get up and pray at night and sleep ; fast and break your fast ; fast three days every month: that is equivalent to keeping perpetual fast. I said: Messenger of Allah, I have more power than that. He said: Then fast one day and break your fast one day. That is the most moderate fast ; that is the fast of Dawud (David). He said: I have more power than that. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: There is no fast more excellent that it.  

أبو داود:٢٤٢٧حَدَّثَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ حَدَّثَنَا مَعْمَرٌ عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ عَنِ ابْنِ الْمُسَيَّبِ وَأَبِي سَلَمَةَ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْعَاصِ قَالَ

لَقِيَنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ أَلَمْ أُحَدَّثْ أَنَّكَ تَقُولُ لأَقُومَنَّ اللَّيْلَ وَلأَصُومَنَّ النَّهَارَ قَالَ أَحْسِبُهُ قَالَ نَعَمْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَدْ قُلْتُ ذَاكَ قَالَ قُمْ وَنَمْ وَصُمْ وَأَفْطِرْ وَصُمْ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ ثَلاَثَةَ أَيَّامٍ وَذَاكَ مِثْلُ صِيَامِ الدَّهْرِ قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ قَالَ فَصُمْ يَوْمًا وَأَفْطِرْ يَوْمَيْنِ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ قَالَ فَصُمْ يَوْمًا وَأَفْطِرْ يَوْمًا وَهُوَ أَعْدَلُ الصِّيَامِ وَهُوَ صِيَامُ دَاوُدَ قُلْتُ إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لاَ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ  

ذِكْرُ الْأَمْرِ لِلْمَرْءِ بِإتْيَانِ الطَّاعَاتِ عَلَى الرِّفْقِ مِنْ غَيْرِ تَرْكِ حَظِّ النَّفْسِ فِيهَا

ibnhibban:352Ibn Qutaybah > Ḥarmalah b. Yaḥyá > Ibn Wahb > Yūnus > Ibn Shihāb > Saʿīd b. al-Musayyib Waʾabū Salamah b. ʿAbd al-Raḥman > ʿAbdullāh b. ʿAmr b. al-ʿĀṣ

"I will certainly stand all night (in prayer) and fast every day for as long as I live." The Messenger of Allah said: "Are you the one who said that?" I said: 'I said it, O Messenger of Allah.' The Messenger of Allah said: 'You cannot do that. Fast and break your fast, sleep and stand (in prayer), and fast three days of each month. For a good deed is equal to ten like it, and that is like fasting for a lifetime.' I said: 'But I am able to do bette than that.' He said: 'Fast for one day and break your fast for two days.' I said: 'I am able to do better than that, O Messenger of Allah.' He said: 'Then fast for one day and break your fast for two days.' I said: 'I am able to do better than that, O Messenger of Allah said : 'There is noting better than that."' 'Abdullah said: "If I had accepted the three days that the Messenger of Allah said, that would be dearer to me than my family and my wealth." 'Ata said: "someone who heard him told me that Ibn 'Umar (said) that the Prophet said: 'Whoever fasts every day of his life, then he has not fasted." (Using translation from Nasāʾī 2392)  

ابن حبّان:٣٥٢أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ قُتَيْبَةَ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا حَرْمَلَةُ بْنُ يَحْيَى قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا يُونُسُ عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي سَعِيدُ بْنُ الْمُسَيِّبِ وَأَبُو سَلَمَةَ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ أَنَّ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْعَاصِ قَالَ

«أُخْبِرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَنَّهُ قَالَ يَعْنِي نَفْسَهُ لَأَقُومَنَّ اللَّيْلَ وَلَأَصُومَنَّ النَّهَارَ مَا عِشْتُ فقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ » أَنْتَ الَّذِي تَقُولُ ذَلِكَ؟ « فَقُلْتُ لَهُ قَدْ قُلْتُهُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ » فَإِنَّكَ لَا تَسْتَطِيعُ ذَلِكَ صُمْ وَأَفْطِرْ وَنَمْ وَقُمْ وَصُمْ مِنَ الشَّهْرِ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ فَإِنَّ الْحَسَنَةَ بِعَشْرِ أَمْثَالِهَا وَذَلِكَ مِثْلُ صِيَامِ الدَّهْرِ « قَالَ قُلْتُ إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ قَالَ » صُمْ يَوْمًا وَأَفْطِرْ يَوْمَيْنِ « قَالَ قُلْتُ إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ قَالَ » صُمْ يَوْمًا وَأَفْطِرْ يَوْمًا وَذَلِكَ صِيَامُ دَاوُدَ وَهُوَ أَعْدَلُ الصِّيَامِ « قَالَ فَقُلْتُ فَإِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ » لَا أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ « قَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ وَلَأَنْ أَكُونَ قَبِلْتُ الثَّلَاثَةَ الْأَيَّامِ الَّتِي قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ كَانَ أَحَبَّ إِلَيَّ مِنْ أَهْلِي وَمَالِي»  

nasai-kubra:2710Muḥammad b. Maʿmar > Yaḥyá b. Ḥammād > Abū ʿAwānah > Mughīrah > Mujāhid

"Abdullah bin 'Amr said to me: My father got me married to a woman from a noble family, and he used to come to her and ask her about her husband. She said: What a wonderful man he is! He never comes to my bed. And he has never approached me since he married me. He mentioned that to the Prophet and he said: Bring him to me. So he brought him with him and (the Prophet) said: How do you fast? I said: "Every day." He said: "Fast three days of every month." I said: "I am able to do better than that." He said: "Fast for two days, and break your fast for one day." He said; "I am able to do better than that". He said: "Observe the best of fasts, the fast of Dawud, peace be upon him: Fasting for one day and breaking the fast for one day." 'Ata said: "someone who heard him told me that Ibn 'Umar (said) that the Prophet said: 'Whoever fasts every day of his life, then he has not fasted." (Using translation from Nasāʾī 2389)  

الكبرى للنسائي:٢٧١٠أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مَعْمَرٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ حَمَّادٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَوَانَةَ عَنْ مُغِيرَةَ عَنْ مُجَاهِدٍ قَالَ قَالَ لِي عَبْدُ اللهِ بْنُ عَمْرٍو بْنِ الْعَاصِ أَنْكَحَنِي أَبِي امْرَأَةً ذَاتَ حَسَبٍ فَكَانَ يَأْتِيهَا فَيَسْأَلُهَا عَنْ بَعْلِهَا فَقَالَتْ

نِعْمَ الرَّجُلُ مِنْ رَجُلٍ لَمْ يَطَأْ لَنَا فِرَاشًا وَلَمْ يُفَتِّشْ لَنَا كَنَفًا مُنْذُ أَتَيْنَاهُ فَذَكَرَ ذَلِكَ لِلنَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَقَالَ «الْقَنِي بِهِ» فَأَتَيْتُهُ مَعَهُ فَقَالَ «كَيْفَ تَصُومُ؟» قُلْتُ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ قَالَ «صُمْ مِنْ كُلِّ جُمُعَةٍ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ» قُلْتُ إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ قَالَ «فَصُمْ يَوْمَيْنِ وَأَفْطِرْ يَوْمًا» قُلْتُ إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ قَالَ «فَصُمْ أَفْضَلَ الصِّيَامِ صِيَامَ دَاوُدَ صَوْمُ يَوْمٍ وَفِطْرُ يَوْمٍ»  

nasai-kubra:2713al-Rabīʿ b. Sulaymān > Ibn Wahb > Yūnus > Ibn Shihāb > Saʿīd b. al-Musayyib Waʾabū Salamah b. ʿAbd al-Raḥman > ʿAbdullāh b. ʿAmr b. al-ʿĀṣ

Is it you who said this? I said to him: Messenger of Allah, it is I who said that. Thereupon the Messenger of Allah may peace be upon him) said: You are not capable enough to do so. Observe fast and break it; sleep and stand for prayer, and observe fast for three days during the month; for every good is multiplied ten times and this is like fasting for ever. I said: Messenger of Allah. I am capable of doing more than this. Thereupon he said: Fast one day and do not fast for the next two days. I said: Messenger of Allah, I have the strength to do more than that. The Prophet ﷺ, said: Fast one day and break on the other day. That is known as the fasting of David (peace be upon him) and that is the best fasting. I said: I am capable of doing more than this. Thereupon the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: There is nothing better than this. 'Abdullah b. 'Amr (Allah be pleased with them) said: Had I accepted the three days (fasting during every month) as the Messenger of Allah ﷺ had said, it would have been more dear to me than my family and my property. (Using translation from Muslim 1159a)  

الكبرى للنسائي:٢٧١٣أَخْبَرَنَا الرَّبِيعُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي يُونُسُ عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي سَعِيدُ بْنُ الْمُسَيِّبِ وَأَبُو سَلَمَةَ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ أَنَّ عَبْدَ اللهِ بْنَ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْعَاصِ قَالَ

ذُكِرَ لِرَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ أَنَّهُ يَقُولُ لَأَقُومَنَّ اللَّيْلَ وَلَأَصُومَنَّ النَّهَارَ مَا عِشْتُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ «أَنْتَ الَّذِي تَقُولُ ذَلِكَ؟» فَقُلْتُ لَهُ قَدْ قُلْتُهُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ «فَإِنَّكَ لَا تَسْتَطِيعُ ذَلِكَ فَصُمْ وَأَفْطِرْ وَنَمْ وَقُمْ وَصُمْ مِنَ الشَّهْرِ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ فَإِنَّ الْحَسَنَةَ بِعَشْرِ أَمْثَالِهَا وَذَلِكَ مِثْلُ صِيَامِ الدَّهْرِ» قُلْتُ فَإِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ قَالَ «صُمْ يَوْمًا وَأَفْطِرْ يَوْمَيْنِ» قُلْتُ فَإِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ قَالَ «فَصُمْ يَوْمًا وَأَفْطِرْ يَوْمًا وَذَلِكَ صِيَامُ دَاوُدَ وَهُوَ أَعْدَلُ الصِّيَامِ» قُلْتُ فَإِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ «لَا أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ» قَالَ عَبْدُ اللهِ بْنُ عَمْرٍو لَأَنْ أَكُونَ قَبِلْتُ الثَّلَاثَةَ الْأَيَّامَ الَّتِي قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِنْ أَهْلِي وَمَالِي  

nasai-kubra:2718Muḥammad b. ʿUbayd al-Kūfī > Asbāṭ b. Muḥammad > Muṭarrif > Ḥabīb b. Abū Thābit > Abū al-ʿAbbās > ʿAbdullāh b. ʿAmr

"The Messenger of Allah said: 'I have heard that you stand (in prayer) all night and fast all day.' I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, I only meant good by that.' He said: 'One who fasts every day of his life has not truly fasted. But I will tell you what fasting for a lifetime means: Three days of every month.' I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, I said: 'I am able to do more than that.' He said 'Observe the fast of Dawud, peace be upon him; he used to fast one day and not the next."' 'Ata said: "someone who heard him told me that Ibn 'Umar (said) that the Prophet said: 'Whoever fasts every day of his life, then he has not fasted." (Using translation from Nasāʾī 2397)   

الكبرى للنسائي:٢٧١٨أَخْبَرَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عُبَيْدٍ الْكُوفِيُّ عَنْ أَسْبَاطِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُطَرِّفٍ عَنْ حَبِيبِ بْنِ أَبِي ثَابِتٍ عَنْ أَبِي الْعَبَّاسِ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو قَالَ

قَالَ لِي رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ «إِنَّهُ بَلَغَنِي أَنَّكَ تَقُومُ اللَّيْلَ وَتَصُومُ النَّهَارَ؟» قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ مَا أَرَدْتُ بِذَلِكَ إِلَّا الْخَيْرَ قَالَ «لَا صَامَ مَنْ صَامَ الْأَبَدَ وَلَكِنْ أَدُلُّكَ عَلَى صَوْمِ الدَّهْرِ ثَلَاثَةُ أَيَّامٍ مِنَ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ» قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ قَالَ «فَصُمْ خَمْسَةَ أَيَّامٍ» قُلْتُ إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ قَالَ «فَصُمْ عَشْرًا» قُلْتُ إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ قَالَ «فَصُمْ صَوْمَ دَاوُدَ وَكَانَ يَصُومُ يَوْمًا وَيُفْطِرُ يَوْمًا»