Category: Q n A

The Prophet (ﷺ) never fasted a full month except the month of Ramadan, and he used to fast till one could
say, “By Allah, he will never stop fasting,” and he would abandon fasting till one would say, “By
Allah, he will never fast.”

I asked `Aisha “Did Allah s Apostle, use to choose some special days (for fasting)?” She replied, “No,
but he used to be regular (constant) (in his service of worshipping). Who amongst you can endure
what Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) used to endure?”

Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) used to leave fasting in a certain month till we thought that he would not fast in that
month, and he used to fast in another month till we thought he would not stop fasting at all in that
month. And if one wanted to see him praying at night, one could see him (in that condition), and if
one wanted to see him sleeping at night, one could see him (in that condition) too.

I asked Anas about the fasting of the Prophet. He said “Whenever I liked to see the Prophet (ﷺ) fasting in
any month, I could see that, and whenever I liked to see him not fasting, I could see that too, and if I
liked to see him praying in any night, I could see that, and if I liked to see him sleeping, I could see
that, too.” Anas further said, “I never touched silk or velvet softer than the hand of Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) and
never smelled musk or perfumed smoke more pleasant than the smell of Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ).”

“Once Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) came to me,” and then he narrated the whole narration, i.e. your guest has a
right on you, and your wife has a right on you. I then asked about the fasting of David. The Prophet (ﷺ)
replied, “Half of the year,” (i.e. he used to fast on every alternate day).

Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said to me, “O `Abdullah! Have I not been informed that you fast during the day and
offer prayers all the night.” `Abdullah replied, “Yes, O Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)!” The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Don’t do
that; fast for few days and then give it up for few days, offer prayers and also sleep at night, as your
body has a right on you, and your wife has a right on you, and your guest has a right on you. And it is
sufficient for you to fast three days in a month, as the reward of a good deed is multiplied ten times, so
it will be like fasting throughout the year.” I insisted (on fasting) and so I was given a hard instruction.
I said, “O Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)! I have power.” The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Fast like the fasting of the Prophet (ﷺ) David
and do not fast more than that.” I said, “How was the fasting of the Prophet (ﷺ) of Allah, David?” He said,
“Half of the year,” (i.e. he used to fast on every alternate day).
Afterwards when `Abdullah became old, he used to say, “It would have been better for me if I had
accepted the permission of the Prophet (which he gave me i.e. to fast only three days a month).

Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) was informed that I had taken an oath to fast daily and to pray (every night) all the
night throughout my life (so Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) came to me and asked whether it was correct): I replied,
“Let my parents be sacrificed for you! I said so.” The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “You can not do that. So, fast for
few days and give it up for few days, offer Salat (prayer) and sleep. Fast three days a month as the reward of good
deeds is multiplied ten times and that will be equal to one year of fasting.” The Prophet (ﷺ) said to me, “Fast one day and give up fasting for two days.” I replied, “I can do better
than that.” The Prophet (ﷺ) said to me, “Fast one day and give up fasting for a day and that is the fasting
of Prophet David and that is the best fasting.” I said, “I have the power to fast better (more) than that.”
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “There is no better fasting than that.”

The news of my daily fasting and praying every night throughout the night reached the Prophet. So he
sent for me or I met him, and he said, “I have been informed that you fast everyday and pray every
night (all the night). Fast (for some days) and give up fasting (for some days); pray and sleep, for your
eyes have a right on you, and your body and your family (i.e. wife) have a right on you.” I replied, “I
have more power than that (fasting).” The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Then fast like the fasts of (the Prophet)
David”. I said, “How?” He replied, “He used to fast on alternate days, and he used not to flee on
meeting the enemy.” I said, “From where can I get that chance?” (`Ata’ said, “I do not know how the
expression of fasting daily throughout the life occurred.”) So, the Prophet (ﷺ) said, twice, “Whoever fasts
daily throughout his life is just as the one who does not fast at all.”

The Prophet (ﷺ) said (to `Abdullah), “Fast three days a month.” `Abdullah said, (to the Prophet) “I am
able to fast more than that.” They kept on arguing on this matter till the Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Fast on
alternate days, and recite the whole Qur’an once a month.” `Abdullah said, “I can recite more (in a
month),” and the argument went on till the Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Recite the Qur’an once each three days.”
(i.e. you must not recite the whole Qur’an in less than three days).

The Prophet (ﷺ) said to me, “You fast daily all the year and pray every night all the night?” I replied in the
affirmative. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “If you keep on doing this, your eyes will become weak and your body
will get tired. He who fasts all the year is as he who did not fast at all. The fasting of three days (a
month) will be equal to the fasting of the whole year.” I replied, “I have the power for more than this.”
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Then fast like the fasting of David who used to fast on alternate days and would
never flee from the battle field, on meeting the enemy.”