The father or Uncle of Mujibah al-Bahiliyyah visited the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. He then went away and came to him (again) after one year when his condition and appearance had changed. He said: Messenger of Allah, do you not recognize me? He asked: Who are you? He replied: I am al-Bahili who came to you last year. He said: What has changed you? You were looking well, then you were good in appearance? He said: I have only food at night since I departed from you. Thereupon the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: Why did you torment yourself? Fast during Ramadan (the month of patience) and fast for one day every month. He said: Increase it for me, for I have (more) strength. He said: Fast two days. He again said: Increase it for me. He said: Fast three days. He again said: Increase it for me. He said: Fast during the inviolable months and then stop; fast during the inviolable months and then stop; fast during the inviolable months and then stop. He indicated by his three fingers, and joined them and then opened them. (Using translation from Abū Dāʾūd 2428)   

أَنَّهُ أَتَى رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ ثُمَّ انْطَلَقَ فَعَادَ إِلَيْهِ بَعْدَ سَنَةٍ وَفِي رِوَايَةِ أَبِي مُوسَى فَأَتَاهُ بَعْدَ سَنَةٍ وَقَدْ تَغَيَّرَتْ حَالُهُ وَهَيْئَتُهُ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ أَمَا تَعْرِفُنِي؟ قَالَ وَمَنْ أَنْتَ؟ قَالَ أَنَا الْبَاهِلِيُّ الَّذِي جِئْتُكَ عَامَ أَوَّلَ قَالَ فَمَا غَيَّرَكَ وَقَدْ كُنْتَ حَسَنَ الْهَيْئَةِ قَالَ مَا أَكَلْتُ طَعَامًا مُنْذُ فَارَقْتُكَ إِلَّا بِلَيْلٍ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ لِمَ عَذَّبْتَ نَفْسَكَ صُمْ شَهْرَ الصَّبْرِ وَمِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ يَوْمًا قَالَ زِدْنِي فَإِنَّ بِي قُوَّةً قَالَ صُمْ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ يَوْمَيْنِ قَالَ زِدْنِي فَإِنَّ بِي قُوَّةً قَالَ صُمْ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ زَادَ عَبْدُ الْوَاحِدِ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ قَالَ زِدْنِي فَإِنَّ بِي قُوَّةً قَالَ صُمْ مِنَ الْحُرُمِ وَاتْرُكْ يَقُولُهَا ثَلَاثًا وَفِي رِوَايَةِ مُوسَى قَالَ زِدْنِي قَالَ صُمْ مِنَ الْحُرُمِ وَاتْرُكْ صُمْ مِنَ الْحُرُمِ وَاتْرُكْ صُمْ مِنَ الْحُرُمِ وَاتْرُكْ وَقَالَ بِأَصَابِعِهِ الثَّلَاثِ فَضَمَّهَا ثُمَّ أَرْسَلَهَا