حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ حُجْرٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ عَنْ حُمَيْدٍ عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِکٍ أَنَّهُ سُئِلَ عَنْ صَوْمِ النَّبِيِّ صلی الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ کَانَ يَصُومُ مِنَ الشَّهْرِ حَتَّی نَرَی أَنْ لا يُرِيدَ أَنْ يُفْطِرَ مِنْهُ وَيُفْطِرُ مِنْهُ حَتَّی نَرَی أَنْ لا يُرِيدَ أَنْ يَصُومَ مِنْهُ شَيْئًا وَکُنْتَ لا تَشَائُ أَنْ تَرَاهُ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ مُصَلِّيًا إِلا رَأَيْتَهُ مُصَلِّيًا وَلا نَائِمًا إِلا رَأَيْتَهُ نَائِمًا
شمائل المحمدية / شمائل ترمزی · Hadith 278
Anas Radiyallahu 'Anhu reports: "Someone was asked about the saum of Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam? He replied: 'It was his noble habit to fast on different occasions. In some months he fasted for so many days, that it was thought he would continue fasting. In other months he did not fast, we thought he would not fast now. It was also from his noble habits that if one wanted to observe Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam performed salaah at night, it was possible, and if one wanted to observe Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam sleep at night, this too was possible'".
Translated by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan · Reviewed by Islamic University of Madinah · Published March 2020