Sahih Muslim , Hadith 1159 ⓘ

'Abdullah b. 'Amr b. al-'As reported that the Messenger of Allah was informed that he could stand up for (prayer) throughout the night and observe fast every day so long as he lived. Thereupon the Messenger of Allah said: 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, 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 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 had said, it would have been more dear to me than my family and my property.

حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو الطَّاهِرِ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ وَهْبٍ، يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ يُونُسَ، عَنِ ابْنِ، شِهَابٍ ح وَحَدَّثَنِي حَرْمَلَةُ بْنُ يَحْيَى، أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي يُونُسُ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي سَعِيدُ بْنُ الْمُسَيَّبِ، وَأَبُو سَلَمَةَ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ أَنَّ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْعَاصِ، قَالَ أُخْبِرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَّهُ يَقُولُ لأَقُومَنَّ اللَّيْلَ وَلأَصُومَنَّ النَّهَارَ مَا عِشْتُ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ آنْتَ الَّذِي تَقُولُ ذَلِكَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ قَدْ قُلْتُهُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ 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 صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ لاَ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَمْرٍو رضى الله عنهما لأَنْ أَكُونَ قَبِلْتُ الثَّلاَثَةَ الأَيَّامَ الَّتِي قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَحَبُّ إِلَىَّ مِنْ أَهْلِي وَمَالِي ‏.‏

Yahya reported: 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 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 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 had told me. When I grew old I wished I had availed myself of the concession (granted by) the Messenger of Allah.

وَحَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ الرُّومِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا النَّضْرُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عِكْرِمَةُ، - وَهُوَ ابْنُ عَمَّارٍ - حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، قَالَ 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 - رضى الله عنهما - قَالَ كُنْتُ أَصُومُ الدَّهْرَ وَأَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ كُلَّ لَيْلَةٍ - قَالَ - فَإِمَّا ذُكِرْتُ لِلنَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم 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 صلى الله عليه وسلم 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 صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ إِنَّكَ لاَ تَدْرِي لَعَلَّكَ يَطُولُ بِكَ عُمْرٌ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ فَصِرْتُ إِلَى الَّذِي قَالَ لِيَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَلَمَّا كَبِرْتُ وَدِدْتُ أَنِّي كُنْتُ قَبِلْتُ رُخْصَةَ نَبِيِّ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏.‏

This hadith has been narrated by Yahya b. Abu Kathir with the same chain of transmitters and he made this addition after these words: 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.

وَحَدَّثَنِيهِ زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا رَوْحُ بْنُ عُبَادَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا حُسَيْنٌ الْمُعَلِّمُ، عَنْ يَحْيَى، بْنِ أَبِي كَثِيرٍ بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ وَزَادَ فِيهِ بَعْدَ قَوْلِهِ ‏"‏ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ ثَلاَثَةَ أَيَّامٍ ‏"‏ ‏"‏ فَإِنَّ لَكَ بِكُلِّ حَسَنَةٍ عَشْرَ أَمْثَالِهَا فَذَلِكَ الدَّهْرُ كُلُّهُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ 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 ‏"‏ ‏.‏

'Abdullah b. 'Amr (Allah be pleased with them) reported: The Messenger of Allah 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.

حَدَّثَنِي الْقَاسِمُ بْنُ زَكَرِيَّاءَ، حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُوسَى، عَنْ شَيْبَانَ، عَنْ يَحْيَى، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، مَوْلَى بَنِي زُهْرَةَ عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، قَالَ - وَأَحْسِبُنِي قَدْ سَمِعْتُهُ أَنَا مِنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، - عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو، - رضى الله عنهما - قَالَ قَالَ لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ 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 b. 'Amr b. al-'As (Allah be pleased with them) reported that the Messenger of Allah said: 'Abdullah, don't be like so and so who observed prayer during the whole night and then abandoned it (altogether).

وَحَدَّثَنِي أَحْمَدُ بْنُ يُوسُفَ الأَزْدِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، عَنِ الأَوْزَاعِيِّ، قِرَاءَةً قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي يَحْيَى بْنُ أَبِي كَثِيرٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ الْحَكَمِ بْنِ ثَوْبَانَ، حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو سَلَمَةَ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْعَاصِ، - رضى الله عنهما - قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ لاَ تَكُنْ بِمِثْلِ فُلاَنٍ كَانَ يَقُومُ اللَّيْلَ فَتَرَكَ قِيَامَ اللَّيْلِ ‏" ‏ ‏.‏

Abdu'llah b. 'Amr b. 'As (Allah be pleased with them) reported: It was conveyed to the Messenger of Allah 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, 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.

وَحَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رَافِعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ جُرَيْجٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ عَطَاءً، يَزْعُمُ أَنَّ أَبَا الْعَبَّاسِ، أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّهُ، سَمِعَ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْعَاصِ، - رضى الله عنهما - يَقُولُ بَلَغَ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم 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 صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ 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.

وَحَدَّثَنِيهِ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ حَاتِمٍ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَكْرٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ جُرَيْجٍ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ وَقَالَ إِنَّ أَبَا الْعَبَّاسِ الشَّاعِرَ أَخْبَرَهُ ‏.‏ قَالَ مُسْلِمٌ أَبُو الْعَبَّاسِ السَّائِبُ بْنُ فَرُّوخَ مِنْ أَهْلِ مَكَّةَ ثِقَةٌ عَدْلٌ ‏.‏

Abdullah b. Amr (Allah be pleased with both of them) reported: The Messenger of Allah 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.

وَحَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُعَاذٍ، حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ حَبِيبٍ، سَمِعَ أَبَا الْعَبَّاسِ، سَمِعَ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عَمْرٍو، - رضى الله عنهما - قَالَ قَالَ لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ 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 ‏"‏ ‏.‏

This hadith is narrated on the authority of Habib b. Abu Thabit with the same chain of transmitters and he said: " And you would become exhausted."

وَحَدَّثَنَاهُ أَبُو كُرَيْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ بِشْرٍ، عَنْ مِسْعَرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا حَبِيبُ بْنُ أَبِي ثَابِتٍ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ وَقَالَ ‏ "‏ وَنَفِهَتِ النَّفْسُ ‏" ‏ ‏.‏

'Abdullah b. 'Amr (Allah be pleased with both of them) reported: The Messenger of Allah 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).

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ بْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ، عَنْ عَمْرٍو، عَنْ أَبِي الْعَبَّاسِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو، - رضى الله عنهما - قَالَ قَالَ لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ 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 ‏"‏ ‏.‏

'Abdullah b. 'Amr (Allah be pleased with both of them) reported Allah's Messenger as saying: 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.

وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَزُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، قَالَ زُهَيْرٌ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ بْنُ، عُيَيْنَةَ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ دِينَارٍ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ أَوْسٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو، - رضى الله عنهما - قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ 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 ‏" ‏ ‏.‏

'Abdullah b. 'Amr b. al-'As reported Allah's Messenger as saying: 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.

وَحَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رَافِعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ جُرَيْجٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي عَمْرُو، بْنُ دِينَارٍ أَنَّ عَمْرَو بْنَ أَوْسٍ، أَخْبَرَهُ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْعَاصِ، - رضى الله عنهما - أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ أَحَبُّ الصِّيَامِ إِلَى اللَّهِ صِيَامُ دَاوُدَ كَانَ يَصُومُ نِصْفَ الدَّهْرِ وَأَحَبُّ الصَّلاَةِ إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ 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 ‏.‏

Abu Qatada reported that Abu al Malih informed me: I went along with your father to 'Abdullah b. Amr, and he narrated to us that the Messenger of Allah 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 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.

وَحَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، أَخْبَرَنَا خَالِدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنْ خَالِدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي قِلاَبَةَ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي أَبُو الْمَلِيحِ، قَالَ دَخَلْتُ مَعَ أَبِيكَ عَلَى عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو فَحَدَّثَنَا أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم 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 صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ لاَ صَوْمَ فَوْقَ صَوْمِ دَاوُدَ شَطْرُ الدَّهْرِ صِيَامُ يَوْمٍ وَإِفْطَارُ يَوْمٍ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

'Abdullah b. Amr (Allah be pleased with them) reported that the Messenger of Allah had said to him: 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.

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا غُنْدَرٌ، عَنْ شُعْبَةَ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ زِيَادِ بْنِ فَيَّاضٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عِيَاضٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ، اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو - رضى الله عنهما - أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم 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 ‏"‏ ‏.‏

'Abdullah b. 'Amr (Allah be pleased with them) reported that the Messenger of Allah said to me! 'Abdullah b. 'Amr, it has been conveyed to me that you observe fast during the day and stand in prayer during the whole night. Don't do that, for your body has a share of its own in you, your eye has a share of its own in you, your wife has a share of her own in you. Observe fast and break it too. Fast for three days in every month and that is a prepetual fasting. I said! Messenger of Allah, I have got strength enough (to do more than this), whereupon he said: 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.

وَحَدَّثَنِي زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ حَاتِمٍ، جَمِيعًا عَنِ ابْنِ مَهْدِيٍّ، - قَالَ زُهَيْرٌ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ مَهْدِيٍّ، - حَدَّثَنَا سَلِيمُ بْنُ حَيَّانَ، حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدُ بْنُ مِينَاءَ، قَالَ قَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَمْرٍو قَالَ لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ 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 ‏.‏