Narrated Adb Allah bin Amr bin al-As: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ met me and said: Have I not been informed that you told: I shall stand at prayer all the night, and I shall fast during the day ? He said: I think so. Yes, Messenger of Allah, I have said this. He said: Get up and pray at night and sleep ; fast and break your fast ; fast three days every month: that is equivalent to keeping perpetual fast. I said: Messenger of Allah, I have more power than that. He said: Then fast one day and break your fast one day. That is the most moderate fast ; that is the fast of Dawud (David). He said: I have more power than that. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: There is no fast more excellent that it.

حَدَّثَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏حَدَّثَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ الزُّهْرِيِّ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ ابْنِ الْمُسَيَّبِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْعَاصِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏قَالَ:‏‏‏‏ لَقِيَنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏فَقَالَ:‏‏‏‏ "أَلَمْ أُحَدَّثْ أَنَّكَ تَقُولُ لَأَقُومَنَّ اللَّيْلَ وَلَأَصُومَنَّ النَّهَارَ ؟ قَالَ:‏‏‏‏ أَحْسَبُهُ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏قَالَ:‏‏‏‏ نَعَمْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏قَدْ قُلْتُ ذَاكَ. قَالَ:‏‏‏‏ قُمْ وَنَمْ وَصُمْ وَأَفْطِرْ وَصُمْ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ وَذَاكَ مِثْلُ صِيَامِ الدَّهْرِ. قَالَ:‏‏‏‏ قُلْتُ:‏‏‏‏ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ. قَالَ:‏‏‏‏ فَصُمْ يَوْمًا وَأَفْطِرْ يَوْمَيْنِ. قَالَ:‏‏‏‏ فَقُلْتُ:‏‏‏‏ إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ. قَالَ:‏‏‏‏ فَصُمْ يَوْمًا وَأَفْطِرْ يَوْمًا وَهُوَ أَعْدَلُ الصِّيَامِ وَهُوَ صِيَامُ دَاوُدَ. قُلْتُ:‏‏‏‏ إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ. فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ:‏‏‏‏ لَا أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ".

Narrated Abdullah ibn al-Harith ; or Uncle of Mujibah al-Bahiliyyah: The father or Uncle of Mujibah al-Bahiliyyah visited the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. He then went away and came to him (again) after one year when his condition and appearance had changed. He said: Messenger of Allah, do you not recognize me? He asked: Who are you? He replied: I am al-Bahili who came to you last year. He said: What has changed you? You were looking well, then you were good in appearance? He said: I have only food at night since I departed from you. Thereupon the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: Why did you torment yourself? Fast during Ramadan (the month of patience) and fast for one day every month. He said: Increase it for me, for I have (more) strength. He said: Fast two days. He again said: Increase it for me. He said: Fast three days. He again said: Increase it for me. He said: Fast during the inviolable months and then stop; fast during the inviolable months and then stop; fast during the inviolable months and then stop. He indicated by his three fingers, and joined them and then opened them.

حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادٌ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ سَعِيدٍ الْجُرَيْرِيِّ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ أَبِي السَّلِيلِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ مُجِيبَةَ الْبَاهِلِيَّةِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ أَبِيهَا أَوْ عَمِّهَا، ‏‏‏‏‏‏أَنَّهُ أَتَى رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ثُمَّ انْطَلَقَ. فَأَتَاهُ بَعْدَ سَنَةٍ وَقَدْ تَغَيَّرَتْ حَالُهُ وَهَيْئَتُهُ. فَقَالَ:‏‏‏‏ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏أَمَا تَعْرِفُنِي ؟ قَالَ:‏‏‏‏ وَمَنْ أَنْتَ ؟ قَالَ:‏‏‏‏ أَنَا الْبَاهِلِيُّ الَّذِي جِئْتُكَ عَامَ الْأَوَّلِ. قَالَ:‏‏‏‏ فَمَا غَيَّرَكَ وَقَدْ كُنْتَ حَسَنَ الْهَيْئَةِ ؟ قَالَ:‏‏‏‏ مَا أَكَلْتُ طَعَامًا إِلَّا بِلَيْلٍ مُنْذُ فَارَقْتُكَ. فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ:‏‏‏‏ لِمَ عَذَّبْتَ نَفْسَكَ ؟ ثُمَّ قَالَ:‏‏‏‏ "صُمْ شَهْرَ الصَّبْرِ وَيَوْمًا مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ". قَالَ:‏‏‏‏ زِدْنِي فَإِنَّ بِي قُوَّةً. قَالَ:‏‏‏‏ صُمْ يَوْمَيْنِ. قَالَ:‏‏‏‏ زِدْنِي. قَالَ:‏‏‏‏ صُمْ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ. قَالَ:‏‏‏‏ زِدْنِي. قَالَ:‏‏‏‏ صُمْ مِنَ الْحُرُمِ وَاتْرُكْ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏صُمْ مِنَ الْحُرُمِ وَاتْرُكْ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏صُمْ مِنَ الْحُرُمِ وَاتْرُكْ". وَقَالَ بِأَصَابِعِهِ الثَّلَاثَةِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏فَضَمَّهَا ثُمَّ أَرْسَلَهَا.

Narrated Abu Hurairah: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ as saying: The most excellent fast after Ramadan is Allah's month al-Muharram, and the most excellent prayer after the prescribed prayer is the prayer during night.

حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏وَقُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏قَالَا:‏‏‏‏ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَوَانَةَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ أَبِي بِشْرٍ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ حُمَيْدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏قَالَ:‏‏‏‏ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ:‏‏‏‏ "أَفْضَلُ الصِّيَامِ بَعْدَ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ شَهْرُ اللَّهِ الْمُحَرَّمُ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏وَإِنَّ أَفْضَلَ الصَّلَاةِ بَعْدَ الْمَفْرُوضَةِ صَلَاةٌ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ". لَمْ يَقُلْ قُتَيْبَةُ:‏‏‏‏ شَهْرٌ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏قَالَ:‏‏‏‏ رَمَضَانُ.

Narrated Uthman bin Hakim: I asked Saeed bin Jubair about fasting during Rajab. He said: Ibn Abbas told me that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to fast to such an extent that we thought that he would never break his fast ; and he would go without fasting to such and extent that he would never fast.

حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ مُوسَى، ‏‏‏‏‏‏حَدَّثَنَا عِيسَى، ‏‏‏‏‏‏حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ يَعْنِي ابْنَ حَكِيمٍ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏قَالَ:‏‏‏‏ سَأَلْتُ سَعِيدَ بْنَ جُبَيْرٍ عَنْ صِيَامِ رَجَبٍ. فَقَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏أَنّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ"كَانَ يَصُومُ حَتَّى نَقُولَ لَا يُفْطِرُ وَيُفْطِرُ حَتَّى نَقُولَ لَا يَصُومُ".

Narrated Aishah, Ummul Muminin: The month most liked by the Messenger of Allah ﷺ for fasting was Sha'ban. He then joined it with Ramadan.

حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ حَنْبَلٍ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ مَهْدِيٍّ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ صَالِحٍ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي قَيْسٍ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏سَمِعَعَائِشَةَ تَقُولُ:‏‏‏‏ كَانَ"أَحَبَّ الشُّهُورِ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنْ يَصُومَهُ شَعْبَانُ ثُمَّ يَصِلُهُ بِرَمَضَانَ".

Narrated Muslim al-Qurashi: I asked or someone asked the Prophet ﷺ about perpetual fasting. He replied: You have a duty to your family. Fast during Ramadan and the following month, and every Wednesday and Thursday. You will then have observed a perpetual fast.

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عُثْمَانَ الْعِجْلِيُّ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ يَعْنِي ابْنَ مُوسَى، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ هَارُونَ بْنِ سَلْمَانَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ الْقُرَشِيِّ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ أَبِيهِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏قَالَ:‏‏‏‏ سَأَلْتُ أَوْ سُئِلَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَنْ صِيَامِ الدَّهْرِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏فَقَالَ:‏‏‏‏ "إِنَّ لِأَهْلِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا، ‏‏‏‏‏‏صُمْ رَمَضَانَ وَالَّذِي يَلِيهِ وَكُلَّ أَرْبِعَاءَ وَخَمِيسٍ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏فَإِذَا أَنْتَ قَدْ صُمْتَ الدَّهْرَ". قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُد:‏‏‏‏ وَافَقَهُ زَيْدٌ الْعُكْلِيُّ وَخَالَفَهُ أَبُو نُعَيْمٍ. قَالَ:‏‏‏‏ مُسْلِمُ بْنُ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ.

Narrated Abu Ayyub: The Prophet ﷺ as saying: If anyone fasts during Ramadan, then follows it with six days in Shawwal, it will be like a perpetual fast.

حَدَّثَنَا النُّفَيْلِيُّ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ سُلَيْمٍ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏وَسَعْدِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ ثَابِتٍ الْأَنْصَارِيِّ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ أَبِي أَيُّوبَ صَاحِبِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏قَالَ:‏‏‏‏ "مَنْ صَامَ رَمَضَانَ ثُمَّ أَتْبَعَهُ بِسِتٍّ مِنْ شَوَّالٍ فَكَأَنَّمَا صَامَ الدَّهْرَ".

Narrated Aishah, wife of Prophet ﷺ: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to fast to such an extent that we thought that he would never break his fast, and he would go without fasting to such an extent that we thought he would never fast. I never saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ fast a complete month except in Ramadan, and I never saw his fast more in any month than in Sha'ban.

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مَسْلَمَةَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ مَالِكٍ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ أَبِي النَّضْرِ مَوْلَى عُمَرَ بْنِ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ عَائِشَةَ زَوْجِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏أَنَّهَا قَالَتْ:‏‏‏‏ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ"يَصُومُ حَتَّى نَقُولَ لَا يُفْطِرُ وَيُفْطِرُ حَتَّى نَقُولَ لَا يَصُومُ. وَمَا رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ اسْتَكْمَلَ صِيَامَ شَهْرٍ قَطُّ إِلَّا رَمَضَانَ. وَمَا رَأَيْتُهُ فِي شَهْرٍ أَكْثَرَ صِيَامًا مِنْهُ فِي شَعْبَانَ".

The tradition mentioned above has alos been transmitted by Abu Hurairah through a different chain of narrators to the same effect. This version adds: He would fast all but a little of Sha'ban, rather he used to fast the whole of Sha'ban.

حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ،‏‏‏‏حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادٌ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏بِمَعْنَاهُ. زَادَ:‏‏‏‏ كَانَ يَصُومُهُ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا، ‏‏‏‏‏‏بَلْ كَانَ يَصُومُهُ كُلَّهُ.

Narrated Usamah ibn Zayd: The client of Usamah ibn Zayd said that he went along with Usamah to Wadi al-Qura in pursuit of his camels. He would fast on Monday and Thursday. His client said to him: Why do you fast on Monday and Thursday, while you are an old man? He said: The Prophet of Allah ﷺ used to fast on Monday and Thursday. When he was asked about it, he said: The works of the servants (of Allah) are presented (to Allah) on Monday and Thursday.

حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏حَدَّثَنَا أَبَانُ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ أَبِي الْحَكَمِ بْنِ ثَوْبَانَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ مَوْلَى قُدَامَةَ بْنِ مَظْعُونٍ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ مَوْلَى أُسَامَةَ بْنِ زَيْدٍ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏أَنَّهُ انْطَلَقَ مَعَ أُسَامَةَ إِلَى وَادِي الْقُرَى فِي طَلَبِ مَالٍ لَهُ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏فَكَانَ يَصُومُ يَوْمَ الِاثْنَيْنِ وَيَوْمَ الْخَمِيسِ. فَقَالَ لَهُ مَوْلَاهُ:‏‏‏‏ لِمَ تَصُومُ يَوْمَ الِاثْنَيْنِ وَيَوْمَ الْخَمِيسِ وَأَنْتَ شَيْخٌ كَبِيرٌ ؟ فَقَالَ:‏‏‏‏ إِنَّ نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَانَ"يَصُومُ يَوْمَ الِاثْنَيْنِ وَيَوْمَ الْخَمِيسِ. وَسُئِلَ عَنْ ذَلِكَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏فَقَالَ:‏‏‏‏ إِنَّ أَعْمَالَ الْعِبَادِ تُعْرَضُ يَوْمَ الِاثْنَيْنِ وَيَوْمَ الْخَمِيسِ". قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُد:‏‏‏‏ كَذَا قَالَ هِشَامٌ الدَّسْتُوَائِيُّ:‏‏‏‏ عَنْ يَحْيَى، ‏‏‏‏‏‏عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ أَبِي الْحَكَمِ.