[Machine] He informed him that Ibn Abbas and some of the companions of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ had sent me to Umm Salamah to ask her on which days did the Messenger of Allah ﷺ fast the most. She replied, "On Saturdays and Sundays." I returned and informed them, and it appeared that they denied that. So, they all went to her and said, "We have been sent to you about this matter, and you mentioned that he said such and such." She said, "Indeed, it is true that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to fast the most on Saturdays and Sundays, and he would say, 'These are the feasts of the pagans, and I want to be different from them.'"  

أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ وَنَاسًا مِنْ أَصْحَابِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ بَعَثُونِي إِلَى أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ أُسَائِلُهَا عَنْ أَيِّ الْأَيَّامِ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَكْثَرَ لِصِيَامِهَا؟ فَقَالَتْ يَوْمَ السَّبْتِ وَالْأَحَدِ فَرَجَعْتُ إِلَيْهِمْ فَأَخْبَرْتُهُمْ فَكَأَنَّهُمْ أَنْكَرُوا ذَلِكَ فَقَامُوا بِأَجْمَعِهِمْ إِلَيْهَا فَقَالُوا إِنَّا بَعَثْنَا إِلَيْكِ هَذَا فِي كَذَا وَكَذَا وَذَكَرَ أَنَّكِ قُلْتِ كَذَا فَقَالَتْ صَدَقَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَكْثَرُ مَا كَانَ يَصُومُ مِنَ الْأَيَّامِ يَوْمُ السَّبْتِ وَالْأَحَدِ وَكَانَ يَقُولُ «إِنَّهُمَا عِيدَانِ لِلْمُشْرِكِينَ وَأَنَا أُرِيدُ أَنْ أُخَالِفَهُمْ»  

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ came out to us on the day of Ashura and said, "Is there anyone among you who has eaten today?" We said, "Some of us have eaten and some have not." He said, "Whoever has not eaten, let him fast, and whoever has eaten, let him complete the rest of his day. And let the people of the array prepare food and let them complete the rest of their day."  

خَرَجَ عَلَيْنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَوْمَ عَاشُورَاءَ فَقَالَ «هَلْ مِنْكُمْ أَحَدٌ طَعِمَ الْيَوْمَ؟ » قَالُوا مِنَّا مَنْ طَعِمَ وَمِنَّا مَنْ لَمْ يَطْعَمْ فَقَالَ «مَنْ كَانَ لَمْ يَطْعَمْ مِنْكُمْ فَلْيَصُمْ وَمَنْ طَعِمَ فَلْيُتِمَّ بَقِيَّةَ يَوْمِهِ وَآذِنُوا أَهْلَ الْعَرُوضِ فَلْيُتِمُّوا بَقِيَّةَ يَوْمِهِمْ»  

[Machine] The Messenger of Allahﷺ sent him to his people and said, "Command your people to fast on this day." I said, "What if I find them already eating?" He said, "Then let them complete their fast until the end of the day."  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ بَعَثَهُ إِلَى قَوْمِهِ قَالَ «مُرْ قَوْمَكَ فَلْيَصُومُوا هَذَا الْيَوْمَ» قُلْتُ فَإِنْ وَجَدْتُهُمْ قَدْ طَعِمُوا قَالَ «فَلْيُتِمُّوا آخِرَ يَوْمِهِمْ»  

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent a man who had embraced Islam to make an announcement among the people, saying, "Today is the day of Ashura. Whoever had eaten should not eat anything else for the remainder of the day, and whoever had not eaten or drunk anything should observe fasting."  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ بَعَثَ رَجُلًا مِنْ أَسْلَمَ يُؤَذِّنُ فِي النَّاسِ «أَنَّ الْيَوْمَ يَوْمُ عَاشُورَاءَ فَمَنْ أَكَلَ فَلَا يَأْكُلْ شَيْئًا بَقِيَّةَ يَوْمِهِ وَمَنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ أَكَلَ أَوْ شَرِبَ فَلْيَصُمْ»  

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent a message to the Ansar villages surrounding Medina on the morning of Ashura, saying: "Whoever starts the day fasting, let them complete their fast; and whoever starts the day not fasting, let them fast the rest of the day." She (one of the narrators) said: "So we used to fast on that day, as well as make our young children fast, and we would take them to the mosque and give them toys made of wool. If one of them started crying from hunger, we would give them the toy until it was time to break the fast."  

أَرْسَلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ غَدَاةَ عَاشُورَاءَ إِلَى قُرَى الْأَنْصَارِ الَّتِي حَوْلَ الْمَدِينَةِ «مَنْ كَانَ أَصْبَحَ صَائِمًا فَلْيُتِمَّ صَوْمَهُ وَمَنْ كَانَ أَصْبَحَ مُفْطِرًا فَلْيَصُمْ بَقِيَّةَ يَوْمِهِ ذَلِكَ» قَالَتْ فَكُنَّا نَصُومُهُ وَنُصَوِّمُ صِبْيَانَنَا الصِّغَارَ وَنَذْهَبُ بِهِمْ إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ وَنَجْعَلُ لَهُمُ اللُّعْبَةَ مِنَ الْعِهْنِ فَإِذَا بَكَى أَحَدُهُمْ عَلَى الطَّعَامِ أَعْطَيْنَاهَا إِيَّاهُ حَتَّى يَكُونَ عِنْدَ الْإِفْطَارِ  

The Quraish used to fast on the day of 'Ashurah in pre Islamic days. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ would fast on it in pre-Islamic period. When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ came to Medina, he fasted on it and commanded to fast on it. When the fast of Ramadan was prescribed, that became obligatory, and (fasting on) 'Ashurah was abandoned. He who wishes may fast on it and he who wishes may leave it. (Using translation from Abū Dāʾūd 2442)   

أَنَّهَا قَالَتْ «كَانَ يَوْمُ عَاشُورَاءَ يَوْمًا تَصُومُهُ قُرَيْشٌ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ فَلَمَّا قَدِمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ الْمَدِينَةَ صَامَهُ وَأَمَرَ بِصِيَامِهِ فَلَمَّا فُرِضَ رَمَضَانُ كَانَ هُوَ الْفَرِيضَةَ وَتُرِكَ يَوْمُ عَاشُورَاءَ فَمَنْ شَاءَ صَامَ وَمَنْ شَاءَ تَرَكَهُ»  

We, during the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, in one month of Ramadan (observed fast according to our liking). He who wished to fast lasted and he who wished to break broke it and fed a needy person as an expiation 1544 till this verse was revealed:" He who witnesses among you the month (of Ramadan) he should observe fast during it" (ii. 184). (Using translation from Muslim 1145b)  

أَنَّهُ قَالَ «كُنَّا فِي رَمَضَانَ فِي عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ مَنْ شَاءَ صَامَ وَمَنْ شَاءَ أَفْطَرَ وَافْتَدَى بِإِطْعَامِ مِسْكِينٍ حَتَّى نَزَلَتْ هَذِهِ الْآيَةُ {فَمَنْ شَهِدَ مِنْكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ} »  

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ arrived and found the Jews fasting on the day of Ashura. He asked them, "What is this?" They replied, "It is a great day on which Allah saved Moses and drowned Pharaoh and his people. Moses fasted on this day out of gratitude to Allah." The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "I have more right to Moses than you. Therefore, I will fast on this day." He then fasted and ordered his companions to fast as well.  

قَدِمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَوَجَدَ يَهُودَ يَصُومُونَ يَوْمَ عَاشُورَاءَ فَقَالَ لَهُمْ «مَا هَذَا» قَالُوا يَوْمٌ عَظِيمٌ نَجَّى اللَّهُ فِيهِ مُوسَى وَأَغْرَقَ آلَ فِرْعَوْنَ فَصَامَهُ مُوسَى شُكْرًا لِلَّهِ فَقَالُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «أَنَا أَوْلَى بِمُوسَى وَأَحَقُّ بِصِيَامِهِ مِنْكُمْ» فَصَامَهُ وَأَمَرَ بِصِيَامِهِ  

[Machine] Moawiya gave a speech in Medina during a visit he made on the day of Ashura. He asked, "Where are your scholars, O people of Medina? I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say, 'This is the day of Ashura, and it is not obligatory for you to fast on it, but I am fasting. Whoever wants to fast may do so.'"  

أَنَّ مُعَاوِيَةَ خَطَبَ بِالْمَدِينَةَ فِي قَدْمَةٍ قَدِمَهَا يَوْمَ عَاشُورَاءَ فَقَالَ أَيْنَ عُلَمَاؤُكُمْ يَا أَهْلَ الْمَدِينَةِ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ «هَذَا يَوْمُ عَاشُورَاءَ وَلَمْ يُكْتَبْ عَلَيْكُمْ صِيَامُهُ وَأَنَا صَائِمٌ فَمَنْ أَحَبَّ أَنْ يَصُومَ فَلْيَصُمْ»  

[Machine] The Jews used to consider the day of Ashura as a holiday, so the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Oppose them, and fast on that day yourselves."  

كَانَتْ يَهُودُ تَتَّخِذُ يَوْمَ عَاشُورَاءَ عِيدًا فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «خَالِفُوهُمْ صُومُوا أَنْتُمْ»  

[Machine] The Prophet ﷺ entered upon me one day and asked, "Do you have anything?" I replied, "No." He said, "Indeed, I am fasting." Then he came to us another day, and I said, "O Messenger of Allah, we have been given some hayyis (a type of sweet dish), so we hid it for you." He said, "Bring it to me." So he became fasting in the morning and then broke his fast.  

دَخَلَ عَلَيَّ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ فَقَالَ «هَلْ عِنْدَكِ شَيْءٌ؟ » قُلْتُ لَا قَالَ «فَإِنِّي صَائِمٌ» قَالَتْ ثُمَّ أَتَانَا يَوْمًا آخَرَ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أُهْدِيَ لَنَا حَيْسٌ فَخَبَّأْنَاهُ لَكَ فَقَالَ «أَدْنِيهِ» فَأَصْبَحَ صَائِمًا ثُمَّ أَفْطَرَ  

[Machine] The Prophet ﷺ used to enjoy our food, so one day he came to us and said, "Do you have any of that?" I replied, "No." Then he said, "I am fasting."  

كَانَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ يُحِبُّ طَعَامَنَا فَجَاءَنَا يَوْمًا فَقَالَ «هَلْ عِنْدَكُمْ مِنْ ذَلِكَ؟ » فَقُلْتُ لَا فَقَالَ «إِنِّي صَائِمٌ»  

[Machine] If the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to enter upon us and say, "Do you have anything for breakfast?" We would say no, so he would say, "I am fasting." One day, he entered upon us and asked, "Do you have anything?" I said, "Yes, some barley porridge was gifted to us." He ﷺ said, "I have started my fasting today." Then he called for it and ate.  

إِنْ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لَيَدْخُلُ عَلَيْنَا فَيَقُولُ «أَصْبَحَ عِنْدَكُمْ شَيْءٌ؟ » فَنَقُولُ لَا فَيَقُولُ « إِنِّي صَائِمٌ» قَالَتْ وَدَخَلَ عَلَيْنَا ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ فَقَالَ «هَلْ عِنْدَكُمْ مِنْ شَيْءٍ»؟ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ حَيْسٌ أُهْدِيَ لَنَا فَقَالَ ﷺ «لَقَدْ أَصْبَحْتُ وَأَنَا صَائِمٌ» ثُمَّ دَعَا بِهِ فَطَعِمَ  

[Machine] A man asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, "O Messenger of Allah, what do you think about a man who fasts on the day of Ashura?" He said, "That is the fasting of a Sunnah." The man asked, "And what about a man who fasts on the day of Arafah?" He said, "It expiates the sins of the previous year and the coming year."  

أَنَّ رَجُلًا سَأَلَ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَرَأَيْتَ رَجُلًا يَصُومُ يَوْمَ عَاشُورَاءَ؟ قَالَ «ذَاكَ صَوْمُ سَنَةٍ» قَالَ أَرَأَيْتَ رَجُلًا يَصُومُ يَوْمَ عَرَفَةَ قَالَ «يُكَفِّرُ السَّنَةَ وَمَا قَبْلَهَا»  

[Machine] About the Prophet ﷺ said, "Fasting on the day of Arafah, I hope for Allah to expiate the sins of the previous and upcoming year, and fasting on the day of Ashura, I hope for Allah to expiate the sins of the previous year."  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ «صِيَامُ يَوْمِ عَرَفَةَ إِنِّي أَحْتَسِبَ عَلَى اللَّهِ أَنْ يُكَفِّرَ السَّنَةَ الَّتِي قَبْلَهُ وَالسَّنَةَ الَّتِي بَعْدَهُ وَصِيَامُ يَوْمِ عَاشُورَاءَ إِنِّي أَحْتَسِبُ عَلَى اللَّهِ أَنْ يُكَفِّرَ السَّنَةَ الَّتِي قَبْلَهُ»  

[Machine] "I approached Ibn Abbas while he was sitting beside his robe near Zamzam, and I sat beside him. What a wonderful companion he was! I asked him about Ashura. He sat upright and asked me, "Which aspect of it do you want to know?" I said, "I want to know about its fasting, which day do we fast?" He replied, "When you see the crescent moon of Muharram, then count and start fasting from the ninth day." I asked, "Did Muhammad ﷺ also fast in this manner?" He answered, "Yes.""  

انْتَهَيْتُ إِلَى ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ وَهُوَ مُتَوَسِّدٌ رِدَاءَهُ عِنْدَ زَمْزَمَ فَجَلَسْتُ إِلَيْهِ وَنِعْمَ الْجَلِيسُ كَانَ فَسَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ عَاشُورَاءَ؟ فَاسْتَوَى جَالِسًا ثُمَّ قَالَ «عَنْ أَيِّ بَابِهِ تَسْأَلُ؟ » قَالَ قُلْتُ عَنْ صِيَامِهِ أَيَّ يَوْمٍ نَصُومُهُ؟ قَالَ «إِذَا رَأَيْتَ هِلَالَ الْمُحَرَّمِ فَاعْدُدْ ثُمَّ أَصْبِحْ مِنْ تَاسِعِهِ صَائِمًا» قُلْتُ أَكَذَلِكَ كَانَ يَصُومُ مُحَمَّدٌ ﷺ قَالَ «نَعَمْ»  

“Whoever fasts Ramadan then follows it with six days of Shawwal, it is as if he fasted for a lifetime.” (Using translation from Ibn Mājah 1716)   

عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ «مَنْ صَامَ رَمَضَانَ وَأَتْبَعَهُ بِسِتٍّ مِنْ شَوَّالٍ فَذَلِكَ صَوْمُ الدَّهْرِ»  

[Machine] From Thawban, the servant of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ , from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ , he said: "Whoever fasts Ramadan and six days of Shawwal, it is as if he has fasted the entire year."  

عَنْ ثَوْبَانَ مَوْلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ «مَنْ صَامَ رَمَضَانَ وَسِتًّا مِنْ شَوَّالٍ فَقَدْ صَامَ السَّنَةَ»  

"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: 'The best fasting after the month of Ramadan is the month of Allah, Al-Muharram, and the best prayer is prayer at night.'" (Using translation from Nasāʾī 1613)  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «أَفْضَلُ الصِّيَامِ بَعْدَ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ شَهْرُ اللَّهِ الْمُحَرَّمُ وَأَفْضَلُ الصَّلَاةِ بَعْدَ الْفَرِيضَةِ صَلَاةُ اللَّيْلِ»  

[Machine] Regarding the fasting of the Prophet ﷺ , she said, "The Prophet ﷺ used to fast until we would say he would not break his fast, and then he would break his fast until we would say he did not fast. And I did not see him fasting more in any month than he did in Sha'ban, he used to fast all of it except a little."  

عَنْ صِيَامِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَقَالَتْ «كَانَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ يَصُومُ حَتَّى نَقُولَ قَدْ صَامَ ثُمَّ يُفْطِرُ حَتَّى نَقُولَ قَدْ أَفْطَرَ وَمَا رَأَيْتُهُ بَعْدَ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ أَكْثَرَ صِيَامًا مِنْهُ فِي شَعْبَانَ كَانَ يَصُومُهُ كُلَّهُ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا»  

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "O Abdullah ibn Amr, I have been informed that you fast during the day and pray during the night. Do not do so. Your body has rights over you, and your soul has rights over you. Fast and break your fast, and fast for three days every month as a perpetual fast." Abdullah replied, "O Messenger of Allah, I find myself strong enough to do so." The Prophet said, "Observe the fast of Prophet David, fast one day and break your fast the next day." Abdullah ibn Amr used to say, "I wish that I had taken the concession."  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عَمْرٍو بَلَغَنِي أَنَّكَ تَصُومُ النَّهَارَ وَتَقُومُ اللَّيْلَ فَلَا تَفْعَلْ فَإِنَّ لِجَسَدِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا وَإِنَّ لِنَفْسِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا صُمْ وَأَفْطِرْ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ صَوْمُ الدَّهْرِ» قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي أَجِدُ قُوَّةً قَالَ «صُمْ صَوْمَ دَاوُدَ صُمْ يَوْمًا وَأَفْطِرْ يَوْمًا» قَالَ وَكَانَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَمْرٍو يَقُولُ يَا لَيْتَنِي كُنْتُ أَخَذْتُ الرُّخْصَةَ  

[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»  

"I entered with Zaid upon 'Abdullah bin Amr and he narrated: 'The Messenger of Allah was told about my fasting, so the entered upon me and I gave him an average-sized leather pillow that was stuffed with palm fibvers. He sat in the ground with the pillow between myself and him, and said: "Whill it not be sufficient for you to fast three days each months?" I said: O Messenger of Allah! He said: "O Messenger of Allah!" He said: "Eleven." I said: "O Messenger of Allah!" Then the Prophet said: "There is not fast better than the fast of Dawud, half of a lifetime, fasting one day and not next." (Using translation from Nasāʾī 2402)  

فَحَدَّثَنَا أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ ذَكَرَ لَهُ صَوْمِي فَدَخَلَ عَلَيَّ وَأَلْقَيْتُ وِسَادَةً مِنْ أَدَمٍ حَشْوُهَا لِيفٌ فَجَلَسَ عَلَى الْأَرْضِ وَصَارَتِ الْوِسَادَةُ فِيمَا بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَهُ فَقَالَ «أَمَا يَكْفِيكَ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ ثَلَاثٌ» قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ «خَمْسٌ» قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ «سَبْعٌ» قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ «تِسْعٌ» قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ «إِحْدَى عَشْرَةَ» قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ «لَا صَوْمَ فَوْقَ صَوْمِ دَاوُدَ شَطْرُ الدَّهْرِ صِيَامُ يَوْمٍ وَإِفْطَارُ يَوْمٍ»  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to fast three days every month. (Using translation from Abū Dāʾūd 2450)   

«أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ كَانَ يَصُومُ مِنْ غُرَّةِ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ»  

[Machine] A Bedouin man asked the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم about fasting for a lifetime. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم replied, "He neither fasts nor breaks his fast." Another person stood up and asked, "O Messenger of Allah, what do you think about a man who fasts three days every month?" The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم replied, "That is the fasting for a lifetime." The person then asked, "What do you think about a man who fasts on Mondays?" The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said, "That is the day I was born and the day in which revelation was sent to me." The person asked again, "What do you think about a man who fasts one day and breaks his fast the next day?" The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم replied, "That is the fasting of my brother Dawood (David)."  

أَنَّ أَعْرَابِيًّا سَأَلَ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ عَنْ صَوْمِ الدَّهْرِ؟ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ «لَا صَامَ وَلَا أَفْطَرَ» أَوْ قَالَ «لَا أَفْطَرَ وَلَا صَامَ» فَقَامَ غَيْرُهُ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَرَأَيْتَ رَجُلًا يَصُومُ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ؟ قَالَ «ذَاكَ صَوْمُ الدَّهْرِ» قَالَ أَرَأَيْتَ رَجُلًا يَصُومُ يَوْمَ الِاثْنَيْنِ قَالَ «ذَاكَ يَوْمٌ وُلِدْتُ فِيهِ وَيَوْمٌ أُنْزِلَ عَلَيَّ» قَالَ أَرَأَيْتَ رَجُلًا يَصُومُ يَوْمًا وَيُفْطِرُ يَوْمًا؟ قَالَ «ذَاكَ صَوْمُ أَخِي دَاوُدَ»  

“He used to fast all of Sha’ban, until he joined it to Ramadan.” (Using translation from Ibn Mājah 1649)   

عَنْ صِيَامِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَتْ كَانَ «يَصُومُ شَعْبَانَ كُلَّهُ حَتَّى يَصِلَهُ بِرَمَضَانَ وَكَانَ يَتَحَرَّى صِيَامَ الِاثْنَيْنِ وَالْخَمِيسِ»  

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "The gates of Paradise are opened every Monday and Thursday, and the deeds are presented before Allah every Monday and Thursday."  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «تُفْتَحُ أَبْوَابُ الْجَنَّةِ كُلَّ اثْنَيْنِ وَخَمِيسٍ وَتُعْرَضُ الْأَعْمَالُ فِي كُلِّ اثْنَيْنِ وَخَمِيسٍ»  

"The Messenger of Allah used to fast three days in the middle of every month, and he rarely did not fast on Friday." (Using translation from Nasāʾī 2368)  

«كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَصُومُ مِنْ غُرَّةِ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ وَقَلَّمَا يُفْطِرُ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ»  

[Machine] Ibn Abbas and a group of companions of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ sent me to Umm Salamah, the wife of the Prophet ﷺ, to ask her which days the Prophet ﷺ used to fast the most. She replied, "He used to fast on Saturdays and Sundays." So I went back and informed them, but they disagreed with me and doubted that I had correctly remembered. They sent me back to her, and she gave them the same answer. They then agreed that I had spoken the truth, and they said, "We were sent to you with this question, and you claimed that he said this and that." Umm Salamah replied, "He spoke the truth. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to fast on Saturdays and Sundays more than any other days because they were considered holidays for the non-believers, and he wanted to differentiate himself from them."  

أَرْسَلَنِي ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ وَنَاسٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ إِلَى أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ زَوْجِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ أَنْ أَسْأَلَهَا أَيُّ الْأَيَّامِ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ أَكْثَرُهَا صَوْمًا؟ فَقَالَتْ يَوْمُ السَّبْتِ وَيَوْمُ الْأَحَدِ فَأَتَيْتُهُمْ فَأَخْبَرْتُهُمْ فَأَنْكَرُوا ذَلِكَ عَلَيَّ فَظُنُّوا أَنِّي لَمْ أَحْفَظْ فَرَدُّونِي فَقَالَتْ مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ فَأَخْبَرْتُهُمْ فَقَامُوا بِأَجْمَعِهِمْ فَقَالُوا إِنَّا أَرْسَلْنَا إِلَيْكِ فِي كَذَا وَكَذَا فَزَعَمَ أَنَّكِ قُلْتِ كَذَا وَكَذَا فَقَالَتْ صَدَقَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَصُومُ يَوْمَ السَّبْتِ وَيَوْمَ الْأَحَدِ أَكْثَرَ مَا كَانَ يَصُومُ مِنَ الْأَيَّامِ وَيَقُولُ «إِنَّهُمَا عِيدَانِ لِلْمُشْرِكِينَ فَأُحِبُّ أَنْ أُخَالِفَهُمُ»  

I asked ʿAisha, mother of the believers, "O mother of the believers! How were the deeds of the Prophet? Did he use to do extra deeds of worship on special days?" She said, "No, but his deeds were regular and constant, and who among you is able to do what the Prophet ﷺ was able to do (i.e. in worshipping Allah)?" (Using translation from Bukhārī 6466)  

سَأَلْتُ أُمَّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَائِشَةَ قُلْتُ يَا أُمَّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَمَلُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ كَانَ يَخُصُّ شَيْئًا مِنَ الْأَيَّامِ؟ قَالَتْ «لَا كَانَ عَمَلُهُ دِيمَةً وَأَيُّكُمْ يَسْتَطِيعُ مَا كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَسْتَطِيعُ؟ »  

Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to fast till one would say that he would never stop fasting, and he would abandon fasting till one would say that he would never fast. I never saw Messenger of Allah ﷺ fasting for a whole month except the month of Ramadan, and did not see him fasting in any month more than in the month of Sha'ban. (Using translation from Bukhārī 1969)  

«كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَصُومُ حَتَّى نَقُولَ لَا يُفْطِرُ وَيُفْطِرُ حَتَّى نَقُولَ لَا يَصُومُ وَمَا رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ اسْتَكْمَلَ صِيَامَ شَهْرٍ قَطُّ إِلَّا رَمَضَانَ وَمَا رَأَيْتُهُ أَكْثَرَ صِيَامًا مِنْهُ فِي شَعْبَانَ»  

[Machine] I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say, "Fasting is a shield, like a shield of one of you in battle." And I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say, "Fasting for three days every month is a good deed."  

سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ «الصِّيَامُ جُنَّةٌ كَجُنَّةِ أَحَدِكُمْ مِنَ الْقِتَالِ» وَسَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ «صِيَامٌ حَسَنٌ ثَلَاثَةُ أَيَّامٍ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ»  

"A Bedouin came to the Prophet with a rabbit that he had grilled it and placed it in front of him. The Messenger of Allah refrained from eating, but he told the people to eat. The Bedouin also refrained, and the Prophet said to him: 'What is keeping you from eating?' He said: 'I fast three days of the month.' He said: 'If you was to fast, fast the shining days."' (Using translation from Nasāʾī 2421)   

جَاءَ أَعْرَابِيٌّ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ بِأَرْنَبٍ قَدْ شَوَاهَا وَجَاءَ مَعَهَا بِأَدَمِهَا فَوَضَعَهَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ فَأَمْسَكَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَلَمْ يَأْكُلْ وَأَمَرَ أَصْحَابَهُ أَنْ يَأْكُلُوا وَأَمْسَكَ الْأَعْرَابِيُّ فَقَالَ لَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «مَا يَمْنَعُكَ أَنْ تَأْكُلَ؟ » قَالَ إِنِّي أَصُومُ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ مِنَ الشَّهْرِ قَالَ «إِنْ كُنْتَ صَائِمًا فَصُمْ أَيَّامَ الْغُرِّ»  

[Machine] He was with the Prophet (PBUH) and he said, "The Prophet (PBUH) used to command them to fast on Mondays and Thursdays and would say, 'It is the fasting of a lifetime.'"  

أَنَّهُ كَانَ مَعَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَقَالَ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ يَأْمُرُهُمْ بِصِيَامِ الْبِيضِ وَيَقُولُ «هِيَ صِيَامُ الدَّهْرِ»  

[Machine] From the Prophet ﷺ said: "Fasting three days in every month is the fasting of a lifetime and its regular observance."  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ «صَوْمُ ثَلَاثَةِ أَيَّامٍ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ صِيَامُ الدَّهْرِ وَقِيَامُهُ»  

[Machine] From his father, the Prophet ﷺ wiped his head and said, "The fasting of three days each month is equivalent to fasting the entire year and its (rewarded) breaking of the fast."  

عَنْ أَبِيهِ وَكَانَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ مَسَحَ عَلَى رَأْسِهِ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «صِيَامُ ثَلَاثَةِ أَيَّامٍ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ صِيَامُ الدَّهْرِ وَإِفْطَارُهُ»  

"I heard Mu'adhah saying to Aishah: 'Did the Messenger of Allah fast three days of every month?' She replied in the affirmative. So she said: 'Which of them would he fast?' She said: 'Which of them he would fast was not noticeable.'" (Using translation from Tirmidhī 763)   

قُلْتُ لِعَائِشَةَ «أَكَانَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ يَصُومُ مِنَ الشَّهْرِ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ؟ » قَالَتْ نَعَمْ قُلْتُ «مِنْ أَيِّهِ؟ » قَالَتْ لَمْ يُبَالِ مِنْ أَيِّهِ صَامَ  

"The Messenger of Allah used to command us to fast the three days with the shining bright nights (Al-Ayam Al-Bid), the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth." (Using translation from Nasāʾī 2432)   

«أَمَرَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ بِصَوْمِ ثَلَاثَ عَشْرَةَ وَأَرْبَعَ عَشْرَةَ وَخَمْسَ عَشْرَةَ»  

"The Messenger of Allah commanded us to fast the three days of Al-Bid, the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth." (Using translation from Nasāʾī 2422)  

«أَمَرَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَنْ نَصُومَ مِنَ الشَّهْرِ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامِ الْبِيضِ ثَلَاثَ عَشْرَةَ وَأَرْبَعَ عَشْرَةَ وَخَمْسَ عَشْرَةَ»  

“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to fast three days of each month.” I said: “Which were they?” She said: “He did not care which days they were.” (Using translation from Ibn Mājah 1709)  

«كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَصُومُ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ» قُلْتُ مِنْ أَيِّهِ؟ قَالَتْ «لَمْ يَكُنْ يُبَالِي مِنْ أَيِّهِ كَانَ»  

[Machine] I came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and asked him about fasting, and he said, "Fast one day of every month and you will have the reward of what remains." I said, "I am able to do more than that." He said, "Fast two days of every month and you will have the reward of what remains." I said, "I am able to do more than that." He said, "Fast three days of every month and you will have the reward of what remains." I said, "I am able to do more than that." He said, "The most beloved fast to Allah is the fasting of Prophet David. He used to fast one day and break his fast on the following day."  

أَتَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَسَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الصَّوْمِ فَقَالَ «صُمْ يَوْمًا مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ وَلَكَ أَجْرُ مَا بَقِيَ» قُلْتُ إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ قَالَ «صُمْ يَوْمَيْنِ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ وَلَكَ أَجْرُ مَا بَقِيَ» قُلْتُ إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ قَالَ «صُمْ ثَلَاثَةُ أَيَّامٍ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ وَلَكَ أَجْرُ مَا بَقِيَ» قُلْتُ إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ قَالَ «إِنَّ أَحَبَّ الصِّيَامِ إِلَى اللَّهِ صَوْمُ دَاوُدَ» وَكَانَ يَصُومُ يَوْمًا وَيُفْطِرُ يَوْمًا  

[Machine] Abu Huraira was traveling, and when they arrived and put down the luggage, they sent for him while he was praying. He said, "Indeed, I am fasting." When they were about to finish, he came and started eating. The people looked at their messenger and he said, "Why are you looking at me? By Allah, he informed me that he was fasting." Abu Huraira said, "He spoke the truth. I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say, 'Whoever fasts three days of each month, it is as if he fasted the whole month.' I have been fasting three days of each month, and indeed, I am fasting the whole month. And I found the confirmation of that in the book of Allah, the Exalted: 'Whoever brings a good deed, he will have ten times its reward.'"  

أَنَّ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ كَانَ فِي سَفَرٍ فَلَمَّا نَزَلُوا وَوُضِعَتِ السَّفَرَةُ بَعَثُوا إِلَيْهِ وَهُوَ يُصَلِّي فَقَالَ إِنِّي صَائِمٌ فَلَمَّا كَادُوا أَنْ يَفْرُغُوا جَاءَ فَجَعَلَ يَأْكُلُ فَنَظَرَ الْقَوْمُ إِلَى رَسُولِهِمْ فَقَالَ مَا تَنْظُرُونَ إِلَيَّ قَدْ وَاللَّهِ أَخْبَرَنِي أَنَّهُ صَائِمٌ فَقَالَ أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ صَدَقَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ «مَنْ صَامَ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ فَقَدْ صَامَ الشَّهْرَ كُلَّهُ» وَقَدْ صُمْتُ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ وَإِنِّي الشَّهْرَ كُلَّهُ صَائِمٌ وَوَجَدْتُ تَصْدِيقَ ذَلِكَ فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ جَلَّ وَعَلَا {مَنْ جَاءَ بِالْحَسَنَةِ فَلَهُ عَشْرُ أَمْثَالِهَا}  

[Machine] The translation of the given text is: "I informed the Messenger of Allah ﷺ that I swear by Allah, I will fast during the day and stand up for prayer at night as long as I live. So, I told him about it. He said, 'You cannot do that, so fast and break your fast, sleep and wake up, and fast three days every month, for indeed, every good deed is multiplied ten times, and that is like fasting for a lifetime.'"  

أُخْبِرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَنِّي أَقُولُ وَاللَّهِ لَأَصُومَنَّ النَّهَارَ وَلَأَقُومَنَّ اللَّيْلَ مَا عِشْتُ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ قَدْ قُلْتُهُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ «فَإِنَّكَ لَا تَسْتَطِيعُ ذَلِكَ صُمْ وَأَفْطِرْ وَنَمْ وَقُمْ وَصُمْ مِنَ الشَّهْرِ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ فَإِنَّ الْحَسَنَةَ بِعَشْرِ أَمْثَالِهَا وَذَلِكَ مِثْلُ صِيَامِ الدَّهْرِ»  

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said regarding the fast of the day of Ashura, after the fast of Ramadan was obligated: "Whoever wishes to fast it may do so, and whoever wishes to break his fast may do so."  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ فِي صَوْمِ يَوْمِ عَاشُورَاءَ بَعْدَمَا نَزَلَ صَوْمُ رَمَضَانَ «مَنْ شَاءَ صَامَهُ وَمَنْ شَاءَ أَفْطَرَهُ»  

“That was a day when the people of the Ignorance used to fast. So whoever among you wants to fast may do so, and whoever does not want to may leave it.” (Using translation from Ibn Mājah 1737)   

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «يَوْمُ عَاشُورَاءَ يَوْمٌ كَانَتْ تَصُومُهُ أَهْلُ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ فَمَنْ أَحَبَّ مِنْكُمْ أَنْ يَصُومَهُ فَلْيَصُمْهُ وَمَنْ كَرِهَهُ فَلْيَدَعْهُ»  

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ observed the middle ten nights of Ramadan while seeking Laylat al-Qadr (Night of Decree), then he commanded the construction (of a shelter), but it collapsed. Then it was revealed to him during the last ten nights, so he commanded its construction again. He came out to us and said, "Indeed, it has been revealed to me that Laylat al-Qadr is in one of the odd nights of the last ten nights. So seek it in the ninth, seventh, and fifth nights." I said, "O Abu Sa'id, you are more knowledgeable about our number, so which night is the ninth, seventh, and fifth?" He said, "If it is the twenty-first night, then leave (for seeking it) on the next night, then the seventh night is the one after it, and then leave on the next night; the fifth night is the one after it." Al-Ruwairi said: Al-Mutarraf reported to me from Abu al-'Ala' that he heard Mu'awiyah say, "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, 'And the third (night)'"  

اعْتَكَفَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ الْعَشْرَ الْأَوْسَطَ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ وَهُوَ يَلْتَمِسُ لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ ثُمَّ أَمَرَ بِالْبِنَاءِ فَنُقِضَ ثُمَّ أُبِينَتْ لَهُ فِي الْعَشْرِ الْأَوَاخِرِ فَأَمَرَ بِهِ فَأُعِيدَ فَخَرَجَ إِلَيْنَا فَقَالَ «إِنَّهَا أُبِينَتْ لِي لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ وَإِنِّي خَرَجْتُ لِأُبِينَهَا لَكُمْ فَتَلَاحَى رَجُلَانِ فَنُسِّيتُهَا فَالْتَمِسُوهَا فِي التَّاسِعَةِ وَالسَّابِعَةِ وَالْخَامِسَةِ» قُلْتُ يَا أَبَا سَعِيدٍ إِنَّكُمْ أَعْلَمُ بِالْعَدَدِ مِنَّا فَأَيُّ لَيْلَةٍ التَّاسِعَةُ وَالسَّابِعَةُ وَالْخَامِسَةُ قَالَ إِذَا كَانَ لَيْلَةُ وَاحِدٍ وَعِشْرِينَ ثُمَّ دَعْ لَيْلَةً ثُمَّ الَّتِي تَلِيهَا هِيَ السَّابِعَةُ ثُمَّ دَعْ لَيْلَةً وَالَّتِي تَلِيهَا هِيَ الْخَامِسَةُ قَالَ الْجُرَيْرِيُّ وَحَدَّثَنِي أَبُو الْعَلَاءِ عَنْ مُطَرِّفٍ أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ مُعَاوِيَةَ يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «وَالثَّالِثَةِ»  

[Machine] "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to observe I'tikaf during the last ten nights of Ramadan when he was residing in Mecca. But when he traveled, he would observe I'tikaf for twenty nights in the following year."  

«كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِذَا كَانَ مُقِيمًا يَعْتَكِفُ فِي الْعَشْرِ الْأَوَاخِرِ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ فَإِذَا سَافَرَ اعْتَكَفَ مِنَ الْعَامِ الْمُقْبِلِ عِشْرِينَ»  

Ibn 'Umar (Allah be pleased with both of them) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to observe i'tikaf in the last ten days of Ramadan. (Using translation from Muslim 1171a)  

«أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ كَانَ يَعْتَكِفُ فِي الْعَشْرِ الْأَوَاخِرِ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ فَسَافَرَ وَلَمْ يَعْتَكِفْ فَلَمَّا كَانَ مِنَ الْعَامِ الْمُقْبِلِ اعْتَكَفَ عِشْرِينَ يَوْمًا»  

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to observe Itikaf during the last ten days of Ramadan when he was staying in one place. However, when he traveled, he would observe Itikaf for twenty days in the following year.  

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِذَا كَانَ مُقِيمًا يَعْتَكِفُ الْعَشْرَ الْأَوَاخِرَ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ فَإِذَا سَافَرَ اعْتَكَفَ مِنَ الْعَامِ الْمُقْبِلِ عِشْرِينَ  

The Prophet ﷺ used to observe retirement (i'tikaf) to the mosque during the last ten days of Ramadan till Allah took him, and then his wives observed retirement to the mosque after his death. (Using translation from Abū Dāʾūd 2462)   

«أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ كَانَ يَعْتَكِفُ فِي الْعَشْرِ الْأَوَاخِرِ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ حَتَّى قَبَضَهُ اللَّهُ»