سنن نسائی · Hadith 2400

It was narrated from ‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr bin Al-’As that it was mentioned to the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم 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 صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم said: “Are you the one who said that?” “I said: ‘I said it, Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم.’ The Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم 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 better 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, Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم.’ He said: ‘Then fast for one day and break your fast for one day, and that is the fast of Dawud and it is the best kind of fasting.’ I said: ‘I am able to do better than that.’ The Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم said: ‘There is nothing better than that.” ‘Abdullah said: “If I had accepted the three days that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم said, that would be dearer to me than my family and my wealth.” (Sahih)

Translated by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan · Reviewed by Islamic University of Madinah · Published March 2020