The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to me: “O Abdullah, have I not been informed that you fast during the day and stand (in prayer) at night?” I said: Yes, O Messenger of Allah. He said: “Do not do that. Fast and break your fast; stand ˹in prayer˺ and sleep. For your body has a right over you, your eyes have a right over you, your wife has a right over you, and your guest has a right over you. It is sufficient for you to fast three days every month, for for every good deed you have ten like it, and that is like fasting for the whole lifetime.”

So I insisted, and it was made stricter for me. I said: O Messenger of Allah, I find strength ˹to do more˺. He said: “Then fast the fasting of the Prophet of Allah, Dawud ᴬˢ, and do not go beyond that.” I asekd: And what was the fasting of the Prophet of Allah, Dawud ᴬˢ? He said: “Half of the time (i.e. alternate days).” 

And Abdullah used to say after he grew old: Would that I had accepted the concession of the Prophet ﷺ.

قَالَ 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۔

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

The Prophet ﷺ said to me, "I have been informed that you pray all the nights and observe fast all the days; is this true?" I replied, "Yes." He said, "If you do so, your eyes will become weak and you will get bored. So fast three days a month, for this will be the fasting of a whole year, or equal to the fasting of a whole year." I said, "I find myself able to fast more." He said, "Then fast like the fasting of (the Prophet) David who used to fast on alternate days and would not flee on facing the enemy."

لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَلَمْ أُنَبَّأْ أَنَّكَ تَقُومُ اللَّيْلَ وَتَصُومُ فَقُلْتُ نَعَمْ فَقَالَ فَإِنَّكَ إِذَا فَعَلْتَ ذَلِكَ هَجَمَتِ الْعَيْنُ وَنَفِهَتِ النَّفْسُ صُمْ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ ثَلاَثَةَ أَيَّامٍ فَذَلِكَ صَوْمُ الدَّهْرِ أَوْ كَصَوْمِ الدَّهْرِ قُلْتُ إِنِّي أَجِدُ بِي قَالَ مِسْعَرٌ يَعْنِي قُوَّةً قَالَ فَصُمْ صَوْمَ دَاوُدَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ وَكَانَ يَصُومُ يَوْمًا وَيُفْطِرُ يَوْمًا وَلاَ يَفِرُّ إِذَا لاَقَى

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

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

"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."

دَخَلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ حُجْرَتِي فَقَالَ أَلَمْ أُخْبَرْ أَنَّكَ تَقُومُ اللَّيْلَ وَتَصُومُ النَّهَارَ قَالَ بَلَى قَالَ فَلاَ تَفْعَلَنَّ نَمْ وَقُمْ وَصُمْ وَأَفْطِرْ فَإِنَّ لِعَيْنِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا وَإِنَّ لِجَسَدِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا وَإِنَّ لِزَوْجَتِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا وَإِنَّ لِضَيْفِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا وَإِنَّ لِصَدِيقِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا وَإِنَّهُ عَسَى أَنْ يَطُولَ بِكَ عُمُرٌ وَإِنَّهُ حَسْبُكَ أَنْ تَصُومَ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ ثَلاَثًا فَذَلِكَ صِيَامُ الدَّهْرِ كُلِّهِ وَالْحَسَنَةُ بِعَشْرِ أَمْثَالِهَا قُلْتُ إِنِّي أَجِدُ قُوَّةً فَشَدَّدْتُ فَشُدِّدَ عَلَىَّ قَالَ صُمْ مِنْ كُلِّ جُمُعَةٍ ثَلاَثَةَ أَيَّامٍ قُلْتُ إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ فَشَدَّدْتُ فَشُدِّدَ عَلَىَّ قَالَ صُمْ صَوْمَ نَبِيِّ اللَّهِ دَاوُدَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ قُلْتُ وَمَا كَانَ صَوْمُ دَاوُدَ قَالَ نِصْفُ الدَّهْرِ

"The Messenger of Allah said to me: 'O 'Abdullah bin 'Amr, you fast all the time and you do stand (in prayer) at night, but if you do that your eyes will become sunken and you will become exhausted. There is no fast for one who fasts every day of his life. Fasting a lifetime means fasting three days each month,

لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عَمْرٍو إِنَّكَ تَصُومُ الدَّهْرَ وَتَقُومُ اللَّيْلَ وَإِنَّكَ إِذَا فَعَلْتَ ذَلِكَ هَجَمَتِ الْعَيْنُ وَنَفِهَتْ لَهُ النَّفْسُ لاَ صَامَ مَنْ صَامَ الأَبَدَ صَوْمُ الدَّهْرِ ثَلاَثَةُ أَيَّامٍ مِنَ الشَّهْرِ صَوْمُ الدَّهْرِ كُلِّهِ قُلْتُ إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ قَالَ صُمْ صَوْمَ دَاوُدَ كَانَ يَصُومُ يَوْمًا وَيُفْطِرُ يَوْمًا وَلاَ يَفِرُّ إِذَا لاَقَى

[AI] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "It has reached me that you fast during the day and pray at night. Do not do so, for your body has rights over you, your eyes have rights over you, and your spouse has rights over you. Fast three days every month, for that is the fasting of a whole year." I said, "I have the ability to do more than that." He said, "Fast like the fasting of Prophet David: fast one day and break your fast the next day." Ibn Amr used to say, "I wish I had taken the concession." A'fan and Bahz said, "I find myself with the ability to do more."

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ بَلَغَنِي أَنَّكَ وَحَدَّثَنَاهُ عَفَّانُ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سَلِيمُ بْنُ حَيَّانَ حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدُ بْنُ مِينَاءَ سَمِعْتُ عَبْدَ اللهِ بْنَ عَمْرٍو قَالَ قَالَ لِي رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ بَلَغَنِي أَنَّكَ تَصُومُ النَّهَارَ وَتَقُومُ اللَّيْلَ فَلَا تَفْعَلْ فَإِنَّ لِجَسَدِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَظًّا وَلِعَيْنِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَظًّا وَلِزَوْجِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَظًّا صُمْ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ فَذَلِكَ صَوْمُ الدَّهْرِ قَالَ قُلْتُ إِنَّ بِي قُوَّةً قَالَ صُمْ صَوْمَ دَاوُدَ صُمْ يَوْمًا وَأَفْطِرْ يَوْمًا قَالَ فَكَانَ ابْنُ عَمْرٍو يَقُولُ يَا لَيْتَنِي كُنْتُ أَخَذْتُ بِالرُّخْصَةِ وقَالَ عَفَّانُ وَبَهْزٌ إِنِّي أَجِدُ بِي قُوَّةً

[AI] "To me, the Messenger of Allahﷺ said, 'O Abdullah bin Amr, it has reached me that you fast during the day and spend the night in prayer. Do not do so, for your body has rights over you, your wife has rights over you, and your eyes have rights over you. Fast and break your fast from every month for three days; that is the fast of a lifetime.' I said, 'O Messenger of Allah, I have the ability to do more.' He said, 'Fast the fast of Dawood: fast one day and break your fast the following day.' Abdullah used to say, 'I wish I had taken the concession.'"

لِي رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ يَا عَبْدَ اللهِ بْنَ عَمْرٍو بَلَغَنِي أَنَّكَ تَصُومُ النَّهَارَ وَتَقُومُ اللَّيْلَ فَلَا تَفْعَلَنَّ فَإِنَّ لِجَسَدِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَظًّا وَإِنَّ لِزَوْجِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَظًّا وَإِنَّ لِعَيْنَيْكَ عَلَيْكَ حَظًّا أَفْطِرْ وَصُمْ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ فَذَلِكَ صَوْمُ الدَّهْرِ قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ إِنِّي أَجِدُ قُوَّةً؟ قَالَ صُمْ صَوْمَ دَاوُدَ صُمْ يَوْمًا وَأَفْطِرْ يَوْمًا قَالَ فَكَانَ عَبْدُ اللهِ يَقُولُ يَا لَيْتَنِي كُنْتُ أَخَذْتُ بِالرُّخْصَةِ

[AI] 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

[AI] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ entered his house and said, "O Abdullah ibn Amr, did I not inform you that you should dedicate yourself to praying at night and fasting during the day?" He replied, "Indeed, I do." The Prophet ﷺ said, "It is sufficient for you not to say, 'I do it,' but rather, fast three days every month, for every good deed is multiplied ten times, as if you have fasted the entire year." Abdullah said, "I could handle more than that." The Prophet ﷺ said, "It is sufficient for you to fast three days every week." Abdullah said, "I could handle more than that." The Prophet ﷺ said, "The most just fast in the sight of Allah is the fast of Prophet David, who used to fast half the year." Then he said, "You have rights over yourself, and your family has rights over you." Abdullah used to observe that fast until old age and weakness overtook him, and he would say, "I wish I had followed the permission of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ rather than my own desires. It is dearer to me than my family and wealth."

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ دَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ بَيْتَهُ فَقَالَ يَا عَبْدَ اللهِ بْنَ عَمْرٍو أَلَمْ أُخْبَرْ أَنَّكَ تَكَلَّفُ قِيَامَ اللَّيْلِ وَصِيَامَ النَّهَارِ؟ قَالَ إِنِّي لَأَفْعَلُ فَقَالَ إِنَّ حَسْبَكَ وَلَا أَقُولُ افْعَلْ أَنْ تَصُومَ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ الْحَسَنَةُ عَشْرُ أَمْثَالِهَا فَكَأَنَّكَ قَدْ صُمْتَ الدَّهْرَ كُلَّهُ قَالَ فَغَلَّظْتُ فَغُلِّظَ عَلَيَّ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ إِنِّي لَأَجِدُ قُوَّةً مِنْ ذَلِكَ قَالَ إِنَّ مِنْ حَسْبِكَ أَنْ تَصُومَ مِنْ كُلِّ جُمُعَةٍ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ قَالَ فَغَلَّظْتُ فَغُلِّظَ عَلَيَّ فَقُلْتُ إِنِّي لَأَجِدُ بِي قُوَّةً فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ أَعْدَلُ الصِّيَامِ عِنْدَ اللهِ صِيَامُ دَاوُدَ نِصْفُ الدَّهْرِ ثُمَّ قَالَ لِنَفْسِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقٌّ وَلِأَهْلِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقٌّ قَالَ فَكَانَ عَبْدُ اللهِ يَصُومُ ذَلِكَ الصِّيَامَ حَتَّى إِذَا أَدْرَكَهُ السِّنُّ وَالضَّعْفُ كَانَ يَقُولُ لَأَنْ أَكُونَ قَبِلْتُ رُخْصَةَ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِنْ أَهْلِي وَمَالِي

[AI] 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»

[AI] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "O Abdullah ibn Amr, I have been informed that you fast during the day and pray during the night. Do not do so. Your body has rights over you, and your soul has rights over you. Fast and break your fast, and fast for three days every month as a perpetual fast." Abdullah replied, "O Messenger of Allah, I find myself strong enough to do so." The Prophet said, "Observe the fast of Prophet David, fast one day and break your fast the next day." Abdullah ibn Amr used to say, "I wish that I had taken the concession."

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عَمْرٍو بَلَغَنِي أَنَّكَ تَصُومُ النَّهَارَ وَتَقُومُ اللَّيْلَ فَلَا تَفْعَلْ فَإِنَّ لِجَسَدِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا وَإِنَّ لِنَفْسِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا صُمْ وَأَفْطِرْ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ صَوْمُ الدَّهْرِ» قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي أَجِدُ قُوَّةً قَالَ «صُمْ صَوْمَ دَاوُدَ صُمْ يَوْمًا وَأَفْطِرْ يَوْمًا» قَالَ وَكَانَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَمْرٍو يَقُولُ يَا لَيْتَنِي كُنْتُ أَخَذْتُ الرُّخْصَةَ

قَالَ قَالَ لِيَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ تَصُومُ النَّهَارَ وَتَقُومُ اللَّيْلَ ؟ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ قَالَ فَلَا تَفْعَلْ فَإِنَّكَ إِذَا فَعَلْتَ ذَلِكَ هَجَمَتِ الْعَيْنَانِ وَنَفِهَتِ النَّفْسُ صُمْ وَأَفْطِرْ وَقُمْ وَنَمْ صُمْ مِنَ الشَّهْرِ ثَلَاثًا فَإِنَّ ذَلِكَ صَوْمُ الدَّهْرِ إِنَّ لِعَيْنِكَ حَقًّا وَإِنَّ لِنَفْسِكَ حَقًّا وَإِنَّ لِأَهْلِكَ حَقًّا قُلْتُ يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ إِنِّي أَجِدُ قُوَّةً قَالَ إِنْ كُنْتَ لَا بُدَّ فَاعِلًا فَصُمْ صَوْمَ نَبِيِّ اللَّهِ يَعْنِي دَاوُدَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ كَانَ يَصُومُ يَوْمًا وَيُفْطِرُ يَوْمًا وَلَا يَفِرُّ إِذَا لَاقَى

"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»

"The Messenger of Allah said to me: 'O 'Abdullah bin 'Amr, you fast all the time and you do stand (in prayer) at night, but if you do that your eyes will become sunken and you will become exhausted. There is no fast for one who fasts every day of his life. Fasting a lifetime means fasting three days each month, (Using translation from Nasāʾī 2399)

قَالَ لِي رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ «يَا عَبْدَ اللهِ بْنَ عَمْرٍو إِنَّكَ تَصُومُ الدَّهْرَ وَتَقُومُ اللَّيْلَ وَإِنَّكَ إِذَا فَعَلْتَ ذَلِكَ هَجَمَتِ الْعَيْنُ وَنفهت لَهُ النَّفْسُ لَا صَامَ مَنْ صَامَ الْأَبَدَ صَوْمُ الدَّهْرِ ثَلَاثَةُ أَيَّامٍ مِنَ الشَّهْرِ صَوْمُ الدَّهْرِ كُلِّهِ» قُلْتُ إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ قَالَ «صَوْمُ دَاوُدَ كَانَ يَصُومُ يَوْمًا وَيُفْطِرُ يَوْمًا وَلَا يَفِرُّ إِذَا لَاقَى»

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»

[AI] Did the Messenger of Allah ﷺ not inform you that you should fast during the day and stand (in prayer) during the night? I said, "Yes." He said, "Do not do so, for if you do, your eyes will become weak and your soul will become disgruntled. Indeed, your eyes have a right over you, your soul has a right over you, and your family has a right over you. So, fast and break your fast, stand (in prayer) and sleep."

لِي رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ أَلَمْ أُخْبَرْ أَنَّكَ تَصُومُ النَّهَارَ وَتَقُومُ اللَّيْلَ؟ قُلْتُ بَلَى قَالَ فَلَا تَفْعَلْ فَإِنَّكَ إِذَا فَعَلْتَ ذَلِكَ هَجَمَتْ عَيْنَاكَ وَنَفِهَتْ نَفْسُكَ إِنَّ لِعَيْنِكَ حَقًّا وَلِنَفْسِكَ حَقًّا وَلِأَهْلِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا صُمْ وَأَفْطِرْ وَقُمْ وَنَمْ

[AI] 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