When the Divine Revelation: "For those who can fast, they had a choice either fast, or feed a poor for every day," (2.184) was revealed, it was permissible for one to give a ransom and give up fasting, till the Verse succeeding it was revealed and abrogated it.  

لَمَّا نَزَلَتْ {وَعَلَى الَّذِينَ يُطِيقُونَهُ فِدْيَةٌ طَعَامُ مِسْكِينٍ} كَانَ مَنْ أَرَادَ أَنْ يُفْطِرَ وَيَفْتَدِيَ حَتَّى نَزَلَتِ الآيَةُ الَّتِي بَعْدَهَا فَنَسَخَتْهَا مَاتَ بُكَيْرٌ قَبْلَ يَزِيدَ  

Sometimes I missed some days of Ramadan, but could not fast in lieu of them except in the month of Sha'ban." Said Yahya, a sub-narrator, "She used to be busy serving the Prophet ﷺ ."  

سَمِعْتُ عَائِشَةَ ؓ تَقُولُ كَانَ يَكُونُ عَلَىَّ الصَّوْمُ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ فَمَا أَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ أَقْضِيَ إِلاَّ فِي شَعْبَانَ قَالَ يَحْيَى الشُّغْلُ مِنَ النَّبِيِّ أَوْ بِالنَّبِيِّ ﷺ  

Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Whoever died and he ought to have fasted (the missed days of Ramadan) then his guardians must fast on his behalf."  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ مَنْ مَاتَ وَعَلَيْهِ صِيَامٌ صَامَ عَنْهُ وَلِيُّهُ  

A man came to the Prophet ﷺ and said, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! My mother died and she ought to have fasted one month (for her missed Ramadan). Shall I fast on her behalf?" The Prophet ﷺ replied in the affirmative and said, "Allah's debts have more right to be paid." In another narration a woman is reported to have said, "My sister died..." Narrated Ibn ʿAbbas: A woman said to the Prophet ﷺ "My mother died and she had vowed to fast but she didn't fast." In another narration Ibn ʿAbbas is reported to have said, "A woman said to the Prophet, "My mother died while she ought to have fasted for fifteen days."  

جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ أُمِّي مَاتَتْ وَعَلَيْهَا صَوْمُ شَهْرٍ أَفَأَقْضِيهِ عَنْهَا قَالَ نَعَمْ قَالَ فَدَيْنُ اللَّهِ أَحَقُّ أَنْ يُقْضَى قَالَ سُلَيْمَانُ فَقَالَ الْحَكَمُ وَسَلَمَةُ وَنَحْنُ جَمِيعًا جُلُوسٌ حِينَ حَدَّثَ مُسْلِمٌ بِهَذَا الْحَدِيثِ قَالاَ سَمِعْنَا مُجَاهِدًا يَذْكُرُ هَذَا عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ وَيُذْكَرُ عَنْ أَبِي خَالِدٍ حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ عَنِ الْحَكَمِ وَمُسْلِمٍ الْبَطِينِ وَسَلَمَةَ بْنِ كُهَيْلٍ عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ وَعَطَاءٍ وَمُجَاهِدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَتِ امْرَأَةٌ لِلنَّبِيِّ ﷺ إِنَّ أُخْتِي مَاتَتْ وَقَالَ يَحْيَى وَأَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ عَنْ مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ سَعِيدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَتِ امْرَأَةٌ لِلنَّبِيِّ ﷺ إِنَّ أُمِّي مَاتَتْ وَقَالَ عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ أَبِي أُنَيْسَةَ عَنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَتِ امْرَأَةٌ لِلنَّبِيِّ ﷺ إِنَّ أُمِّي مَاتَتْ وَعَلَيْهَا صَوْمُ نَذْرٍ وَقَالَ أَبُو حَرِيزٍ حَدَّثَنَا عِكْرِمَةُ عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَتِ امْرَأَةٌ لِلنَّبِيِّ ﷺ مَاتَتْ أُمِّي وَعَلَيْهَا صَوْمُ خَمْسَةَ عَشَرَ يَوْمًا  

Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Fasting is a shield (or a screen or a shelter). So, the person observing fasting should avoid sexual relation with his wife and should not behave foolishly and impudently, and if somebody fights with him or abuses him, he should tell him twice, 'I am fasting."

The Prophet ﷺ added, "By Him in Whose Hands my soul is, the smell coming out from the mouth of a fasting person is better in the sight of Allah than the smell of musk. (Allah says about the fasting person), 'He has left his food, drink and desires for My sake. The fast is for Me. So I will reward (the fasting person) for it and the reward of good deeds is multiplied ten times."  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ: «الصِّيَامُ جُنَّةٌ: فَلاَ يَرْفُثْ، وَلاَ يَجْهَلْ؛ وَإِنِ امْرُؤٌ قَاتَلَهُ أَوْ شَاتَمَهُ فَلْيَقُلْ: إِنِّي صَائِمٌ مَرَّتَيْنِ۔»

«وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لَخُلُوفُ فَمِ الصَّائِمِ أَطْيَبُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى مِنْ رِيحِ الْمِسْكِ: يَتْرُكُ طَعَامَهُ، وَشَرَابَهُ، وَشَهْوَتَهُ مِنْ أَجْلِي؛ الصِّيَامُ لِي وَأَنَا أَجْزِي بِهِ وَالْحَسَنَةُ بِعَشْرِ أَمْثَالِهَا۔»  

That he heard Messenger of Allah ﷺ saying, "A slave of Allah may utter a word without thinking whether it is right or wrong, he may slip down in the Fire as far away a distance equal to that between the east."  

سَمِعَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ إِنَّ الْعَبْدَ لَيَتَكَلَّمُ بِالْكَلِمَةِ مَا يَتَبَيَّنُ فِيهَا يَزِلُّ بِهَا فِي النَّارِ أَبْعَدَ مِمَّا بَيْنَ الْمَشْرِقِ  

the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Allah said, 'All the deeds of Adam's sons (people) are for them, except fasting which is for Me, and I will give the reward for it.'

"Fasting is a shield (protection from the Hellfire and from committing sins). If one of you is fasting, he should avoid sexual relation with his wife and quarreling, and if somebody should fight or quarrel with him, he should say: I am fasting."

"By Him in Whose Hands my soul is, the unpleasant smell coming out from the mouth of a fasting person is better in the sight of Allah than the smell of musk."

"There are two pleasures for the fasting person, one at the time of breaking his fast, and the other at the time when he will meet his Lord; then he will be pleased because of his fasting."  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: «قَالَ اللَّهُ: كُلُّ عَمَلِ ابْنِ آدَمَ لَهُ إِلاَّ الصِّيَامَ، فَإِنَّهُ لِي وَأَنَا أَجْزِي بِهِ۔»

«وَالصِّيَامُ جُنَّةٌ وَإِذَا كَانَ يَوْمُ صَوْمِ أَحَدِكُمْ فَلاَ يَرْفُثْ وَلاَ يَصْخَبْ فَإِنْ سَابَّهُ أَحَدٌ أَوْ قَاتَلَهُ فَلْيَقُلْ إِنِّي امْرُؤٌ صَائِمٌ۔»

«وَالَّذِي نَفْسُ مُحَمَّدٍ بِيَدِهِ، لَخُلُوفُ فَمِ الصَّائِمِ أَطْيَبُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ مِنْ رِيحِ الْمِسْكِ لِلصَّائِمِ۔»

«فَرْحَتَانِ يَفْرَحُهُمَا إِذَا أَفْطَرَ فَرِحَ وَإِذَا لَقِيَ رَبَّهُ فَرِحَ بِصَوْمِهِ۔»  

The Prophet ﷺ said, "There is a gate in Paradise called Ar-Raiyan, and those who observe fasts will enter through it on the Day of Resurrection and none except them will enter through it. It will be said, 'Where are those who used to observe fasts?' They will get up, and none except them will enter through it. After their entry the gate will be closed and nobody will enter through it."  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ: «إِنَّ فِي الْجَنَّةِ بَابًا يُقَالُ لَهُ الرَّيَّانُ: يَدْخُلُ مِنْهُ الصَّائِمُونَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ؛ لاَ يَدْخُلُ مِنْهُ أَحَدٌ غَيْرُهُمْ؛ يُقَالُ أَيْنَ الصَّائِمُونَ؟ فَيَقُومُونَ؛ لاَ يَدْخُلُ مِنْهُ أَحَدٌ غَيْرُهُمْ۔ فَإِذَا دَخَلُوا أُغْلِقَ فَلَمْ يَدْخُلْ مِنْهُ أَحَدٌ۔»  

I heard the Prophet ﷺ saying, "Indeed, anyone who fasts for one day for Allah's Pleasure, Allah will keep his face away from the (Hell) fire for (a distance covered by a journey of) seventy years."  

سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ يَقُولُ: «مَنْ صَامَ يَوْمًا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ بَعَّدَ اللَّهُ وَجْهَهُ عَنِ النَّارِ سَبْعِينَ خَرِيفًا۔»  

The Prophet ﷺ said, "If somebody eats or drinks forgetfully then he should complete his fast, for what he has eaten or drunk, has been given to him by Allah."  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ إِذَا نَسِيَ فَأَكَلَ وَشَرِبَ فَلْيُتِمَّ صَوْمَهُ فَإِنَّمَا أَطْعَمَهُ اللَّهُ وَسَقَاهُ  

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.  

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَصُومُ حَتَّى نَقُولَ لاَ يُفْطِرُ وَيُفْطِرُ حَتَّى نَقُولَ لاَ يَصُومُ فَمَا رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ اسْتَكْمَلَ صِيَامَ شَهْرٍ إِلاَّ رَمَضَانَ وَمَا رَأَيْتُهُ أَكْثَرَ صِيَامًا مِنْهُ فِي شَعْبَانَ  

The Prophet ﷺ never fasted in any month more than in the month of Sha'ban.

He used to say, "Do those deeds which you can do easily, as Allah will not get tired (of giving rewards) till you get bored and tired (of performing religious deeds)." The most beloved prayer to the Prophet ﷺ was the one that was done regularly (throughout the life) even if it were little. And whenever the Prophet ﷺ offered a prayer he used to offer it regularly.  

لَمْ يَكُنِ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ يَصُومُ شَهْرًا أَكْثَرَ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ فَإِنَّهُ كَانَ يَصُومُ شَعْبَانَ كُلَّهُ

وَكَانَ يَقُولُ خُذُوا مِنَ الْعَمَلِ مَا تُطِيقُونَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يَمَلُّ حَتَّى تَمَلُّوا وَأَحَبُّ الصَّلاَةِ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ مَا دُووِمَ عَلَيْهِ وَإِنْ قَلَّتْ وَكَانَ إِذَا صَلَّى صَلاَةً دَاوَمَ عَلَيْهَا  

The Prophet ﷺ never fasted a full month except the month of Ramadan, and he used to fast till one could say, "By Allah, he will never stop fasting," and he would abandon fasting till one would say, "By Allah, he will never fast."  

مَا صَامَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ شَهْرًا كَامِلاً قَطُّ غَيْرَ رَمَضَانَ وَيَصُومُ حَتَّى يَقُولَ الْقَائِلُ لاَ وَاللَّهِ لاَ يُفْطِرُ وَيُفْطِرُ حَتَّى يَقُولَ الْقَائِلُ لاَ وَاللَّهِ لاَ يَصُومُ  

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."  

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  

Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to me, "O ʿAbdullah! Have I not been informed that you fast during the day and offer prayers all the night." ʿAbdullah replied, "Yes, O Messenger of Allah ﷺ!" The Prophet ﷺ said, "Don't do that; fast for few days and then give it up for few days, offer prayers and also sleep at night, as your body has a right on you, and your wife has a right on you, and your guest has a right on you. And it is sufficient for you to fast three days in a month, as the reward of a good deed is multiplied ten times, so it will be like fasting throughout the year." I insisted (on fasting) and so I was given a hard instruction. I said, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! I have power." The Prophet ﷺ said, "Fast like the fasting of the Prophet ﷺ David and do not fast more than that." I said, "How was the fasting of the Prophet ﷺ of Allah, David?" He said, "Half of the year," (i.e. he used to fast on every alternate day). Afterwards when ʿAbdullah became old, he used to say, "It would have been better for me if I had accepted the permission of the Prophet (which he gave me i.e. to fast only three days a month).  

لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ أَلَمْ أُخْبَرْ أَنَّكَ تَصُومُ النَّهَارَ وَتَقُومُ اللَّيْلَ فَقُلْتُ بَلَى يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ فَلاَ تَفْعَلْ صُمْ وَأَفْطِرْ وَقُمْ وَنَمْ فَإِنَّ لِجَسَدِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا وَإِنَّ لِعَيْنِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا وَإِنَّ لِزَوْجِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا وَإِنَّ لِزَوْرِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا وَإِنَّ بِحَسْبِكَ أَنْ تَصُومَ كُلَّ شَهْرٍ ثَلاَثَةَ أَيَّامٍ فَإِنَّ لَكَ بِكُلِّ حَسَنَةٍ عَشْرَ أَمْثَالِهَا فَإِنَّ ذَلِكَ صِيَامُ الدَّهْرِ كُلِّهِ فَشَدَّدْتُ فَشُدِّدَ عَلَىَّ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي أَجِدُ قُوَّةً قَالَ فَصُمْ صِيَامَ نَبِيِّ اللَّهِ دَاوُدَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ وَلاَ تَزِدْ عَلَيْهِ قُلْتُ وَمَا كَانَ صِيَامُ نَبِيِّ اللَّهِ دَاوُدَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ قَالَ نِصْفَ الدَّهْرِ فَكَانَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ يَقُولُ بَعْدَ مَا كَبِرَ يَا لَيْتَنِي قَبِلْتُ رُخْصَةَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ  

Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to me, "Recite the whole Qur'an in one month's time." I said, "But I have power (to do more than that)." Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Then finish the recitation of the Qur'an in seven days, and do not finish it in less than this period."  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ اقْرَإِ الْقُرْآنَ فِي شَهْرٍ قُلْتُ إِنِّي أَجِدُ قُوَّةً حَتَّى قَالَ فَاقْرَأْهُ فِي سَبْعٍ وَلاَ تَزِدْ عَلَى ذَلِكَ  

Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to me, "O ʿAbdullah! Do not be like so and so who used to pray at night and then stopped the night prayer."  

لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ لاَ تَكُنْ مِثْلَ فُلاَنٍ كَانَ يَقُومُ اللَّيْلَ فَتَرَكَ قِيَامَ اللَّيْلِ وَقَالَ هِشَامٌ حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي الْعِشْرِينَ حَدَّثَنَا الأَوْزَاعِيُّ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي يَحْيَى عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ بْنِ ثَوْبَانَ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو سَلَمَةَ مِثْلَهُ وَتَابَعَهُ عَمْرُو بْنُ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ عَنِ الأَوْزَاعِيِّ  

The news of my daily fasting and praying every night throughout the night reached the Prophet. So he sent for me or I met him, and he said, "I have been informed that you fast everyday and pray every night (all the night). Fast (for some days) and give up fasting (for some days); pray and sleep, for your eyes have a right on you, and your body and your family (i.e. wife) have a right on you." I replied, "I have more power than that (fasting)." The Prophet ﷺ said, "Then fast like the fasts of (the Prophet) David". I said, "How?" He replied, "He used to fast on alternate days, and he used not to flee on meeting the enemy." I said, "From where can I get that chance?" (ʿAta' said, "I do not know how the expression of fasting daily throughout the life occurred.") So, the Prophet ﷺ said, twice, "Whoever fasts daily throughout his life is just as the one who does not fast at all."  

أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عَمْرٍو ؓ بَلَغَ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ أَنِّي أَسْرُدُ الصَّوْمَ وَأُصَلِّي اللَّيْلَ فَإِمَّا أَرْسَلَ إِلَىَّ وَإِمَّا لَقِيتُهُ فَقَالَ أَلَمْ أُخْبَرْ أَنَّكَ تَصُومُ وَلاَ تُفْطِرُ وَتُصَلِّي وَلاَ تَنَامُ فَصُمْ وَأَفْطِرْ وَقُمْ وَنَمْ فَإِنَّ لِعَيْنِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَظًّا وَإِنَّ لِنَفْسِكَ وَأَهْلِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَظًّا قَالَ إِنِّي لأَقْوَى لِذَلِكَ قَالَ فَصُمْ صِيَامَ دَاوُدَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ قَالَ وَكَيْفَ قَالَ كَانَ يَصُومُ يَوْمًا وَيُفْطِرُ يَوْمًا وَلاَ يَفِرُّ إِذَا لاَقَى قَالَ مَنْ لِي بِهَذِهِ يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ قَالَ عَطَاءٌ لاَ أَدْرِي كَيْفَ ذَكَرَ صِيَامَ الأَبَدِ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ لاَ صَامَ مَنْ صَامَ الأَبَدَ مَرَّتَيْنِ  

The Prophet ﷺ said to me, "You fast daily all the year and pray every night all the night?" I replied in the affirmative. The Prophet ﷺ said, "If you keep on doing this, your eyes will become weak and your body will get tired. He who fasts all the year is as he who did not fast at all. The fasting of three days (a month) will be equal to the fasting of the whole year." I replied, "I have the power for more than this." The Prophet ﷺ said, "Then fast like the fasting of David who used to fast on alternate days and would never flee from the battle field, on meeting the enemy."  

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا الْعَبَّاسِ الْمَكِّيَّ وَكَانَ شَاعِرًا وَكَانَ لاَ يُتَّهَمُ فِي حَدِيثِهِ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْعَاصِ ؓ قَالَ قَالَ لِي النَّبِيُّ ﷺ إِنَّكَ لَتَصُومُ الدَّهْرَ وَتَقُومُ اللَّيْلَ فَقُلْتُ نَعَمْ قَالَ إِنَّكَ إِذَا فَعَلْتَ ذَلِكَ هَجَمَتْ لَهُ الْعَيْنُ وَنَفِهَتْ لَهُ النَّفْسُ لاَ صَامَ مَنْ صَامَ الدَّهْرَ صَوْمُ ثَلاَثَةِ أَيَّامٍ صَوْمُ الدَّهْرِ كُلِّهِ قُلْتُ فَإِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ قَالَ فَصُمْ صَوْمَ دَاوُدَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ كَانَ يَصُومُ يَوْمًا وَيُفْطِرُ يَوْمًا وَلاَ يَفِرُّ إِذَا لاَقَى  

Messenger of Allah ﷺ told me, "The most beloved prayer to Allah is that of David and the most beloved fasts to Allah are those of David. He used to sleep for half of the night and then pray for one third of the night and again sleep for its sixth part and used to fast on alternate days."  

أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ لَهُ أَحَبُّ الصَّلاَةِ إِلَى اللَّهِ صَلاَةُ دَاوُدَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ وَأَحَبُّ الصِّيَامِ إِلَى اللَّهِ صِيَامُ دَاوُدَ وَكَانَ يَنَامُ نِصْفَ اللَّيْلِ وَيَقُومُ ثُلُثَهُ وَيَنَامُ سُدُسَهُ وَيَصُومُ يَوْمًا وَيُفْطِرُ يَوْمًا  

Messenger of Allah ﷺ was informed about my fasts, and he came to me and I spread for him a leather cushion stuffed with palm fires, but he sat on the ground and the cushion remained between me and him, and then he said, "Isn't it sufficient for you to fast three days a month?" I replied, "O Allah's Apostle! (I can fast more)." He said, "Five?" I replied, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! (I can fast more)." He said, "Seven?" I replied, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! (I can fast more)." He said, "Nine (days per month)?" I replied, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! (I can fast more)" He said, "Eleven (days per month)?" And then the Prophet said, "There is no fast superior to that of the Prophet ﷺ David it was for half of the year. So, fast on alternate days."  

فَحَدَّثَنَا أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ ذُكِرَ لَهُ صَوْمِي فَدَخَلَ عَلَىَّ فَأَلْقَيْتُ لَهُ وِسَادَةً مِنْ أَدَمٍ حَشْوُهَا لِيفٌ فَجَلَسَ عَلَى الأَرْضِ وَصَارَتِ الْوِسَادَةُ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَهُ فَقَالَ أَمَا يَكْفِيكَ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ ثَلاَثَةُ أَيَّامٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ خَمْسًا قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ سَبْعًا قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ تِسْعًا قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ إِحْدَى عَشْرَةَ ثُمَّ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ لاَ صَوْمَ فَوْقَ صَوْمِ دَاوُدَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ شَطْرَ الدَّهْرِ صُمْ يَوْمًا وَأَفْطِرْ يَوْمًا  

That the Prophet ﷺ asked him (Imran) or asked a man and ʿImran was listening, "O Abu so-and-so! Have you fasted the last days of this month?" (The narrator thought that he said, "the month of Ramadan"). The man replied, "No, O Messenger of Allah ﷺ!" The Prophet ﷺ said to him, "When you finish your fasting (of Ramadan) fast two days (in Shawwal)." Through another series of narrators ʿImran said, "The Prophet ﷺ said, '(Have you fasted) the last days of Sha'ban?"  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ أَنَّهُ سَأَلَهُ أَوْ سَأَلَ رَجُلاً وَعِمْرَانُ يَسْمَعُ فَقَالَ يَا أَبَا فُلاَنٍ أَمَا صُمْتَ سَرَرَ هَذَا الشَّهْرِ قَالَ أَظُنُّهُ قَالَ يَعْنِي رَمَضَانَ قَالَ الرَّجُلُ لاَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ فَإِذَا أَفْطَرْتَ فَصُمْ يَوْمَيْنِ لَمْ يَقُلِ الصَّلْتُ أَظُنُّهُ يَعْنِي رَمَضَانَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ وَقَالَ ثَابِثٌ عَنْ مُطَرِّفٍ عَنْ عِمْرَانَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ مِنْ سَرَرِ شَعْبَانَ  

Some men amongst the companions of the Prophet ﷺ were shown in their dreams that the night of Qadr was in the last seven nights of Ramadan. Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "It seems that all your dreams agree that (the Night of Qadr) is in the last seven nights, and whoever wants to search for it (i.e. the Night of Qadr) should search in the last seven (nights of Ramadan).  

أَنَّ رِجَالاً مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ أُرُوا لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ فِي الْمَنَامِ فِي السَّبْعِ الأَوَاخِرِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَرَى رُؤْيَاكُمْ قَدْ تَوَاطَأَتْ فِي السَّبْعِ الأَوَاخِرِ فَمَنْ كَانَ مُتَحَرِّيَهَا فَلْيَتَحَرَّهَا فِي السَّبْعِ الأَوَاخِرِ  

I asked Abu Saʿid, and he was a friend of mine, (about the Night of Qadr) and he said, "We practiced Iʿtikaf (seclusion in the mosque) in the middle third of the month of Ramadan with the Prophet ﷺ . In the morning of the 20th of Ramadan, the Prophet ﷺ came and addressed us and said, 'I was informed of (the date of the Night of Qadr) but I was caused to forget it; so search for it in the odd nights of the last ten nights of the month of Ramadan. (In the dream) I saw myself prostrating in mud and water (as a sign). So, whoever was in Iʿtikaf with me should return to it with me (for another 10-day's period)', and we returned. At that time there was no sign of clouds in the sky but suddenly a cloud came and it rained till rainwater started leaking through the roof of the mosque which was made of date-palm leaf stalks. Then the prayer was established and I saw Messenger of Allah ﷺ prostrating in mud and water and I saw the traces of mud on his forehead."  

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا سَعِيدٍ وَكَانَ لِي صَدِيقًا فَقَالَ اعْتَكَفْنَا مَعَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ الْعَشْرَ الأَوْسَطَ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ فَخَرَجَ صَبِيحَةَ عِشْرِينَ فَخَطَبَنَا وَقَالَ إِنِّي أُرِيتُ لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ ثُمَّ أُنْسِيتُهَا أَوْ نُسِّيتُهَا فَالْتَمِسُوهَا فِي الْعَشْرِ الأَوَاخِرِ فِي الْوَتْرِ وَإِنِّي رَأَيْتُ أَنِّي أَسْجُدُ فِي مَاءٍ وَطِينٍ فَمَنْ كَانَ اعْتَكَفَ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَلْيَرْجِعْ فَرَجَعْنَا وَمَا نَرَى فِي السَّمَاءِ قَزَعَةً فَجَاءَتْ سَحَابَةٌ فَمَطَرَتْ حَتَّى سَالَ سَقْفُ الْمَسْجِدِ وَكَانَ مِنْ جَرِيدِ النَّخْلِ وَأُقِيمَتِ الصَّلاَةُ فَرَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَسْجُدُ فِي الْمَاءِ وَالطِّينِ حَتَّى رَأَيْتُ أَثَرَ الطِّينِ فِي جَبْهَتِهِ  

Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to practice Iʿtikaf (in the mosque) in the middle third of Ramadan and after passing the twenty nights he used to go back to his house on the 21st, and the people who were in Iʿtikaf with him also used to go back to their houses. Once in Ramadan, in which he practiced Iʿtikaf, he established the night prayers at the night in which he used to return home, and then he addressed the people and ordered them whatever Allah wished him to order and said, "I used to practice Iʿtikaf for these ten days (i.e. the middle third but now I intend to stay in Iʿtikaf for the last ten days (of the month); so whoever was in Iʿtikaf with me should stay at his place of seclusion. I have verily been shown (the date of) this Night (of Qadr) but I have forgotten it. So search for it in the odd nights of the last ten days (of this month). I also saw myself (in the dream) prostrating in mud and water." On the night of the 21st, the sky was covered with clouds and it rained, and the rainwater started leaking through the roof of the mosque at the praying place of the Prophet ﷺ . I saw with my own eyes the Prophet at the completion of the morning prayer leaving with his face covered with mud and water.  

عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ ؓ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُجَاوِرُ فِي رَمَضَانَ الْعَشْرَ الَّتِي فِي وَسَطِ الشَّهْرِ فَإِذَا كَانَ حِينَ يُمْسِي مِنْ عِشْرِينَ لَيْلَةً تَمْضِي وَيَسْتَقْبِلُ إِحْدَى وَعِشْرِينَ رَجَعَ إِلَى مَسْكَنِهِ وَرَجَعَ مَنْ كَانَ يُجَاوِرُ مَعَهُ وَأَنَّهُ أَقَامَ فِي شَهْرٍ جَاوَرَ فِيهِ اللَّيْلَةَ الَّتِي كَانَ يَرْجِعُ فِيهَا فَخَطَبَ النَّاسَ فَأَمَرَهُمْ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ كُنْتُ أُجَاوِرُ هَذِهِ الْعَشْرَ ثُمَّ قَدْ بَدَا لِي أَنْ أُجَاوِرَ هَذِهِ الْعَشْرَ الأَوَاخِرَ فَمَنْ كَانَ اعْتَكَفَ مَعِي فَلْيَثْبُتْ فِي مُعْتَكَفِهِ وَقَدْ أُرِيتُ هَذِهِ اللَّيْلَةَ ثُمَّ أُنْسِيتُهَا فَابْتَغُوهَا فِي الْعَشْرِ الأَوَاخِرِ وَابْتَغُوهَا فِي كُلِّ وِتْرٍ وَقَدْ رَأَيْتُنِي أَسْجُدُ فِي مَاءٍ وَطِينٍ فَاسْتَهَلَّتِ السَّمَاءُ فِي تِلْكَ اللَّيْلَةِ فَأَمْطَرَتْ فَوَكَفَ الْمَسْجِدُ فِي مُصَلَّى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ لَيْلَةَ إِحْدَى وَعِشْرِينَ فَبَصُرَتْ عَيْنِي رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَنَظَرْتُ إِلَيْهِ انْصَرَفَ مِنَ الصُّبْحِ وَوَجْهُهُ مُمْتَلِئٌ طِينًا وَمَاءً  

Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to practice Iʿtikaf in the last ten nights of Ramadan and used to say, "Look for the Night of Qadr in the last ten nights of the month of Ramadan."  

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُجَاوِرُ فِي الْعَشْرِ الأَوَاخِرِ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ وَيَقُولُ تَحَرَّوْا لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ فِي الْعَشْرِ الأَوَاخِرِ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ