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 was informed that I have said: "By Allah, I will fast all the days and pray all the nights as long as I live." On that, Messenger of Allah ﷺ asked me. "Are you the one who says: 'I will fast all the days and pray all the nights as long as I live?' " I said, "Yes, I have said it." He said, "You cannot do that. So fast (sometimes) and do not fast (sometimes). Pray and sleep. Fast for three days a month, for the reward of a good deed is multiplied by ten time, and so the fasting of three days a month equals the fasting of a year." I said, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! I can do (fast) more than this." He said, "Fast on every third day. I said: I can do (fast) more than that, He said: "Fast on alternate days and this was the fasting of David which is the most moderate sort of fasting." I said, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! I can do (fast) more than that." He said, "There is nothing better than that."  

أُخْبِرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَنِّي أَقُولُ وَاللَّهِ لأَصُومَنَّ النَّهَارَ وَلأَقُومَنَّ اللَّيْلَ مَا عِشْتُ فَقَالَ لَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَنْتَ الَّذِي تَقُولُ وَاللَّهِ لأَصُومَنَّ النَّهَارَ وَلأَقُومَنَّ اللَّيْلَ مَا عِشْتُ قُلْتُ قَدْ قُلْتُهُ قَالَ إِنَّكَ لاَ تَسْتَطِيعُ ذَلِكَ فَصُمْ وَأَفْطِرْ وَقُمْ وَنَمْ وَصُمْ مِنَ الشَّهْرِ ثَلاَثَةَ أَيَّامٍ فَإِنَّ الْحَسَنَةَ بِعَشْرِ أَمْثَالِهَا وَذَلِكَ مِثْلُ صِيَامِ الدَّهْرِ فَقُلْتُ إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ فَصُمْ يَوْمًا وَأَفْطِرْ يَوْمَيْنِ قَالَ قُلْتُ إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ قَالَ فَصُمْ يَوْمًا وَأَفْطِرْ يَوْمًا وَذَلِكَ صِيَامُ دَاوُدَ وَهْوَ عَدْلُ الصِّيَامِ قُلْتُ إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَفْضَلَ مِنْهُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ لاَ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ  

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  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ met me and said: Have I not been informed that you told: I shall stand at prayer all the night, and I shall fast during the day ? He said: I think so. Yes, Messenger of Allah, I have said this. He said: Get up and pray at night and sleep ; fast and break your fast ; fast three days every month: that is equivalent to keeping perpetual fast. I said: Messenger of Allah, I have more power than that. He said: Then fast one day and break your fast one day. That is the most moderate fast ; that is the fast of Dawud (David). He said: I have more power than that. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: There is no fast more excellent that it.  

لَقِيَنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ أَلَمْ أُحَدَّثْ أَنَّكَ تَقُولُ لأَقُومَنَّ اللَّيْلَ وَلأَصُومَنَّ النَّهَارَ قَالَ أَحْسِبُهُ قَالَ نَعَمْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَدْ قُلْتُ ذَاكَ قَالَ قُمْ وَنَمْ وَصُمْ وَأَفْطِرْ وَصُمْ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ ثَلاَثَةَ أَيَّامٍ وَذَاكَ مِثْلُ صِيَامِ الدَّهْرِ قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ قَالَ فَصُمْ يَوْمًا وَأَفْطِرْ يَوْمَيْنِ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ قَالَ فَصُمْ يَوْمًا وَأَفْطِرْ يَوْمًا وَهُوَ أَعْدَلُ الصِّيَامِ وَهُوَ صِيَامُ دَاوُدَ قُلْتُ إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لاَ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ  

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ met me and said: Have I not been informed that you told: I shall stand at prayer all the night, and I shall fast during the day ? He said: I think so. Yes, Messenger of Allah, I have said this. He said: Get up and pray at night and sleep ; fast and break your fast ; fast three days every month: that is equivalent to keeping perpetual fast. I said: Messenger of Allah, I have more power than that. He said: Then fast one day and break your fast one day. That is the most moderate fast ; that is the fast of Dawud (David). He said: I have more power than that. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: There is no fast more excellent that it. (Using translation from Abū Dāʾūd 2427)  

لَقِيَنِي رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺفَقَالَ أَلَمْ أُحَدَّثْ أَنَّكَ تَقُومُ اللَّيْلَ؟ أَوْ أَنْتَ الَّذِي تَقُولُ لَأَقُومَنَّ اللَّيْلَ وَلَأَصُومَنَّ النَّهَارَ؟ قَالَ أَحْسِبُهُ قَالَ نَعَمْ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ قَدْ قُلْتُ ذَلِكَ قَالَ فَقُمْ وَنَمْ وَصُمْ وَأَفْطِرْ وَصُمْ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ وَلَكَ مِثْلُ صِيَامِ الدَّهْرِ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ؟ قَالَ فَصُمْ يَوْمًا وَأَفْطِرْ يَوْمَيْنِ قُلْتُ إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ؟ قَالَ فَصُمْ يَوْمًا وَأَفْطِرْ يَوْمًا وَهُوَ أَعْدَلُ الصِّيَامِ وَهُوَ صِيَامُ دَاوُدَ قُلْتُ إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ؟ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ لَا أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ  

"I will certainly stand all night (in prayer) and fast every day for as long as I live." The Messenger of Allah said: "Are you the one who said that?" I said: 'I said it, O Messenger of Allah.' The Messenger of Allah said: 'You cannot do that. Fast and break your fast, sleep and stand (in prayer), and fast three days of each month. For a good deed is equal to ten like it, and that is like fasting for a lifetime.' I said: 'But I am able to do bette than that.' He said: 'Fast for one day and break your fast for two days.' I said: 'I am able to do better than that, O Messenger of Allah.' He said: 'Then fast for one day and break your fast for two days.' I said: 'I am able to do better than that, O Messenger of Allah said : 'There is noting better than that."' 'Abdullah said: "If I had accepted the three days that the Messenger of Allah said, that would be dearer to me than my family and my wealth." '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 2392)  

«أُخْبِرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَنَّهُ قَالَ يَعْنِي نَفْسَهُ لَأَقُومَنَّ اللَّيْلَ وَلَأَصُومَنَّ النَّهَارَ مَا عِشْتُ فقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ » أَنْتَ الَّذِي تَقُولُ ذَلِكَ؟ « فَقُلْتُ لَهُ قَدْ قُلْتُهُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ » فَإِنَّكَ لَا تَسْتَطِيعُ ذَلِكَ صُمْ وَأَفْطِرْ وَنَمْ وَقُمْ وَصُمْ مِنَ الشَّهْرِ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ فَإِنَّ الْحَسَنَةَ بِعَشْرِ أَمْثَالِهَا وَذَلِكَ مِثْلُ صِيَامِ الدَّهْرِ « قَالَ قُلْتُ إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ قَالَ » صُمْ يَوْمًا وَأَفْطِرْ يَوْمَيْنِ « قَالَ قُلْتُ إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ قَالَ » صُمْ يَوْمًا وَأَفْطِرْ يَوْمًا وَذَلِكَ صِيَامُ دَاوُدَ وَهُوَ أَعْدَلُ الصِّيَامِ « قَالَ فَقُلْتُ فَإِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ » لَا أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ « قَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ وَلَأَنْ أَكُونَ قَبِلْتُ الثَّلَاثَةَ الْأَيَّامِ الَّتِي قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ كَانَ أَحَبَّ إِلَيَّ مِنْ أَهْلِي وَمَالِي»  

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. (Using translation from Muslim 1159a)  

ذُكِرَ لِرَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ أَنَّهُ يَقُولُ لَأَقُومَنَّ اللَّيْلَ وَلَأَصُومَنَّ النَّهَارَ مَا عِشْتُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ «أَنْتَ الَّذِي تَقُولُ ذَلِكَ؟» فَقُلْتُ لَهُ قَدْ قُلْتُهُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ «فَإِنَّكَ لَا تَسْتَطِيعُ ذَلِكَ فَصُمْ وَأَفْطِرْ وَنَمْ وَقُمْ وَصُمْ مِنَ الشَّهْرِ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ فَإِنَّ الْحَسَنَةَ بِعَشْرِ أَمْثَالِهَا وَذَلِكَ مِثْلُ صِيَامِ الدَّهْرِ» قُلْتُ فَإِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ قَالَ «صُمْ يَوْمًا وَأَفْطِرْ يَوْمَيْنِ» قُلْتُ فَإِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ قَالَ «فَصُمْ يَوْمًا وَأَفْطِرْ يَوْمًا وَذَلِكَ صِيَامُ دَاوُدَ وَهُوَ أَعْدَلُ الصِّيَامِ» قُلْتُ فَإِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ «لَا أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ» قَالَ عَبْدُ اللهِ بْنُ عَمْرٍو لَأَنْ أَكُونَ قَبِلْتُ الثَّلَاثَةَ الْأَيَّامَ الَّتِي قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِنْ أَهْلِي وَمَالِي  

"The Messenger of Allah said: 'I have heard that you stand (in prayer) all night and fast all day.' I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, I only meant good by that.' He said: 'One who fasts every day of his life has not truly fasted. But I will tell you what fasting for a lifetime means: Three days of every month.' I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, I said: 'I am able to do more than that.' He said 'Observe the fast of Dawud, peace be upon him; he used to fast one day and not the next."' '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 2397)   

قَالَ لِي رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ «إِنَّهُ بَلَغَنِي أَنَّكَ تَقُومُ اللَّيْلَ وَتَصُومُ النَّهَارَ؟» قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ مَا أَرَدْتُ بِذَلِكَ إِلَّا الْخَيْرَ قَالَ «لَا صَامَ مَنْ صَامَ الْأَبَدَ وَلَكِنْ أَدُلُّكَ عَلَى صَوْمِ الدَّهْرِ ثَلَاثَةُ أَيَّامٍ مِنَ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ» قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ قَالَ «فَصُمْ خَمْسَةَ أَيَّامٍ» قُلْتُ إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ قَالَ «فَصُمْ عَشْرًا» قُلْتُ إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ قَالَ «فَصُمْ صَوْمَ دَاوُدَ وَكَانَ يَصُومُ يَوْمًا وَيُفْطِرُ يَوْمًا»