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 entered upon me and said, "Have I not been informed that you offer prayer all the night and fast the whole day?" I said, "Yes." He said, "Do not do so; Offer prayer at night and also sleep; Fast for a few days and give up fasting for a few days because your body has a right on you, and your eye has a right on you, and your guest has a right on you, and your wife has a right on you. I hope that you will have a long life, and it is sufficient for you to fast for three days a month as the reward of a good deed, is multiplied ten times, that means, as if you fasted the whole year." I insisted (on fasting more) so I was given a hard instruction. I said, "I can do more than that (fasting)" The Prophet said, "Fast three days every week." But as I insisted (on fasting more) so I was burdened. I said, "I can fast more than that." The Prophet ﷺ said, "Fast as Allah's prophet David used to fast." I said, "How was the fasting of the prophet David?" The Prophet ﷺ said, "One half of a year (i.e. he used to fast on alternate days). '  

دَخَلَ عَلَىَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ أَلَمْ أُخْبَرْ أَنَّكَ تَقُومُ اللَّيْلَ وَتَصُومُ النَّهَارَ قُلْتُ بَلَى قَالَ فَلاَ تَفْعَلْ قُمْ وَنَمْ وَصُمْ وَأَفْطِرْ فَإِنَّ لِجَسَدِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا وَإِنَّ لِعَيْنِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا وَإِنَّ لِزَوْرِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا وَإِنَّ لِزَوْجِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا وَإِنَّكَ عَسَى أَنْ يَطُولَ بِكَ عُمُرٌ وَإِنَّ مِنْ حَسْبِكَ أَنْ تَصُومَ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ ثَلاَثَةَ أَيَّامٍ فَإِنَّ بِكُلِّ حَسَنَةٍ عَشْرَ أَمْثَالِهَا فَذَلِكَ الدَّهْرُ كُلُّهُ قَالَ فَشَدَّدْتُ فَشُدِّدَ عَلَىَّ فَقُلْتُ فَإِنِّي أُطِيقُ غَيْرَ ذَلِكَ قَالَ فَصُمْ مِنْ كُلِّ جُمُعَةٍ ثَلاَثَةَ أَيَّامٍ قَالَ فَشَدَّدْتُ فَشُدِّدَ عَلَىَّ قُلْتُ أُطِيقُ غَيْرَ ذَلِكَ قَالَ فَصُمْ صَوْمَ نَبِيِّ اللَّهِ دَاوُدَ قُلْتُ وَمَا صَوْمُ نَبِيِّ اللَّهِ دَاوُدَ قَالَ نِصْفُ الدَّهْرِ  

[Machine] I, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ , have informed that you stand the night and fast during the day. He said, I said, "O Messenger of Allah, yes." He said, "Then fast and break your fast, pray and sleep, for indeed your body has rights upon you, and your spouse has rights upon you, and your guest has rights upon you, and it is sufficient for you to fast three days of every month." He said, so I insisted, and he insisted on me. I said, "O Messenger of Allah, I find strength." He said, "Then fast three days of every week." He said, so I insisted, and he insisted on me. I said, "O Messenger of Allah, I find strength." He said, "Fast the fast of the Prophet Davidﷺ and do not exceed it." I said, "O Messenger of Allah, what was the fast of David?" He said, "He used to fast one day and break his fast on the next day."  

لِي رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ لَقَدْأُخْبِرْتُ أَنَّكَ تَقُومُ اللَّيْلَ وَتَصُومُ النَّهَارَ؟ قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ نَعَمْ قَالَ فَصُمْ وَأَفْطِرْ وَصَلِّ وَنَمْ فَإِنَّ لِجَسَدِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا وَإِنَّ لِزَوْجِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا وَإِنَّ لِزَوْرِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا وَإِنَّ بِحَسْبِكَ أَنْ تَصُومَ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ قَالَ فَشَدَّدْتُ فَشُدِّدَ عَلَيَّ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ إِنِّي أَجِدُ قُوَّةً قَالَ فَصُمْ مِنْ كُلِّ جُمُعَةٍ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ قَالَ فَشَدَّدْتُ فَشُدِّدَ عَلَيَّ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ إِنِّي أَجِدُ قُوَّةً قَالَ صُمْ صَوْمَ نَبِيِّ اللهِ دَاوُدَ وَلَا تَزِدْ عَلَيْهِ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ وَمَا كَانَ صِيَامُ دَاوُدَ؟ قَالَ كَانَ يَصُومُ يَوْمًا وَيُفْطِرُ يَوْمًا  

[Machine] To me, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Did I not inform you that you fast during the day and stand in prayer at night?" I said, "Yes, O Messenger of Allah." He said, "So do not act otherwise. Sleep, stand, fast, and break your fast. For your body has rights upon you, and your eyes have rights upon you, and your wife has rights upon you. And I give you the choice to fast three days in every month, for indeed, every good deed is rewarded ten times its like. Thus, this will be fasting for the whole year." So I said, "O Messenger of Allah, I find strength." He said, "Fast three days from each month." I said, "I am capable of more." He said, "Fast the fasting of the Prophet David and do not exceed it." I said, "What was the fasting of the Prophet David?" He said, "Half of the year."  

لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «أَلَمْ أُخْبَرْ أَنَّكَ تَصُومُ النَّهَارَ وَتَقُومُ اللَّيْلَ» قُلْتُ بَلَى يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ «فَلَا تَفْعَلْ نَمْ وَقُمْ وَصُمْ وَأَفْطِرْ فَإِنَّ لِجَسَدِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا وَإِنَّ لِزَوْرِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا وَإِنَّ لِزَوْجَتِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا وَإِنِّي مُخَيِّرُكَ أَنْ تَصُومَ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ فَإِنَّ بِكُلِّ حَسَنَةٍ عَشَرَةُ أَمْثَالِهَا فَإِذَا ذَلِكَ صِيَامُ الدَّهْرِ كُلِّهِ» فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي أَجِدُ قُوَّةً قَالَ «صُمْ مِنْ كُلِّ جُمُعَةٍ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ» قَالَ فَشَدَدْتُ فَشُدِّدَ عَلَيَّ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي أَجِدُ قُوَّةً قَالَ «صُمْ صِيَامَ نَبِيِّ اللَّهِ دَاوُدَ وَلَا تَزِدْ عَلَيْهِ» قُلْتُ فَمَا صِيَامُ نَبِيِّ اللَّهِ دَاوُدَ؟ قَالَ «نِصْفُ الدَّهْرِ»  

"The Messenger of Allah entered my apartment and said: "I have been told that you stand all night (in prayer) and fast all day.' I said: 'Yes (I do).' He said: 'Do not do that. Sleep and stand (in prayer); fast and break your fast. For your eyes have a right over you, your body has a right over you, your body has a right over you, your wife has a right over you, your guest has a right over you, and your friend has a right over you. I hope that you will have a long life and that it will be sufficient for you to fast three days of each month. That is fasting for a lifetime, because a good deed is equal to ten like it.' I said : 'I feel able to do more.' I was strict, so I was dealt with strictly. He said: 'Fast three days each week.' I said: 'I am ableto do more thtn that; I was strict, so I was dealt with strictly. He said: 'Observe the fast of the Prophet of Allah, Dawud, peace be upon him. I said: 'What was the fast of Dawud?' he said: 'Half of a lifetime."' 'Ata said: "someone who heard him told me that Ibn 'Umar (said) that the Prophet said: 'Whoever fasts every day of his life, then he has not fasted." (Using translation from Nasāʾī 2391)  

دَخَلَ عَلَيَّ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ حُجْرَتِي فَقَالَ «أَلَمْ أُخْبَرْ أَنَّكَ تَقُومُ اللَّيْلَ وَتَصُومُ النَّهَارَ؟» قُلْتُ بَلَى قَالَ «فَلَا تَفْعَلَنَّ نَمْ وَقُمْ وَصُمْ وَأَفْطِرْ فَإِنَّ لِعَيْنَيْكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا وَإِنَّ لِجَسَدِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا وَإِنَّ لِزَوْجَتِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا وَإِنَّ لِضَيْفِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا وَإِنَّهُ عَسَى أَنْ يَطُولَ بِكَ عُمُرٌ وَإِنَّهُ حَسْبُكَ أَنْ تَصُومَ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ ثَلَاثًا فَذَلِكَ صِيَامُ الدَّهْرِ كُلِّهِ بِالْحَسَنَةِ عَشْرًا» قُلْتُ إِنِّي أَجِدُ قُوَّةً فَشَدَّدْتُ فَشُدِّدَ عَلَيَّ قَالَ «صُمْ مِنْ كُلِّ جُمُعَةٍ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ» قُلْتُ إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ فَشَدَّدْتُ فَشُدِّدَ عَلَيَّ قَالَ «صُمْ صَوْمَ نَبِيِّ اللهِ ﷺ دَاوُدَ» قُلْتُ وَمَا كَانَ صِيَامُ دَاوُدَ؟ قَالَ «نِصْفُ الدَّهْرِ»  

Messenger of Allah ﷺ entered upon me and said, "Have I not been informed that you offer prayer all the night and fast the whole day?" I said, "Yes." He said, "Do not do so; Offer prayer at night and also sleep; Fast for a few days and give up fasting for a few days because your body has a right on you, and your eye has a right on you, and your guest has a right on you, and your wife has a right on you. I hope that you will have a long life, and it is sufficient for you to fast for three days a month as the reward of a good deed, is multiplied ten times, that means, as if you fasted the whole year." I insisted (on fasting more) so I was given a hard instruction. I said, "I can do more than that (fasting)" The Prophet said, "Fast three days every week." But as I insisted (on fasting more) so I was burdened. I said, "I can fast more than that." The Prophet ﷺ said, "Fast as Allah's prophet David used to fast." I said, "How was the fasting of the prophet David?" The Prophet ﷺ said, "One half of a year (i.e. he used to fast on alternate days). ' (Using translation from Bukhārī 6134)   

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ «أَلَمْ أُخْبَرْ أَنَّكَ تَصُومُ النَّهَارَ وَتَقُومُ اللَّيْلَ؟» قُلْتُ نَعَمْ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ قَالَ «فَلَا تَفْعَلْ صُمْ وَأَفْطِرْ وَنَمْ وَقُمْ فَإِنَّ لِنَفْسِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا وَلِجَسَدِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا وَإِنَّ لِزَوْجَتِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا وَإِنَّ بِحَسْبِكَ أَنْ تَصُومَ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ فَإِنَّ الْحَسَنَةَ بِعَشْرِ أَمْثَالِهَا فَإِذَا ذَلِكَ صِيَامُ الدَّهْرِ كُلِّهِ» فَشَدَّدْتُ فَشُدِّدَ عَلَيَّ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ إِنِّي أَجِدُ قُوَّةً قَالَ «فَصُمْ مِنْ كُلِّ جُمُعَةٍ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ» فَشَدَّدْتُ فَشُدِّدَ عَلَيَّ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ إِنِّي أَجِدُ قُوَّةً قَالَ «فَصُمْ صِيَامَ نَبِيِّ اللهِ دَاوُدَ وَلَا تَزِدْ عَلَيْهِ» قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ وَمَا صِيَامُ دَاوُدَ قَالَ «صِيَامُ نِصْفِ الدَّهْرِ»  

Messenger of Allah ﷺ entered upon me and said, "Have I not been informed that you offer prayer all the night and fast the whole day?" I said, "Yes." He said, "Do not do so; Offer prayer at night and also sleep; Fast for a few days and give up fasting for a few days because your body has a right on you, and your eye has a right on you, and your guest has a right on you, and your wife has a right on you. I hope that you will have a long life, and it is sufficient for you to fast for three days a month as the reward of a good deed, is multiplied ten times, that means, as if you fasted the whole year." I insisted (on fasting more) so I was given a hard instruction. I said, "I can do more than that (fasting)" The Prophet said, "Fast three days every week." But as I insisted (on fasting more) so I was burdened. I said, "I can fast more than that." The Prophet ﷺ said, "Fast as Allah's prophet David used to fast." I said, "How was the fasting of the prophet David?" The Prophet ﷺ said, "One half of a year (i.e. he used to fast on alternate days). ' (Using translation from Bukhārī 6134)   

دَخَلَ عَلَيَّ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ «أَلَمْ أُنَبَّأْ أَنَّكَ تَقُومُ اللَّيْلَ وَتَصُومُ النَّهَارَ؟» قَالَ بَلَى قَالَ «فَلَا تَفْعَلْ قُمْ وَنَمْ وَصُمْ وَأَفْطِرْ فَإِنَّ لِجَسَدِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا وَإِنَّ لِعَيْنِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا وَإِنَّ لِزَوْرِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا وَإِنَّ لِزَوْجَتِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا وَإِنَّ مِنْ حَسْبِكَ أَنْ تَصُومَ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ فَإِنَّ لَكَ بِكُلِّ حَسَنَةٍ عَشْرَ أَمْثَالِهَا» فَشَدَّدْتُ فَشُدِّدَ عَلَيَّ قُلْتُ إِنِّي أُطِيقُ غَيْرَ ذَا قَالَ «فَصُمْ مِنْ كُلِّ جُمُعَةٍ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ» فَشَدَّدْتُ فَشُدِّدَ عَلَيَّ قُلْتُ إِنِّي أُطِيقُ غَيْرَ ذَا قَالَ «فَصُمْ صَوْمَ نَبِيِّ اللهِ دَاوُدَ» قُلْتُ وَمَا صَوْمُ نَبِيِّ اللهِ دَاوُدَ؟ قَالَ «نِصْفُ الدَّهْرِ»  

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to me, "Did I not inform you that you fast during the day and pray at night?" I replied, "Yes, Messenger of Allah, I do." He then said, "Do not do that, instead sleep, stand, fast, and break your fast. For your body has rights over you, your eyes have rights over you, your spouse has rights over you, and your guests have rights over you. It is sufficient for you to fast three days in every month, for every good deed is rewarded ten times its like. And that is fasting for the entire year." I insisted, but he repeated his statement. I then said, "O Messenger of Allah, I find myself capable." He said, "Then fast three days each week." I insisted again, and he repeated his statement. I questioned, "And what was the fasting of Prophet Dawud?" He replied, "Fasting half of the year." And Abu 'Amr al-'Adibi informed us, and Abu Bakr al-Isma'ili narrated to us, and al-Hasan ibn Sufyan informed me, on the authority of Hibban, from Ibn al-Mubarak, from al-Awza'i, who mentioned it in the same manner, except that he said, "Do not exceed that." And he added at the end, "Abdullah ibn 'Amr used to say after experiencing old age, 'I wish I had accepted the permission granted by the Messenger of Allah ﷺ '"  

قَالَ لِي رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ أَلَمْ أُخْبَرْ أَنَّكَّ تَصُومُ النَّهَارَ وَتَقُومُ اللَّيْلَ؟ قَالَ بَلَى يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ قَالَ فَلَا تَفْعَلْ نَمْ وَقُمْ وَصُمْ وَأَفْطِرْ فَإِنَّ لِجَسَدِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا وَإِنَّ لِعَيْنَيْكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا وَإِنَّ لِزَوْجِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا وَإِنَّ لِزَوْرِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا وَإِنَّ بِحَسْبِكَ أَنْ تَصُومَ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ فَإِنَّ كُلَّ حَسَنَةٍ بِعَشْرِ أَمْثَالِهَا وَإِذَا ذَاكَ صِيَامُ الدَّهْرِ كُلِّهِ قَالَ فَشَدَّدْتُ فَشُدِّدَ عَلَيَّ قَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ إِنِّي أَجِدُ قُوَّةً قَالَ فَصُمْ مِنْ كُلِّ جُمُعَةٍ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ قَالَ فَشَدَّدْتُ فَشُدِّدَ عَلَيَّ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ إِنِّي أَجِدُ قُوَّةً قَالَ فَصُمْ صِيَامَ نَبِيِّ اللهِ دَاوُدَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ وَلَا تَزِدْ عَلَى ذَلِكَ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ وَمَا كَانَ صِيَامُ نَبِيِّ اللهِ دَاوُدَ؟ قَالَ نِصْفُ الدَّهْرِ 8475 وَأَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو عَمْرٍو الْأَدِيبُ ثنا أَبُو بَكْرٍ الْإِسْمَاعِيلِيُّ أَخْبَرَنِي الْحَسَنُ بْنُ سُفْيَانَ ثنا حِبَّانُ عَنِ ابْنِ الْمُبَارَكِ أنبأ الْأَوْزَاعِيُّ فَذَكَرَهُ بِمِثْلِهِ إِلَّا أَنَّهُ قَالَ وَلَا تَزِيدَنَّ عَلَيْهِ وَزَادَ فِي آخِرِهِ قَالَ وَكَانَ عَبْدُ اللهِ بْنُ عَمْرٍو يَقُولُ بَعْدَ مَا أَدْرَكَهُ الْكِبَرُ يَا لَيْتَنِي قَبِلْتُ رُخْصَةَ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ  

" يَا عَبْدَ الله: أَلَمْ أُخْبرْ أَنَّكَ تَصُومُ النَّهَارَ، وَتَقُومُ اللَّيْلَ؟ فَلاَ تَفْعَلْ؛ فَإِنَّكَ إِذْ فَعَلْتَ هَجَمَتْ عَيْنُكَ، وَنَفِهَتْ نَفْسُكَ، فَصُمْ وَأَفْطِرْ، وَقُمْ وَنَمْ، فَإِنَّ لِجَسَدِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقّا، وَلِعَيْنِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقّا، وَإِنَّ لِزَوْجِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقّا، وَإنَّ لِزوركَ عَليكَ حَقّا، وَإِنَّ بِحَسْبِكَ أَنْ تَصُومَ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ ثَلاَثَةَ أَيَّامٍ، فَإِنَّ لَكَ بِكُلِّ حَسَنَةٍ عَشْرَةَ أَمْثَالِهَا، فَإِنَّ ذَلِكَ صيَامُ الدَّهْرِ كُلِّهِ، قَالَ: إِنِّى أَجِدُ قُوَّةً، قَالَ: فَصُمْ صِيَامَ نَبِىِّ الله دَاوُدَ وَلاَ تَزِدْ عَلَيْهِ (نصفُ الدَّهْر) ".