This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Ibn 'Abbas (Allah be pleased with them) from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ بِهَذَا الْحَدِيثِ  

A woman came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said: Messenger of Allah, my mother has died and there is due from her a fast of vow; should I fast on her behalf? Thereupon he said: You see that if your mother had died in debt, would it not have been paid on her behalf? She said: Yes. He (the Holy Prophet) said: Then observe fast on behalf of your mother.  

جَاءَتِ امْرَأَةٌ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَتْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ أُمِّي مَاتَتْ وَعَلَيْهَا صَوْمُ نَذْرٍ أَفَأَصُومُ عَنْهَا قَالَ أَرَأَيْتِ لَوْ كَانَ عَلَى أُمِّكِ دَيْنٌ فَقَضَيْتِيهِ أَكَانَ يُؤَدِّي ذَلِكِ عَنْهَا قَالَتْ نَعَمْ قَالَ فَصُومِي عَنْ أُمِّكِ  

When we were sitting with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, a woman came to him and said: I had gifted to my mother a maid-servant, and now she (the mother) has died. Thereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: There is a definite reward for you and she (the maid-servant) has been returned to you as an inheritance. She (that woman) again said: Fasts of a month (of Ramadan) are due upon her; should I observe them on her behalf? He (the Holy Prophet) said: Observe fasts on her behalf. She (again) said: She did not perform Hajj, should I perform it on her behalf? He (the Holy Prophet) said: Perform Hajj on her behalf.  

بَيْنَا أَنَا جَالِسٌ عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِذْ أَتَتْهُ امْرَأَةٌ فَقَالَتْ إِنِّي تَصَدَّقْتُ عَلَى أُمِّي بِجَارِيَةٍ وَإِنَّهَا مَاتَتْ قَالَ فَقَالَ وَجَبَ أَجْرُكِ وَرَدَّهَا عَلَيْكِ الْمِيرَاثُ قَالَتْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّهُ كَانَ عَلَيْهَا صَوْمُ شَهْرٍ أَفَأَصُومُ عَنْهَا قَالَ صُومِي عَنْهَا قَالَتْ إِنَّهَا لَمْ تَحُجَّ قَطُّ أَفَأَحُجُّ عَنْهَا قَالَ حُجِّي عَنْهَا  

I was sitting with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ ; the rest of the hadith is the same but with this variation that the (the narrator) said:" Fasts of two months."  

كُنْتُ جَالِسًا عِنْدَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ بِمِثْلِ حَدِيثِ ابْنِ مُسْهِرٍ غَيْرَ أَنَّهُ قَالَ صَوْمُ شَهْرَيْنِ  

A woman came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and the rest of the hadith is the same, but he said:" Fasting of one month."  

جَاءَتِ امْرَأَةٌ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَذَكَرَ بِمِثْلِهِ وَقَالَ صَوْمُ شَهْرٍ  

" Fasting of two months."  

وَقَالَ صَوْمُ شَهْرَيْنِ  

" Fasting for one month."  

أَتَتِ امْرَأَةٌ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ بِمِثْلِ حَدِيثِهِمْ وَقَالَ صَوْمُ شَهْرٍ  

If any one of you is invited to a meal when he is fasting, he should say:" I am fasting."  

النَّبِيَّ ﷺ وَقَالَ زُهَيْرٌ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ إِذَا دُعِيَ أَحَدُكُمْ إِلَى طَعَامٍ وَهُوَ صَائِمٌ فَلْيَقُلْ إِنِّي صَائِمٌ  

When any one of you gets up in the morning in the state of fasting, he should neither use obscene language nor do any act of ignorance. And if anyone slanders him or quarrels with him, he should say:" I am fasting, I am fasting."  

إِذَا أَصْبَحَ أَحَدُكُمْ يَوْمًا صَائِمًا فَلاَ يَرْفُثْ وَلاَ يَجْهَلْ فَإِنِ امْرُؤٌ شَاتَمَهُ أَوْ قَاتَلَهُ فَلْيَقُلْ إِنِّي صَائِمٌ إِنِّي صَائِمٌ  

Allah, the Majestic and the Exalted, said: Every act of the son of Adam is for him except fasting. It is done for My sake, and I will give a reward for it. By Allah in Whose Hand is the life of Muhammad, the breath of the observer of fast is sweeter to Allah than the fragrance of musk.  

سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ قَالَ اللَّهُ ﷻ كُلُّ عَمَلِ ابْنِ آدَمَ لَهُ إِلاَّ الصِّيَامَ هُوَ لِي وَأَنَا أَجْزِي بِهِ فَوَالَّذِي نَفْسُ مُحَمَّدٍ بِيَدِهِ لَخِلْفَةُ فَمِ الصَّائِمِ أَطْيَبُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ مِنْ رِيحِ الْمِسْكِ  

Fasting is a shield.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ الصِّيَامُ جُنَّةٌ  

Allah the Exalted and Majestic said: Every act of the son of Adam is for him, except fasting. It is (exclusively) meant for Me and I (alone) will reward it. Fasting is a shield. When any one of you is fasting on a day, he should neither indulge in obscene language, nor raise the voice; or if anyone reviles him or tries to quarrel with him he should say: I am a person fasting. By Him, in Whose Hand is the life of Muhammad, the breath of the observer of fast is sweeter to Allah on the Day of judgment than the fragrance of musk. The one who fasts has two (occasions) of joy, one when he breaks the fast he is glad with the breaking of (the fast) and one when he meets his Lord he is glad with his fast.  

أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ ؓ يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ اللَّهُ ﷻ كُلُّ عَمَلِ ابْنِ آدَمَ لَهُ إِلاَّ الصِّيَامَ فَإِنَّهُ لِي وَأَنَا أَجْزِي بِهِ وَالصِّيَامُ جُنَّةٌ فَإِذَا كَانَ يَوْمُ صَوْمِ أَحَدِكُمْ فَلاَ يَرْفُثْ يَوْمَئِذٍ وَلاَ يَسْخَبْ فَإِنْ سَابَّهُ أَحَدٌ أَوْ قَاتَلَهُ فَلْيَقُلْ إِنِّي امْرُؤٌ صَائِمٌ وَالَّذِي نَفْسُ مُحَمَّدٍ بِيَدِهِ لَخُلُوفُ فَمِ الصَّائِمِ أَطْيَبُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ مِنْ رِيحِ الْمِسْكِ وَلِلصَّائِمِ فَرْحَتَانِ يَفْرَحُهُمَا إِذَا أَفْطَرَ فَرِحَ بِفِطْرِهِ وَإِذَا لَقِيَ رَبَّهُ فَرِحَ بِصَوْمِهِ  

Every (good) deed of the son of Adam would be multiplied, a good deed receiving a tenfold to seven hundredfold reward. Allah, the Exalted and Majestic, has said: With the exception of fasting, for it is done for Me and I will give a reward for it, for one abandons his passion and food for My sake.

There are two occasions of joy for one who fasts, joy when he breaks it, and joy when he meets his Lord, and the breath (of an observer of fast) is sweeter to Allah than the fragrance of musk.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: «كُلُّ عَمَلِ ابْنِ آدَمَ يُضَاعَفُ الْحَسَنَةُ عَشْرُ أَمْثَالِهَا إِلَى سَبْعِمِائَةِ ضِعْفٍ۔ قَالَ اللَّهُ ﷻ: إِلاَّ الصَّوْمَ: فَإِنَّهُ لِي وَأَنَا أَجْزِي بِهِ: يَدَعُ شَهْوَتَهُ، وَطَعَامَهُ مِنْ أَجْلِي۔»

«لِلصَّائِمِ فَرْحَتَانِ فَرْحَةٌ عِنْدَ فِطْرِهِ وَفَرْحَةٌ عِنْدَ لِقَاءِ رَبِّهِ؛ وَلَخُلُوفُ فِيهِ أَطْيَبُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ مِنْ رِيحِ الْمِسْكِ۔»  

Allah, the Exalted and Majestic, said: Fast (is exclusively) meant for Me and I would give its reward. There are two (occasions) of joy for the observer of fast. He feels joy when he breaks the fast and he is happy when he meets Allah. By Allah in Whose Hand is the life of Muhammad, the breath of the observer of fast is sweeter to Allah than the fragrance of musk.  

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ وَأَبِي سَعِيدٍ ؓ قَالاَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِنَّ اللَّهَ ﷻ يَقُولُ إِنَّ الصَّوْمَ لِي وَأَنَا أَجْزِي بِهِ إِنَّ لِلصَّائِمِ فَرْحَتَيْنِ إِذَا أَفْطَرَ فَرِحَ وَإِذَا لَقِيَ اللَّهَ فَرِحَ وَالَّذِي نَفْسُ مُحَمَّدٍ بِيَدِهِ لَخُلُوفُ فَمِ الصَّائِمِ أَطْيَبُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ مِنْ رِيحِ الْمِسْكِ  

" As he meets Allah, He rewards him, and he is happy."  

وَقَالَ إِذَا لَقِيَ اللَّهَ فَجَزَاهُ فَرِحَ  

In Paradise there is a gate which is called Rayyan through which only the people who fast would enter on the Day on Resurrection. None else would enter along with them. It would be proclaimed: Where are the people who fast that they should be admitted into it? And when the last of them would enter, it would be closed and no one would enter it.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِنَّ فِي الْجَنَّةِ بَابًا يُقَالُ لَهُ الرَّيَّانُ يَدْخُلُ مِنْهُ الصَّائِمُونَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ لاَ يَدْخُلُ مَعَهُمْ أَحَدٌ غَيْرُهُمْ يُقَالُ أَيْنَ الصَّائِمُونَ فَيَدْخُلُونَ مِنْهُ فَإِذَا دَخَلَ آخِرُهُمْ أُغْلِقَ فَلَمْ يَدْخُلْ مِنْهُ أَحَدٌ  

Every servant of Allah who observes fast for a day in the way of Allah, Allah would remove, because of this day, his face farther from the Fire (of Hell) to the extent of seventy years' distance.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: «مَا مِنْ عَبْدٍ يَصُومُ يَوْمًا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ إِلاَّ بَاعَدَ اللَّهُ بِذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ وَجْهَهُ عَنِ النَّارِ سَبْعِينَ خَرِيفًا۔»  

This hadith has been narrated by Suhail with the same chain of transmitters.  

عَنْ سُهَيْلٍ بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ  

He who observes fast for a day in the way of Allah He would remove his face from the Hell to the extent of seventy years' distance.  

عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ ؓ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ مَنْ صَامَ يَوْمًا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ بَاعَدَ اللَّهُ وَجْهَهُ عَنِ النَّارِ سَبْعِينَ خَرِيفًا  

'A'isha, have you anything (to eat)? I said: 'Messenger of Allah, there is nothing with us. Thereupon he said: I am observing fast. She said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ went out, and there was a present, for us and (at the same time) some visitors dropped in. When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ came back, I said to him: Messenger of Allah, a present was given to us, (and in the meanwhile) there came to us visitors (a major Portion of it has been spent on them), but I have saved something for you. He said: What is it? I said: It is hais (a compound of dates and clarified butter). He said: Bring that. So I brought it to him and he ate it and then said: I woke up in the morning observing fast. Talha said: I narrated this hadith to Mujahid and he said: This (observing of voluntary fast) is like a person who sets apart Sadaqa out of his wealth. He may spend it if he likes, or he may retain it if he so likes.  

عَنْ عَائِشَةَ أُمِّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ؓ قَالَتْ قَالَ لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ يَا عَائِشَةُ هَلْ عِنْدَكُمْ شَىْءٌ قَالَتْ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَا عِنْدَنَا شَىْءٌ قَالَ فَإِنِّي صَائِمٌ قَالَتْ فَخَرَجَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَأُهْدِيَتْ لَنَا هَدِيَّةٌ أَوْ جَاءَنَا زَوْرٌ قَالَتْ فَلَمَّا رَجَعَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أُهْدِيَتْ لَنَا هَدِيَّةٌ أَوْ جَاءَنَا زَوْرٌ وَقَدْ خَبَأْتُ لَكَ شَيْئًا قَالَ مَا هُوَ قُلْتُ حَيْسٌ قَالَ هَاتِيهِ فَجِئْتُ بِهِ فَأَكَلَ ثُمَّ قَالَ قَدْ كُنْتُ أَصْبَحْتُ صَائِمًا قَالَ طَلْحَةُ فَحَدَّثْتُ مُجَاهِدًا بِهَذَا الْحَدِيثِ فَقَالَ ذَاكَ بِمَنْزِلَةِ الرَّجُلِ يُخْرِجُ الصَّدَقَةَ مِنْ مَالِهِ فَإِنْ شَاءَ أَمْضَاهَا وَإِنْ شَاءَ أَمْسَكَهَا  

The Apostle of Allah ﷺ came to me one day and said: Is there anything with you (to eat)? I said: No. Thereupon he said: I shall then be fasting. Then he came to us another day and we said: Messenger of Allah, hais has been offered to us as a gift. Thereupon he said: Show that to me; I had been fasting since morning. He then ate it.  

دَخَلَ عَلَىَّ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ فَقَالَ هَلْ عِنْدَكُمْ شَىْءٌ فَقُلْنَا لاَ قَالَ فَإِنِّي إِذًا صَائِمٌ ثُمَّ أَتَانَا يَوْمًا آخَرَ فَقُلْنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أُهْدِيَ لَنَا حَيْسٌ فَقَالَ أَرِينِيهِ فَلَقَدْ أَصْبَحْتُ صَائِمًا فَأَكَلَ  

If anyone forgets that he is fasting and eats or drinks he should complete his fast, for it is only Allah Who has fed him and given him drink.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مَنْ نَسِيَ وَهُوَ صَائِمٌ فَأَكَلَ أَوْ شَرِبَ فَلْيُتِمَّ صَوْمَهُ فَإِنَّمَا أَطْعَمَهُ اللَّهُ وَسَقَاهُ  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not observe fast in any month of the year more than in the month of Sha'ban, and used to say: Do as many deeds as you are capable of doing, for Allah will not become weary (of giving you reward), but you would be tired (of doing good deeds) ; and he also said: The deed liked most by Allah is one to which the doer adheres constantly even if it is small.  

لَمْ يَكُنْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِي الشَّهْرِ مِنَ السَّنَةِ أَكْثَرَ صِيَامًا مِنْهُ فِي شَعْبَانَ وَكَانَ يَقُولُ خُذُوا مِنَ الأَعْمَالِ مَا تُطِيقُونَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَنْ يَمَلَّ حَتَّى تَمَلُّوا وَكَانَ يَقُولُ أَحَبُّ الْعَمَلِ إِلَى اللَّهِ مَا دَاوَمَ عَلَيْهِ صَاحِبُهُ وَإِنْ قَلَّ  

I said to'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her): Did the Messenger of Allah ﷺ fast for a full month besides Ramadan? She said: I do not know of any month in which he fasted throughout, but that of the month of Ramadan and (the month) in which he did not fast at all, till he ran the course of his life.  

قُلْتُ لِعَائِشَةَ ؓ هَلْ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ يَصُومُ شَهْرًا مَعْلُومًا سِوَى رَمَضَانَ قَالَتْ وَاللَّهِ إِنْ صَامَ شَهْرًا مَعْلُومًا سِوَى رَمَضَانَ حَتَّى مَضَى لِوَجْهِهِ وَلاَ أَفْطَرَهُ حَتَّى يُصِيبَ مِنْهُ  

I said to 'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her): Did the Messenger of Allah ﷺ observe fast during a month? She said, I do not know of any month in which he fasted throughout except Ramadan and (the month) in which he did not fast at all till he ran the course of his life. May peace be upon him.  

قُلْتُ لِعَائِشَةَ ؓ أَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَصُومُ شَهْرًا كُلَّهُ قَالَتْ مَا عَلِمْتُهُ صَامَ شَهْرًا كُلَّهُ إِلاَّ رَمَضَانَ وَلاَ أَفْطَرَهُ كُلَّهُ حَتَّى يَصُومَ مِنْهُ حَتَّى مَضَى لِسَبِيلِهِ ﷺ  

He used to observe fast (at times) so continuously that we said: He has fasted, he has fasted. And (at times) he did not observe fast (for days) and we began to say: He has abandoned fasting, he has abandoned fasting. She said: I did not see him observing fast throughout the whole of the month since he arrived in Medina, but that of Ramadan.  

عَنْ صَوْمِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَقَالَتْ كَانَ يَصُومُ حَتَّى نَقُولَ قَدْ صَامَ قَدْ صَامَ وَيُفْطِرُ حَتَّى نَقُولَ قَدْ أَفْطَرَ قَدْ أَفْطَرَ قَالَتْ وَمَا رَأَيْتُهُ صَامَ شَهْرًا كَامِلاً مُنْذُ قَدِمَ الْمَدِينَةَ إِلاَّ أَنْ يَكُونَ رَمَضَانَ  

A hadith like this has been narrated on the authority of Abdullah b. Shaqiq but in the chain of transmitters no mention is made of Hisham and Muhammad.  

سَأَلْتُ عَائِشَةَ ؓ بِمِثْلِهِ وَلَمْ يَذْكُرْ فِي الإِسْنَادِ هِشَامًا وَلاَ مُحَمَّدًا  

˹At times˺ the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to fast ˹so much continuously˺ that we said that he would not ˹stop fasting daily˺, and ˹at times˺ did not fast at all until we said that he would not fast ˹again˺. And I (ʿĀʾishah) did not see the Messenger of Allah ﷺ completely fast a month except for ˹the month of˺ Ramaḍān, and I did not see him fasting more in any other month than that of ˹the month of˺ Shaʿbān.  

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

I asked 'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) about the fasting of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. She said: He used to observe fast (at times so continuously) that we said: He has fasted (never to break), and he did not observe fast till we said: He has given up perhaps never to fast, and I never saw him observing (voluntary fasts) more in any other month than that of Sha'ban. (lt appeared as if) he observed fast throughout the whole of Sha'ban except a few (days).  

عَنْ صِيَامِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَتْ كَانَ يَصُومُ حَتَّى نَقُولَ قَدْ صَامَ وَيُفْطِرُ حَتَّى نَقُولَ قَدْ أَفْطَرَ وَلَمْ أَرَهُ صَائِمًا مِنْ شَهْرٍ قَطُّ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ صِيَامِهِ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ كَانَ يَصُومُ شَعْبَانَ كُلَّهُ كَانَ يَصُومُ شَعْبَانَ إِلاَّ قَلِيلاً  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not fast throughout any month except during ramadan. And when he observed fast (he fasted so continuously) that one would say that he would not break (them) and when he Abandoned, he abandoned (so continuously) that one would say: By Allah, perhaps he would never fast.  

مَا صَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ شَهْرًا كَامِلاً قَطُّ غَيْرَ رَمَضَانَ وَكَانَ يَصُومُ إِذَا صَامَ حَتَّى يَقُولَ الْقَائِلُ لاَ وَاللَّهِ لاَ يُفْطِرُ وَيُفْطِرُ إِذَا أَفْطَرَ حَتَّى يَقُولَ الْقَائِلُ لاَ وَاللَّهِ لاَ يَصُومُ  

" During any month continuously since he came to Medina."  

وَقَالَ شَهْرًا مُتَتَابِعًا مُنْذُ قَدِمَ الْمَدِينَةَ  

I asked Sa'id b. Jubair about fasting In Rajab, and we were then passing through the month of Rajab, whereupon he said: I heard Ibn 'Abbas (Allah be pleased with both of them) as saying: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to observe fast (so continuously) that we (were inclined) to say that he would not break (them) and did not observe them so conti- nuously) that we (were inclined to say) that he would not observe fast.  

سَأَلْتُ سَعِيدَ بْنَ جُبَيْرٍ عَنْ صَوْمِ رَجَبٍ وَنَحْنُ يَوْمَئِذٍ فِي رَجَبٍ فَقَالَ سَمِعْتُ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ ؓ يَقُولُ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَصُومُ حَتَّى نَقُولَ لاَ يُفْطِرُ وَيُفْطِرُ حَتَّى نَقُولَ لاَ يَصُومُ  

The same hadith as the previous hadith has been transmitted through another chain.  

عَنْ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ حَكِيمٍ فِي هَذَا الإِسْنَادِ بِمِثْلِهِ  

Anas (Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to observe fast till it was said that he had observed fast, he had observed fast (perhaps never to break it), and he did not fast till it was said that he had given up fast, he had given up fast (perhaps never to observe it).  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ كَانَ يَصُومُ حَتَّى يُقَالَ قَدْ صَامَ قَدْ صَامَ وَيُفْطِرُ حَتَّى يُقَالَ قَدْ أَفْطَرَ قَدْ أَفْطَرَ  

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.  

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  

I and 'Abdullah b. Yazid set out till we came to Abu Salama. We sent a messenger to him (in his house in order to inform him about our arrival) and he came to us. There was a mosque near the door of his house, and we were in that mosque, till he came out to us. He said: If you like you may enter (the house) and, if you like, you may sit here (in the mosque). We said: We would rather sit here and (you) relate to us. He (Yahya) then narrated that 'Abdullah b Amr b. al-'As (Allah be pleased with them) told him: I used to observe fast uninterruptedly and recited the (whole of the) Qur'an every night. It (the uninterrupted fasting and recital of the Qur'an every night) was mentioned to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ or he sent for me, and I went to him and he said to me: I have been informed that you fast continuously and recite (the whole of the Qur'an) every night. I said: Apostle of Allah, it is right, but I covet thereby nothing but good, whereupon he said: It suffices for you that you should observe fast for three days during every month. I said: Apostle of Allah, I am capable of doing more than this. He said: Your wife has a right upon you, your visitor has a right upon you, your body has a right upon you; so observe the fast of David, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), for he was the best worshipper of Allah. I said: Apostle of Allah, what is the fast of David? He said: He used to fast one day and did not fast the other day. He (also) said: Recite the Qur'an during every month. I said: Apostle of Allah, I am capable of doing more than this, whereupon he said: Recite it in twenty days; recite it in ten days. I said: I am capable of doing more than this, whereupon he said: Recite it every week, and do not exceed beyond this, for your wife has a right upon you, your visitor has a right upon you, your body has a right upon you. He ('Amr b. 'As) said: I was hard to myself and thus I was put to hardship. The Apostle of Allah ﷺ had told me: 'You do not know you may live long (thus and bear the hardships for a long time), and I accepted that which the Messenger of Allah ﷺ had told me. When I grew old I wished I had availed myself of the concession (granted by) the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.  

انْطَلَقْتُ أَنَا وَعَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يَزِيدَ حَتَّى نَأْتِيَ أَبَا سَلَمَةَ فَأَرْسَلْنَا إِلَيْهِ رَسُولاً فَخَرَجَ عَلَيْنَا وَإِذَا عِنْدَ بَابِ دَارِهِ مَسْجِدٌ قَالَ فَكُنَّا فِي الْمَسْجِدِ حَتَّى خَرَجَ إِلَيْنَا فَقَالَ إِنْ تَشَاءُوا أَنْ تَدْخُلُوا وَإِنْ تَشَاءُوا أَنْ تَقْعُدُوا هَا هُنَا قَالَ فَقُلْنَا لاَ بَلْ نَقْعُدُ هَا هُنَا فَحَدِّثْنَا قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْعَاصِ ؓ قَالَ كُنْتُ أَصُومُ الدَّهْرَ وَأَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ كُلَّ لَيْلَةٍ قَالَ فَإِمَّا ذُكِرْتُ لِلنَّبِيِّ ﷺ وَإِمَّا أَرْسَلَ إِلَىَّ فَأَتَيْتُهُ فَقَالَ لِي أَلَمْ أُخْبَرْ أَنَّكَ تَصُومُ الدَّهْرَ وَتَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ كُلَّ لَيْلَةٍ قُلْتُ بَلَى يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ وَلَمْ أُرِدْ بِذَلِكَ إِلاَّ الْخَيْرَ قَالَ فَإِنَّ بِحَسْبِكَ أَنْ تَصُومَ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ ثَلاَثَةَ أَيَّامٍ قُلْتُ يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ قَالَ فَإِنَّ لِزَوْجِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا وَلِزَوْرِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا وَلِجَسَدِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا قَالَ فَصُمْ صَوْمَ دَاوُدَ نَبِيِّ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَإِنَّهُ كَانَ أَعْبَدَ النَّاسِ قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ وَمَا صَوْمُ دَاوُدَ قَالَ كَانَ يَصُومُ يَوْمًا وَيُفْطِرُ يَوْمًا قَالَ وَاقْرَإِ الْقُرْآنَ فِي كُلِّ شَهْرٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ قَالَ فَاقْرَأْهُ فِي كُلِّ عِشْرِينَ قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ قَالَ فَاقْرَأْهُ فِي كُلِّ عَشْرٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ قَالَ فَاقْرَأْهُ فِي كُلِّ سَبْعٍ وَلاَ تَزِدْ عَلَى ذَلِكَ فَإِنَّ لِزَوْجِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا وَلِزَوْرِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا وَلِجَسَدِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا قَالَ فَشَدَّدْتُ فَشُدِّدَ عَلَىَّ قَالَ وَقَالَ لِيَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ إِنَّكَ لاَ تَدْرِي لَعَلَّكَ يَطُولُ بِكَ عُمْرٌ قَالَ فَصِرْتُ إِلَى الَّذِي قَالَ لِيَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ فَلَمَّا كَبِرْتُ وَدِدْتُ أَنِّي كُنْتُ قَبِلْتُ رُخْصَةَ نَبِيِّ اللَّهِ ﷺ  

During every month, (fasting) for three days, there is for you ten times for every good and that is perpetual fasting (for three days would bring a reward for full thirty days). I said: What is the fast of the Messenger of Allah, David? He said: Half of the age (observing fast on alternate days for the whole life). And in the hadith no mention has been made of the recital of the Qur'an, and he did not say: Your visitor has a right upon you, but (instead) he said: Your son has a right upon you.  

وَقَالَ فِي الْحَدِيثِ قُلْتُ وَمَا صَوْمُ نَبِيِّ اللَّهِ دَاوُدَ قَالَ نِصْفُ الدَّهْرِ وَلَمْ يَذْكُرْ فِي الْحَدِيثِ مِنْ قِرَاءَةِ الْقُرْآنِ شَيْئًا وَلَمْ يَقُلْ وَإِنَّ لِزَوْرِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا وَلَكِنْ قَالَ وَإِنَّ لِوَلَدِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to me: Recite the whole of the Qur'An during every month. I said: I find power (to recite it) in a shorter period. He said: Then recite it in twenty nights. I said: I find power (to recite it in a shorter period even than this), whereupon he said: Then recite it in seven (nights) and do not exceed beyond it.  

وَأَحْسِبُنِي قَدْ سَمِعْتُهُ أَنَا مِنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو ؓ قَالَ قَالَ لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ اقْرَإِ الْقُرْآنَ فِي كُلِّ شَهْرٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ إِنِّي أَجِدُ قُوَّةً قَالَ فَاقْرَأْهُ فِي عِشْرِينَ لَيْلَةً قَالَ قُلْتُ إِنِّي أَجِدُ قُوَّةً قَالَ فَاقْرَأْهُ فِي سَبْعٍ وَلاَ تَزِدْ عَلَى ذَلِكَ  

'Abdullah, don't be like so and so who observed prayer during the whole night and then abandoned it (altogether).  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ لاَ تَكُنْ بِمِثْلِ فُلاَنٍ كَانَ يَقُومُ اللَّيْلَ فَتَرَكَ قِيَامَ اللَّيْلِ  

It was conveyed to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ that I observe fast successively and pray during the whole night. He sent for me or I met him and he (the Holy Prophet) said: It has been conveyed to me that you observe fast continuously and do not break it and pray during the whole night. Don't do that. for there is share for your eyes, share for your own self, share for your family; so observe fast and break it, pray and sleep and observe fast for one day during the ten days, and there is a reward for you (for other) nine (days besides the tenth day of the fast). I said: Apostle of Allah, I find myself more powerful than this. He said: Then observe the fast of David (peace be upon him). He ('Amr) said: Apostle of Allah, how did David observe fast? He (the Holy Prophet) said: He used to fast one day and break it on the other day, and he did not run (from the battlefield) as he encountered (the enemy). He said: Apostle of Allah, who can guarantee this for me (will I also encounter the enemy dauntlessly)? 'Ata', the narrator of the hadith, said: I do not know how there (crept in) the matter of perpetual fast. The Apostle of Allah ﷺ, however, said: He who observed perpetual fast did not fast at all; he who observed perpetual fast did not fast at all, he who observed perpetual fast did not fast at all.  

أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْعَاصِ ؓ يَقُولُ بَلَغَ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ أَنِّي أَصُومُ أَسْرُدُ وَأُصَلِّي اللَّيْلَ فَإِمَّا أَرْسَلَ إِلَىَّ وَإِمَّا لَقِيتُهُ فَقَالَ أَلَمْ أُخْبَرْ أَنَّكَ تَصُومُ وَلاَ تُفْطِرُ وَتُصَلِّي اللَّيْلَ فَلاَ تَفْعَلْ فَإِنَّ لِعَيْنِكَ حَظًّا وَلِنَفْسِكَ حَظًّا وَلأَهْلِكَ حَظًّا فَصُمْ وَأَفْطِرْ وَصَلِّ وَنَمْ وَصُمْ مِنْ كُلِّ عَشْرَةِ أَيَّامٍ يَوْمًا وَلَكَ أَجْرُ تِسْعَةٍ قَالَ إِنِّي أَجِدُنِي أَقْوَى مِنْ ذَلِكَ يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ قَالَ فَصُمْ صِيَامَ دَاوُدَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ قَالَ وَكَيْفَ كَانَ دَاوُدُ يَصُومُ يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ قَالَ كَانَ يَصُومُ يَوْمًا وَيُفْطِرُ يَوْمًا وَلاَ يَفِرُّ إِذَا لاَقَى قَالَ مَنْ لِي بِهَذِهِ يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ قَالَ عَطَاءٌ فَلاَ أَدْرِي كَيْفَ ذَكَرَ صِيَامَ الأَبَدِ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ لاَ صَامَ مَنْ صَامَ الأَبَدَ لاَ صَامَ مَنْ صَامَ الأَبَدَ لاَ صَامَ مَنْ صَامَ الأَبَدَ  

This hadith has been narrated by Ibn Juraij with the same chain of transmitters. Imam Muslim has narrated this hadith on the authority of Abu 'Abbas al-Sa'ib b. Farrukh and he was a trustworthy and reliable (narrator) among the people of Mecca.  

مُسْلِمٌ أَبُو الْعَبَّاسِ السَّائِبُ بْنُ فَرُّوخَ مِنْ أَهْلِ مَكَّةَ ثِقَةٌ عَدْلٌ  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to me: 'Abdullah b. Amr, you fast continuously and stand in prayer for the whole of night. If you do like that, your eyes would be highly strained and would sink and lose sight. There is no (reward for) fasting (for him) who fasts perpetually. Fasting for three days during the month is like fasting, the whole of the month. I said: I am capable of doing more than this, whereupon he said: Observe the fast of David. He used to fast one day and break (the other) day. And he did not turn back in the encounter.  

لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عَمْرٍو إِنَّكَ لَتَصُومُ الدَّهْرَ وَتَقُومُ اللَّيْلَ وَإِنَّكَ إِذَا فَعَلْتَ ذَلِكَ هَجَمَتْ لَهُ الْعَيْنُ وَنَهِكَتْ لاَ صَامَ مَنْ صَامَ الأَبَدَ صَوْمُ ثَلاَثَةِ أَيَّامٍ مِنَ الشَّهْرِ صَوْمُ الشَّهْرِ كُلِّهِ قُلْتُ فَإِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ قَالَ فَصُمْ صَوْمَ دَاوُدَ كَانَ يَصُومُ يَوْمًا وَيُفْطِرُ يَوْمًا وَلاَ يَفِرُّ إِذَا لاَقَى  

" And you would become exhausted."  

وَقَالَ وَنَفِهَتِ النَّفْسُ  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to me: I have been informed that you stand for prayer the whole of night and fast during the day. I said: I do that, whereupon he said: If you did that you in fact strained heavily your eyes and made yourself weak. There is a right of your eyes (upon you) and a right of your self (upon you) and a right of your family (upon you). Stand for prayer and sleep. observe fasts and break (them).  

لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَلَمْ أُخْبَرْ أَنَّكَ تَقُومُ اللَّيْلَ وَتَصُومُ النَّهَارَ قُلْتُ إِنِّي أَفْعَلُ ذَلِكَ قَالَ فَإِنَّكَ إِذَا فَعَلْتَ ذَلِكَ هَجَمَتْ عَيْنَاكَ وَنَفِهَتْ نَفْسُكَ لِعَيْنِكَ حَقٌّ وَلِنَفْسِكَ حَقٌّ وَلأَهْلِكَ حَقٌّ قُمْ وَنَمْ وَصُمْ وَأَفْطِرْ  

With Allah the best fasting is that of David and the best prayer is that of David (peace be upon him) for he slept half of the night and stood for prayer for the third of it and (then) slept the sixth part of it and he observed fast one day and broke on the other.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِنَّ أَحَبَّ الصِّيَامِ إِلَى اللَّهِ صِيَامُ دَاوُدَ وَأَحَبَّ الصَّلاَةِ إِلَى اللَّهِ صَلاَةُ دَاوُدَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ كَانَ يَنَامُ نِصْفَ اللَّيْلِ وَيَقُومُ ثُلُثَهُ وَيَنَامُ سُدُسَهُ وَكَانَ يَصُومُ يَوْمًا وَيُفْطِرُ يَوْمًا  

The best fasting in the eye of Allah is that of David, for he fasted for half of the age (he fasted on alternate days), and the best prayer in the eye of Allah, the Exalted and Majestic, is that of David (peace be upon him), for he slept for half of the night and then stood for prayer and then again slept. He prayed for one-third of the night after midnight. He (the narrator) said: I asked 'Amr b. Dinar whether 'Amr b. Aus said that he stood for prayer one-third of the night after midnight. He said: Yes.  

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ قَالَ أَحَبُّ الصِّيَامِ إِلَى اللَّهِ صِيَامُ دَاوُدَ كَانَ يَصُومُ نِصْفَ الدَّهْرِ وَأَحَبُّ الصَّلاَةِ إِلَى اللَّهِ ﷻ صَلاَةُ دَاوُدَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ كَانَ يَرْقُدُ شَطْرَ اللَّيْلِ ثُمَّ يَقُومُ ثُمَّ يَرْقُدُ آخِرَهُ يَقُومُ ثُلُثَ اللَّيْلِ بَعْدَ شَطْرِهِ قَالَ قُلْتُ لِعَمْرِو بْنِ دِينَارٍ أَعَمْرُو بْنُ أَوْسٍ كَانَ يَقُولُ يَقُومُ ثُلُثَ اللَّيْلِ بَعْدَ شَطْرِهِ قَالَ نَعَمْ  

I went along with your father to 'Abdullah b. Amr, and he narrated to us that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was informed about my fasting and he came to me, and I placed a leather cushion filled with fibre of date-palms for him. He sat down upon the ground and there was that cushion between me and him, and he said to me: Does three days' fasting in a month not suffice you? I said: Messenger of Allah, (I am capable of observing more fasts). He said: (Would) five (not suffice for you)? I said: Messenger of Allah, (I am capable of observing more fasts) He said: (Would) seven (fasts) not suffice you? I said: Messenger of Allah, (I am capable of observing more fasts). He (the Holy Prophet) then said: (Would) nine (fasts not suffice you)? I said: Messenger of Allah, (I am capable of observing more fasts). He said: (Would) eleven (fasts not suffice you)? I said: Messenger of Allah, (I am capable of observing more fasts than these). Thereupon the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: There is no fasting (better than) the fasting of David which comprises half of the age, fasting a day and not fasting a day.  

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 لِي أَمَا يَكْفِيكَ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ ثَلاَثَةُ أَيَّامٍ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ خَمْسًا قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ سَبْعًا قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ تِسْعًا قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ أَحَدَ عَشَرَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ لاَ صَوْمَ فَوْقَ صَوْمِ دَاوُدَ شَطْرُ الدَّهْرِ صِيَامُ يَوْمٍ وَإِفْطَارُ يَوْمٍ  

Observe fast for a day and there would be reward for you for the rest (of the days). He said: I am capable of doing more than this. He then said: Observe fast for two days, and there would be reward for you for the rest (of the days). He said: I am capable of doing more than this. He (the Holy Prophet) said: Observe fast for three days and there would be reward for you for the rest of the days. He said: I am capable of doing more than this, whereupon he said: Observe fast for four days and there would be reward for you for the rest of the days. He said: I am capable of doing more than this. Thereupon he said: Then observe fast (which is the) best in the eye of Allah, the fast of David (peace be upon him) ; he used to observe fast one day and break on the other day.  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ لَهُ صُمْ يَوْمًا وَلَكَ أَجْرُ مَا بَقِيَ قَالَ إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ قَالَ صُمْ يَوْمَيْنِ وَلَكَ أَجْرُ مَا بَقِيَ قَالَ إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ قَالَ صُمْ ثَلاَثَةَ أَيَّامٍ وَلَكَ أَجْرُ مَا بَقِيَ قَالَ إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ قَالَ صُمْ أَرْبَعَةَ أَيَّامٍ وَلَكَ أَجْرُ مَا بَقِيَ قَالَ إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ قَالَ صُمْ أَفْضَلَ الصِّيَامِ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ صَوْمَ دَاوُدَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ كَانَ يَصُومُ يَوْمًا وَيُفْطِرُ يَوْمًا  

Then observe the fast of David (peace be upon him). Observe fast one day and break it (on the other) day. And he ('Abdullah b. 'Amr) used to say: Would that I had availed myself of this concession.  

لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عَمْرٍو بَلَغَنِي أَنَّكَ تَصُومُ النَّهَارَ وَتَقُومُ اللَّيْلَ فَلاَ تَفْعَلْ فَإِنَّ لِجَسَدِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَظًّا وَلِعَيْنِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَظًّا وَإِنَّ لِزَوْجِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَظًّا صُمْ وَأَفْطِرْ صُمْ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ ثَلاَثَةَ أَيَّامٍ فَذَلِكَ صَوْمُ الدَّهْرِ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ بِي قُوَّةً قَالَ فَصُمْ صَوْمَ دَاوُدَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ صُمْ يَوْمًا وَأَفْطِرْ يَوْمًا فَكَانَ يَقُولُ يَا لَيْتَنِي أَخَذْتُ بِالرُّخْصَةِ  

Yes I said to her: Which were (the particular) days of the month on which he observed fast? She said: He was not particular about the days of the month on which to observe fast.  

أَنَّهَا سَأَلَتْ عَائِشَةَ زَوْجَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ أَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَصُومُ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ ثَلاَثَةَ أَيَّامٍ قَالَتْ نَعَمْ فَقُلْتُ لَهَا مِنْ أَىِّ أَيَّامِ الشَّهْرِ كَانَ يَصُومُ قَالَتْ لَمْ يَكُنْ يُبَالِي مِنْ أَىِّ أَيَّامِ الشَّهْرِ يَصُومُ