حَدَّثَنَا عَبِيدَةُ حَدَّثَنِي مَنْصُورٌ عَنْ مُجَاهِدٍ عَنْ طَاوُسٍ عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا قَالَ خَرَجَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مِنْ الْمَدِينَةِ يُرِيدُ مَكَّةَ فَصَامَ حَتَّى أَتَى عُسْفَانَ قَالَ فَدَعَا بِإِنَاءٍ فَوَضَعَهُ عَلَى يَدِهِ حَتَّى نَظَرَ النَّاسُ إِلَيْهِ ثُمَّ أَفْطَرَ قَالَ فَكَانَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ يَقُولُ مَنْ شَاءَ صَامَ وَمَنْ شَاءَ أَفْطَرَ
مسند امام احمد بن حنبل · Hadith 2350
It was narrated that Ibn 'Abbas (RA) said: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) left Madinah, heading for Makkah, and he fasted until he reached 'Usfan. Then he called for a vessel and took it in his hand so that the people could see him, then he broke his fast. And Ibn 'Abbas used to say: Whoever wants to may fast and whoever wants to may not fast.
Translated by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan · Reviewed by Islamic University of Madinah · Published March 2020