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  

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  

"Fast one day, and you will have the reward of what is left." He said: "I am able to do more than that." He ﷺ said: "Fast two days, and you will have the reward of what is left." He said: "I am able to do more than that." He ﷺ said: "Fast three days and you will have the reward of what is left." He said: "I am able to do more than that." He ﷺ said: "Fast four days and you will have the reward of what is left." He said: "I am able to do more than that." He ﷺ said: "Observe the best kind of fasting before Allah, the fast of Dawud, peace be upon him; he used to fast one day and break his fast for one day." '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.'"  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ لَهُ صُمْ يَوْمًا وَلَكَ أَجْرُ مَا بَقِيَ قَالَ إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَكْثَرَ مِنَ 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  

"The Messenger of Allah said to me: 'Fast one day of the month and you will have the reward of what is left.' I said: 'I am able to do more than that.' He said: 'Fast two days and you will have the reward of what is left.' I said: 'I am able to do more than that.' He said: 'Fast three days and you will have the reward of what is left.' I said: 'I am able to do more than that.' He said: 'Fast four days and you will have the reward of what is left.' I said: ' I am able to do more than that.' The messenger of Allah said: 'The best fasting is the fast of Dawud; he used to fast one day and not the next."' 2406. It was narrated that Abu Dharr said: "My beloved Prophet advised me to do three things which I will never give up, if Allah wills. He advised me to pray Duha to pray Witr before sleeping, and to fast three days of each month."  

لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ صُمْ مِنَ الشَّهْرِ يَوْمًا وَلَكَ أَجْرُ مَا بَقِيَ قُلْتُ إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ قَالَ فَصُمْ يَوْمَيْنِ وَلَكَ أَجْرُ مَا بَقِيَ قُلْتُ إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ قَالَ فَصُمْ ثَلاَثَةَ أَيَّامٍ وَلَكَ أَجْرُ مَا بَقِيَ قُلْتُ إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ قَالَ صُمْ أَرْبَعَةَ أَيَّامٍ وَلَكَ أَجْرُ مَا بَقِيَ قُلْتُ إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَفْضَلُ الصَّوْمِ صَوْمُ دَاوُدَ كَانَ يَصُومُ يَوْمًا وَيُفْطِرُ يَوْمًا  

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  

"Fast one day, and you will have the reward of what is left." He said: "I am able to do more than that." He ﷺ said: "Fast two days, and you will have the reward of what is left." He said: "I am able to do more than that." He ﷺ said: "Fast three days and you will have the reward of what is left." He said: "I am able to do more than that." He ﷺ said: "Fast four days and you will have the reward of what is left." He said: "I am able to do more than that." He ﷺ said: "Observe the best kind of fasting before Allah, the fast of Dawud, peace be upon him; he used to fast one day and break his fast for one day." '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 2394)  

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ 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 ثَلَاثَةَ 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 اللهِ صُمْ صَوْمَ دَاوُدَ كَانَ يَصُومُ يَوْمًا وَيُفْطِرُ يَوْمًا  

[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  

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. (Using translation from Muslim 1159n)  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ 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 ثَلَاثَةَ 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 اللهِ صَوْمَ دَاوُدَ كَانَ يَصُومُ يَوْمًا وَيُفْطِرُ يَوْمًا»  

"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»  

"The Messenger of Allah said to me: 'Fast one day of the month and you will have the reward of what is left.' I said: 'I am able to do more than that.' He said: 'Fast two days and you will have the reward of what is left.' I said: 'I am able to do more than that.' He said: 'Fast three days and you will have the reward of what is left.' I said: 'I am able to do more than that.' He said: 'Fast four days and you will have the reward of what is left.' I said: ' I am able to do more than that.' The messenger of Allah said: 'The best fasting is the fast of Dawud; he used to fast one day and not the next."' 2406. It was narrated that Abu Dharr said: "My beloved Prophet advised me to do three things which I will never give up, if Allah wills. He advised me to pray Duha to pray Witr before sleeping, and to fast three days of each month." (Using translation from Nasāʾī 2403)  

لِي رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ «صُمْ مِنَ الشَّهْرِ يَوْمًا وَلَكَ أَجْرُ مَا بَقِيَ» فَقُلْتُ إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ قَالَ «فَصُمْ يَوْمَيْنِ وَلَكَ أَجْرُ مَا بَقِيَ» فَقُلْتُ إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ قَالَ «صُمْ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ وَلَكَ أَجْرُ مَا بَقِيَ» فَقُلْتُ إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ قَالَ «صُمْ أَرْبَعَةَ أَيَّامٍ وَلَكَ أَجْرُ مَا بَقِيَ» قُلْتُ إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ بَعْدَمَا قَالَ «أَرْبَعَةَ أَيَّامٍ» «أَفْضَلُ الصَّوْمِ صَوْمُ دَاوُدَ كَانَ يَصُومُ يَوْمًا وَيُفْطِرُ يَوْمًا»  

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. (Using translation from Muslim 1159n)   

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ قَالَ 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 ثَلَاثَةَ 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 اللهِ صَوْمَ دَاوُدَ كَانَ يَصُومُ يَوْمًا وَيُفْطِرُ يَوْمًا