The Book of Fasting

It was narrated that 'Abdullah bin 'Amr said: "My father got me married to a woman and he came to visit her and said: 'What do you think of your husband?' She said: 'What a wonderful man he is. He does not sleep at night and he does not break his fast during the day.' He got upset with me and said: 'I got you married to a woman from among the Muslims and you have neglected her.' I did not pay attention to what he said because of my energy and love of worship. News of that reached the Prophet and he said: 'But I stand (in prayer) and I sleep, I fast and I break my fast. So stand (in prayer) and sleep, fast and break your fast.' He said: 'Fast three days of every month.' I said: 'I am able to do more than that.' He said: 'O bserve the fast of Dawud, peace be upon him: fast one day and break your fast one day.' I said: 'I am able to do more than that.' He said: 'Read the Quran (once) every month.' Then it ended up being every fifteen days, and I still said: 'I am able to do more than that."' '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."

It was narrated that 'Abdullah said: "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."

It was narrated from 'Abdullah bin 'Amr bin Al-As that it was mentioned to the Messenger of Allah that he had said: "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."

It was narrated that Abu Salamah bin 'Abdur-Rahman said: "I entered upon 'Abdullah bin 'Amr and said: O uncle, tell me what the Messenger of Allah said to you. He said: O son of my brother, I had resolved to strive very hard until I said: I will fast for the rest of my life and I will read the whole Quran every day and night. The Messenger of Allah heard about that, and came in to me in my house, and said: I have heard that you said, I will fast for a lifetime and will read the Quran. I said: I did say that, O Messenger of Allah. He said; Do not do that. Fast three days of each month. I said: I am able to do more than that. He said: fast two days of each week, Monday and Thursday. I said: I am able to do more than that. He said; Observe the fast of Dawud, peace be upon him, for it is the best kind of fasting before Allah; one day fasting, and one day not fasting. And when he made a promise he did not break it, and when he met (the enemy in battle) he did not flee." '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."

It was narrated from 'Abdullah bin 'Amr that the Messenger of Allah said to him: "Fast one day, and you will have the reward of what is left." He said: "I am able to do more than that." He said: "I am able to do more than that." He 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 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 said: "Observe the best kind of fasting before Allah, the fast of Dawud, peace be upon him; he used to fast tone 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."

It was narrated that 'Abdullah bin 'Amr said: 'Amr said: "I spoke to the Prophet and he said: 'Fast one day out of ten and you will have the reward of the other nine.' I said: 'I am able to do more than that.' He said: 'Fast one day out of eight and you will have the reward of the other eight.' I said: 'I am able to do more than that.' He said: 'Fast one day out of eight and you will have the reward of the other seven.' I said: 'I am able to do more than that.' 'Fast one day and not the next."'

It was narrated from Shuaib bin 'Abdullah bin 'Amr that his father said: "The Messenger of Allah said to me: 'Fast one day and you will have the reward of ten.' I said: 'Let me fast more.' He said: 'Fast two days and you will have the reward of nine.' I said: 'Let me fast more than that.' He said: 'Fast three days and you will have the reward of eight." (One of the narrators) Thabit said: "I mentioned that to Mutarrif and he said: 'I only see that he is making more effort for less reward.'"

It was narrated that 'Abdullah bin 'Amr said: "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."

It was narrated that 'Abdullah bin 'Amr said: "The Messenger of Allah said to me" and he quoted the same Hadith. '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."

It was narrated that 'Abdullah bin 'Amr said: "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,

It was narrated that 'Abdullah bin 'Amr said: "The Messenger of Allah said to me: 'Read the Qur'an in a month.' I said: 'I am able to do more than that. ' And I kept asking him until he said: 'In five days.' And he said: 'Fast three days a month.' I said: 'I am able to do more than that.' And 'Observe thhe most beloved of fasting to Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, the fast one day and not the next." (Suahih).

'Abduallah bin amr bin Al-'As said: "The Messenger of Allah heard that I was fasting continually and praying all night." Either he sent for him, or he happened to meet him and he said: "Have I not been told that you fast and never break your fast, and you pray all night? Do not do that, for do that, for your eyes should have a share, your self should have a share, and your family should have a share. Fast and break your fast; pray and sleep. Fast one day out of every ten, and your will have the reward of the other nine." He said: " I am able to do more than that, O Messenger of Allah." He said: "Observe the fast of Dawud then." " I said: 'How did Dawud fast, O Prophet of Allah? He said: 'He used to fast one day, and not the next, and he never fled if he met(the enemy in battle)."' He said: "How can I compare to him, O Prophet of Allah?"

It was narrated that Ibn Al-Malih said: "I entered with Zaid upon 'Abdullah bin Amr and he narrated: 'The Messenger of Allah was told about my fasting, so the entered upon me and I gave him an average-sized leather pillow that was stuffed with palm fibvers. He sat in the ground with the pillow between myself and him, and said: "Whill it not be sufficient for you to fast three days each months?" I said: O Messenger of Allah! He said: "O Messenger of Allah!" He said: "Eleven." I said: "O Messenger of Allah!" Then the Prophet said: "There is not fast better than the fast of Dawud, half of a lifetime, fasting one day and not next."

'Abdullah bin Amr said: "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."

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."

It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said: "The Messenger of Allah enjoyed three things upon me: To sleep after praying Witr, to perform Ghusal on Friday, and to fast three days of each month." (Sahih).

Abu Hurairah said: "The Messenger of Allah commanded me to pray two Rakahs of Duah,nt to sleep until after praying Witr and to fast three days of each month. (Sahih).

It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said: "The Messenger of Allah commanded me to sleep after praying Witr, to perform Ghusl on Friday and to fast three days of each month." (Sahih).

It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said: " I heard the Messenger of Allah say: 'The month of patience ( Ramadan) and three days of each month is fasting for a lifetime."' (Sahih).

It was narrated that Abu Dharr said: "The Messenger of Allah said: 'Whoever fasts for three days of each month, he has fasted for a whole lifetime.' Then he said: Allah has spoken the truth in His book: Whoever brings a good deed shall have ten times the like thereof to his credit.

Abu 'Uthman reported from a man, that Abu Dharrr said: "I heard the Messenger of Allah say: "Whoever fasts three days of each month has fasted the month in full' or 'will have (the reward of) fasting the month."' 'Asim was in doubt.

'Uthman bin Abi Al-As said: "I heard the Messenger of Allah say: 'It is a good fast to fast three days of each month".

It was narrated that Sa'eed bin Abi Hind said: "Uthman bin Abi Al-As" and he narrated something similar in Mursal form.

It was narrated that Al-Hurr bin Sayyah said: "I heard Ibn 'Umar say" "The Prophet used to fast three days of each month.

It was narrated from Ibn 'Umar that: the Messenger of Allah used to fast three days of each month: Monday at the beginning of the month, the following Thursday, then the Thursday after that.

Hunaidah Al-Khuza'i said: "I entered upon the Mother of the Believers and heard her say: 'The Messenger of Allah used to fast three days of each month: The first Monday of the month, then Thursday, then the following Thursday."

It was narrated that Hafsah said: "There are four things which the Prophet never gave up: Fasting 'Ashura', (fasting during) the ten days, (fasting) three days of each month, and praying two Rak'ahs before Al-Ghadah (Fajr)."

It was narrated from Hunaidah bin Khalid, from his wife, from one of the wives of the Prophet, that: the Messenger of Allah used to fast nine days of Dhul-Hijjah, the day of 'Ashura', and three days of each month: The first Monday of the month, and two Thursday.

It was narrated from Hunaidah bin Khalid, from his wife, that one of the wives of the Prophet said: "The Prophet used to fast the ten (days), and three days of each month: Monday and Thursday."

It was narrated that Umm Salamah said: "The Messenger of Allah used to enjoin fasting three days: The first Thursday, and Monday and Monday."