‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr said: “The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said to me: ‘O ‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr, I have heard that you fast all the day and pray all night. Do not do that, for your body is entitled to a share from you, your eye is entitled to a share from you, and your wife is entitled to a share for you. Fast and break the fast, fast three days of every month, for that is like fasting for a lifetime.’ I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, I have the strength.’ He said: ‘Then observe the fast of Dawud, fast one day and not the next.”’And he (‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr) used to say: “Would that I had accepted the concession.”

وَحَدَّثَنِى زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ حَاتِمٍ جَمِيعًا عَنِ ابْنِ مَهْدِىٍّ - قَالَ زُهَيْرٌ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ مَهْدِىٍّ - حَدَّثَنَا سَلِيمُ بْنُ حَيَّانَ حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدُ بْنُ مِينَاءَ قَالَ قَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَمْرٍو قَالَ لِى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- « يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عَمْرٍو بَلَغَنِى أَنَّكَ تَصُومُ النَّهَارَ وَتَقُومُ اللَّيْلَ فَلاَ تَفْعَلْ فَإِنَّ لِجَسَدِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَظًّا وَلِعَيْنِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَظًّا وَإِنَّ لِزَوْجِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَظًّا صُمْ وَأَفْطِرْ صُمْ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ ثَلاَثَةَ أَيَّامٍ فَذَلِكَ صَوْمُ الدَّهْرِ ». قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ بِى قُوَّةً. قَالَ « فَصُمْ صَوْمَ دَاوُدَ - عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ - صُمْ يَوْمًا وَأَفْطِرْ يَوْمًا ». فَكَانَ يَقُولُ يَا لَيْتَنِى أَخَذْتُ بِالرُّخْصَةِ.

Mu’adhah Al-‘Adawiyyah narrated that she asked ‘Aishah, the wife of the Prophet (SAW): “Did the Messenger of Allah (SAW) fasts three days of every month?” She said: “Yes.” She said to her: “Which three days did he fast?” She said: “He did not mind which days of the month he fasted.”

حَدَّثَنَا شَيْبَانُ بْنُ فَرُّوخَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَارِثِ عَنْ يَزِيدَ الرِّشْكِ قَالَ حَدَّثَتْنِى مُعَاذَةُ الْعَدَوِيَّةُ أَنَّهَا سَأَلَتْ عَائِشَةَ زَوْجَ النَّبِىِّ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- أَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- يَصُومُ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ ثَلاَثَةَ أَيَّامٍ قَالَتْ نَعَمْ. فَقُلْتُ لَهَا مِنْ أَىِّ أَيَّامِ الشَّهْرِ كَانَ يَصُومُ قَالَتْ لَمْ يَكُنْ يُبَالِى مِنْ أَىِّ أَيَّامِ الشَّهْرِ يَصُومُ.

It was narrated from ‘Imran bin Hussain [may Allah be pleased with them] that the Prophet (SAW) said to him or he said to another man while he was listening -: “O so-and-so, did you fast in the middle of this month?” He said: “No.” He said: “When you end the fast (of Ramadan), then fast two days.”

وَحَدَّثَنِى عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَسْمَاءَ الضُّبَعِىُّ حَدَّثَنَا مَهْدِىٌّ - وَهُوَ ابْنُ مَيْمُونٍ - حَدَّثَنَا غَيْلاَنُ بْنُ جَرِيرٍ عَنْ مُطَرِّفٍ عَنْ عِمْرَانَ بْنِ حُصَيْنٍ - رضى الله عنهما - أَنَّ النَّبِىَّ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- قَالَ لَهُ أَوْ قَالَ لِرَجُلٍ وَهُوَ يَسْمَعُ « يَا فُلاَنُ أَصُمْتَ مِنْ سُرَّةِ هَذَا الشَّهْرِ ». قَالَ لاَ. قَالَ « فَإِذَا أَفْطَرْتَ فَصُمْ يَوْمَيْنِ ».

It was narrated from Abu Qatadah that a man came to the Prophet (SAW) and said: “How do you fast?” The Messenger of Allah (SAW) got angry at his words, and when ‘Umar [may Allah be pleased with them] saw that he was angry, he said: “We are pleased with Allah as our Lord, with Islam as our religion and with Muhammad as our Prophet; we seek refuge with Allah from the wrath of Allah and the wrath of His Messenger.” ‘Umar [may Allah be pleased with them] started repeating these words until his anger went away, then ‘Umar said: “O Messenger of Allah, what about one who fast all the time?” He said: “He has neither fasted nor broken the fast.” ‘Umar said: “What about one who fasts for two days, then break his fast for one day?” He (‘Umar) said: “Is any one able to do that?” He said: “what about one who fasts one day and break his fast for one day?” He said: “That is the fast of Dawud.” He (‘Umar) said: “What about one who fasts one day and break his fast for two days?” He said: “I wish that I were able to do that.” Then the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: “Three days of each month and one Ramadan to the next, that is like fasting for an entire lifetime. Fasting on the day of ‘Arafah, I ask Allah that it may expiate for (the sins of) the year that comes before it, and the year that comes after it. And fasting the Day of Ashura, I ask Allah that it may expiate for (the sins of) the year that comes before it.”

وَحَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى التَّمِيمِىُّ وَقُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ جَمِيعًا عَنْ حَمَّادٍ - قَالَ يَحْيَى أَخْبَرَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ - عَنْ غَيْلاَنَ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَعْبَدٍ الزِّمَّانِىِّ عَنْ أَبِى قَتَادَةَ رَجُلٌ أَتَى النَّبِىَّ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- فَقَالَ كَيْفَ تَصُومُ فَغَضِبَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- فَلَمَّا رَأَى عُمَرُ - رضى الله عنه - غَضَبَهُ قَالَ رَضِينَا بِاللَّهِ رَبًّا وَبِالإِسْلاَمِ دِينًا وَبِمُحَمَّدٍ نَبِيًّا نَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ غَضَبِ اللَّهِ وَغَضَبِ رَسُولِهِ. فَجَعَلَ عُمَرُ - رضى الله عنه - يُرَدِّدُ هَذَا الْكَلاَمَ حَتَّى سَكَنَ غَضَبُهُ فَقَالَ عُمَرُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ كَيْفَ بِمَنْ يَصُومُ الدَّهْرَ كُلَّهُ قَالَ « لاَ صَامَ وَلاَ أَفْطَرَ - أَوْ قَالَ - لَمْ يَصُمْ وَلَمْ يُفْطِرْ ». قَالَ كَيْفَ مَنْ يَصُومُ يَوْمَيْنِ وَيُفْطِرُ يَوْمًا قَالَ « وَيُطِيقُ ذَلِكَ أَحَدٌ ». قَالَ كَيْفَ مَنْ يَصُومُ يَوْمًا وَيُفْطِرُ يَوْمًا قَالَ « ذَاكَ صَوْمُ دَاوُدَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ ».قَالَ كَيْفَ مَنْ يَصُومُ يَوْمًا وَيُفْطِرُ يَوْمَيْنِ قَالَ « وَدِدْتُ أَنِّى طُوِّقْتُ ذَلِكَ ». ثُمَّ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- « ثَلاَثٌ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ وَرَمَضَانُ إِلَى رَمَضَانَ فَهَذَا صِيَامُ الدَّهْرِ كُلِّهِ صِيَامُ يَوْمِ عَرَفَةَ أَحْتَسِبُ عَلَى اللَّهِ أَنْ يُكَفِّرَ السَّنَةَ الَّتِى قَبْلَهُ وَالسَّنَةَ الَّتِى بَعْدَهُ وَصِيَامُ يَوْمِ عَاشُورَاءَ أَحْتَسِبُ عَلَى اللَّهِ أَنْ يُكَفِّرَ السَّنَةَ الَّتِى قَبْلَهُ

It was narrated from Abu Qatadah Al-Ansari [may Allah be pleased with them] that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) was asked about his fasting and the Messenger of Allah (SAW) got angry. ‘Umar [may Allah be pleased with them] said: “We are pleased with Allah as our lord, Islam as our religion, Muhammad as our Messenger and with our pledge as our oath of allegiance.”Then he (SAW) was asked about fasting all the time. He said: “He has neither fasted nor broken his fast.” Then he was asked about fasting two days and breaking the fast for one and he said: “Who is able to do that?” Then he was asked about fasting one day and breaking the fast for two days and he said: “Would that Allah had given us the strength to do that.” Then he was asked about fasting one day and breaking the fast for two days and he said: “That is the fast of my brother Dawud.” He (SAW) was asked about fasting on Mondays and he said: “That is the day on which I was born and the day on which I was sent” – or “on which Revelation came to me.” He said: “Fasting three days of every month, and one Ramadan till the next, is like fasting for a lifetime.” And he was asked about fasting on the day of ‘Arafah. He said: “It expiates for the past and coming years.” He was asked about fasting on the day of ‘Ashura’ and he said: “It expiates for the past year.”Muslim said: In this Hadith, in the narration by Shu’bah, it says: “He was asked about fasting on Mondays and Thursdays”and we refrained from mentioning Thursdays because we believe that this was a mistake.

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ - وَاللَّفْظُ لاِبْنِ الْمُثَنَّى - قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ عَنْ غَيْلاَنَ بْنِ جَرِيرٍ سَمِعَ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ مَعْبَدٍ الزِّمَّانِىَّ عَنْ أَبِى قَتَادَةَ الأَنْصَارِىِّ رضى الله عنه أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- سُئِلَ عَنْ صَوْمِهِ قَالَ فَغَضِبَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- فَقَالَ عُمَرُ رضى الله عنه رَضِينَا بِاللَّهِ رَبًّا وَبِالإِسْلاَمِ دِينًا وَبِمُحَمَّدٍ رَسُولاً وَبِبَيْعَتِنَا بَيْعَةً. قَالَ فَسُئِلَ عَنْ صِيَامِ الدَّهْرِ فَقَالَ « لاَ صَامَ وَلاَ أَفْطَرَ ». أَوْ « مَا صَامَ وَمَا أَفْطَرَ ». قَالَ فَسُئِلَ عَنْ صَوْمِ يَوْمَيْنِ وَإِفْطَارِ يَوْمٍ قَالَ « وَمَنْ يُطِيقُ ذَلِكَ ». قَالَ وَسُئِلَ عَنْ صَوْمِ يَوْمٍ وَإِفْطَارِ يَوْمَيْنِ قَالَ « لَيْتَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ قَوَّانَا لِذَلِكَ ». قَالَ وَسُئِلَ عَنْ صَوْمِ يَوْمٍ وَإِفْطَارِ يَوْمٍ قَالَ « ذَاكَ صَوْمُ أَخِى دَاوُدَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ ». قَالَ وَسُئِلَ عَنْ صَوْمِ يَوْمِ الاِثْنَيْنِ قَالَ « ذَاكَ يَوْمٌ وُلِدْتُ فِيهِ وَيَوْمٌ بُعِثْتُ أَوْ أُنْزِلَ عَلَىَّ فِيهِ ». قَالَ فَقَالَ « صَوْمُ ثَلاَثَةٍ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ وَرَمَضَانَ إِلَى رَمَضَانَ صَوْمُ الدَّهْرِ ». قَالَ وَسُئِلَ عَنْ صَوْمِ يَوْمِ عَرَفَةَ فَقَالَ « يُكَفِّرُ السَّنَةَ الْمَاضِيَةَ وَالْبَاقِيَةَ ». قَالَ وَسُئِلَ عَنْ صَوْمِ يَوْمِ عَاشُورَاءَ فَقَالَ « يُكَفِّرُ السَّنَةَ الْمَاضِيَةَ ». وَفِى هَذَا الْحَدِيثِ مِنْ رِوَايَةِ شُعْبَةَ قَالَ وَسُئِلَ عَنْ صَوْمِ يَوْمِ الاِثْنَيْنِ وَالْخَمِيسِ فَسَكَتْنَا عَنْ ذِكْرِ الْخَمِيسِ لَمَّا نَرَاهُ وَهْمًا.

It was narrated from Adu Qatadah [Al-Ansari may Allah be pleased with them] that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) was asked about fasting on Mondays and he said: “On it I was born and on it Revelation came to me.”

وَحَدَّثَنِى زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ مَهْدِىٍّ حَدَّثَنَا مَهْدِىُّ بْنُ مَيْمُونٍ عَنْ غَيْلاَنَ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَعْبَدٍ الزِّمَّانِىِّ عَنْ أَبِى قَتَادَةَ الأَنْصَارِىِّ رضى الله عنه أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- سُئِلَ عَنْ صَوْمِ الاِثْنَيْنِ فَقَالَ « فِيهِ وُلِدْتُ وَفِيهِ أُنْزِلَ عَلَىَّ ».

It was narrated from ‘Imran bin Husain [may Allah be pleased with them] that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said to him – or to someone else -: “Did you fast at the end of Sha’ban?” He said: “No.” He said: “When you have ended the fast (of Ramadan), then fast two days.”

حَدَّثَنَا هَدَّابُ بْنُ خَالِدٍ حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ سَلَمَةَ عَنْ ثَابِتٍ عَنْ مُطَرِّفٍ - وَلَمْ أَفْهَمْ مُطَرِّفًا مِنْ هَدَّابٍ - عَنْ عِمْرَانَ بْنِ حُصَيْنٍ - رضى الله عنهما - أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- قَالَ لَهُ أَوْ لآخَرَ « أَصُمْتَ مِنْ سَرَرِ شَعْبَانَ ». قَالَ لاَ. قَالَ « فَإِذَا أَفْطَرْتَ فَصُمْ يَوْمَيْنِ ».

It was narrated from ‘Imran bin Husain [may Allah be pleased with them] that the Prophet (SAW) said to a man: “Did you fast at the end of this month at all?” He said: “No” The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: ”When you have ended the Ramadan fast, then fast two days in place of that.”

وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِى شَيْبَةَ حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ هَارُونَ عَنِ الْجُرَيْرِىِّ عَنْ أَبِى الْعَلاَءِ عَنْ مُطَرِّفٍ عَنْ عِمْرَانَ بْنِ حُصَيْنٍ - رضى الله عنهما - أَنَّ النَّبِىَّ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- قَالَ لِرَجُلٍ « هَلْ صُمْتَ مِنْ سُرَرِ هَذَا الشَّهْرِ شَيْئًا ». قَالَ لاَ. فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- « فَإِذَا أَفْطَرْتَ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ فَصُمْ يَوْمَيْنِ مَكَانَهُ ».

It was narrated from ‘Imran bin Husain [may Allah be pleased with them] that the Prophet (SAW) said to a man: “Did you fast at the end of this month at all?” – meaning Sha’ban. He said: “No” He said to him: “When you have ended the Ramadan fast, then fast one or two days” – Shu’bah is the one who was not sure. He (the narrator) said: “But I think he said two days.”

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ عَنِ ابْنِ أَخِى مُطَرِّفِ بْنِ الشِّخِّيرِ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ مُطَرِّفًا يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ عِمْرَانَ بْنِ حُصَيْنٍ - رضى الله عنهما - أَنَّ النَّبِىَّ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- قَالَ لِرَجُلٍ « هَلْ صُمْتَ مِنْ سِرَرِ هَذَا الشَّهْرِ شَيْئًا ». يَعْنِى شَعْبَانَ. قَالَ لاَ. قَالَ فَقَالَ لَهُ « إِذَا أَفْطَرْتَ رَمَضَانَ فَصُمْ يَوْمًا أَوْ يَوْمَيْنِ ». شُعْبَةُ الَّذِى شَكَّ فِيهِ قَالَ وَأَظُنُّهُ قَالَ يَوْمَيْنِ.

It was narrated that ‘Abu Hurairah [may Allah be pleased with them] said: “The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: “The best fast after Ramadan is Allah’s month, Muharram, and the best prayer after the obligatory prayers is prayer at night.””

حَدَّثَنِى قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَوَانَةَ عَنْ أَبِى بِشْرٍ عَنْ حُمَيْدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الْحِمْيَرِىِّ عَنْ أَبِى هُرَيْرَةَ - رضى الله عنه - قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- « أَفْضَلُ الصِّيَامِ بَعْدَ رَمَضَانَ شَهْرُ اللَّهِ الْمُحَرَّمُ وَأَفْضَلُ الصَّلاَةِ بَعْدَ الْفَرِيضَةِ صَلاَةُ اللَّيْلِ ».