[Machine] I came to the Messenger of Allahﷺ and said, "O Messenger of Allah, guide me to a fast." He said, "Fast for one day, and you will receive the reward of nine days." I said, "O Messenger of Allah, I find the strength to do more, so increase me." He said, "Fast for two days, and you will receive the reward of eight days." I said, "O Messenger of Allah, I find the strength to do more, so increase me." He said, "Then fast for three days, and you will receive the reward of seven days." He continued to lessen the recommended duration until he said, "The best fast is the fast of my brother Dawud (David)ﷺ who used to fast one day and break his fast the next." Abdullah (the narrator) said, "When I got weak, I wished that I had been content with what the Prophetﷺ commanded me to do."  

أَتَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ مُرْنِي بِصِيَامٍ قَالَ صُمْ يَوْمًا وَلَكَ أَجْرُ تِسْعَةٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ إِنِّي أَجِدُ قُوَّةً فَزِدْنِي قَالَ صُمْ يَوْمَيْنِ وَلَكَ أَجْرُ ثَمَانِيَةِ أَيَّامٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ إِنِّي أَجِدُ قُوَّةً فَزِدْنِي قَالَ فَصُمْ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ وَلَكَ أَجْرُ سَبْعَةِ أَيَّامٍ قَالَ فَمَا زَالَ يَحُطُّ لِي حَتَّى قَالَ إِنَّ أَفْضَلَ الصَّوْمِ صَوْمُ أَخِي دَاوُدَ أَوْ نَبِيِّ اللهِ دَاوُدَ شَكَّ الْجُرَيْرِيُّ صُمْ يَوْمًا وَأَفْطِرْ يَوْمًا فَقَالَ عَبْدُ اللهِ لَمَّا ضَعُفَ لَيْتَنِي كُنْتُ قَنَعْتُ بِمَا أَمَرَنِي بِهِ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ