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THE FAST OF PROPHET DAVID IS BEST

151

The Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, was told that I, Abdullah ibn Amr had said: ‘I shall fast each day and spend the whole night in voluntary prayer for as long as I live.’ The Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, asked me: ‘Are you the one who said this?’ I replied: ‘Indeed, I said it O Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, may my father and mother be your ransom.’ He said: ‘You will not be able to sustain this. You can fast but with breaks in between, and you can get up for voluntary prayer, but you should also sleep. Fast three days a month, and as the value of a good deed is tenfold this is equal to fasting for ever.’ I said: ‘I am strong enough to do better than that.’ He said: ‘Then fast one day out of every three.’ I said: ‘I am strong enough to do even better than that.’ He said: ‘Well, fast one day and not the next. This was the fast of David and it is the most fair.’ I said: ‘I am strong enough to do better than that.’ The Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, replied: ‘There is nothing better than this.’ Now I wish that I had accepted the suggestion of the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, that I fast three days a month. This would be dearer to me than my children and my wealth."

In an other narration:

I have been told that you observe the fast every day and stand for voluntary prayer throughout the night? I said: ‘That is so, O Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him.’ He said: ‘Do not do this. Fast and then leave it; sleep and then stand in prayer. Your body has a right, your eyes have a right, your wife has a right and your guest has a right. It is sufficient if you fast for three days a month because every good deed has a tenfold value and this way of fasting is equal to fasting for ever.’ But I was hard on myself and so hardship was imposed upon me. I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, I feel strong. He said: ‘Then observe the fast of David, the Prophet of Allah, and do not add to it.’ I asked: ‘What was the fast of David?’ He replied: ‘Half the time.’

In another narration:

’I have been told that you fast every day and recite the entire Koran during each night?’ I replied: ‘That is so, O Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, and I intend only good in doing so.’ He said: ‘Fast like the fast of David, the Prophet of Allah, he worshiped more than any other man, and completed the recitation of the Holy Reading in a month.’ I replied: ‘O Prophet of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, I am strong enough to do more than this.’ He said: ‘Then complete it every twenty days.’ I said: ‘O Prophet of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, I feel strong enough to do more than that.’ He said: ‘Then recite it every ten days.’ I said: ‘O Prophet of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, I have strength to do more than that. He said: ‘Well then, recite it every seven days and do not add to this recitation.’ So I was hard on myself and hardship was imposed upon me. The Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, told me: ‘You do not know, you may have a long life.’ Then I reached that of which the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, had spoken. When I became old I wished I had accepted the waiver of the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him.

In another narration:

The fast most acceptable to Allah is the fast of David, and the prayer most acceptable to Allah is the prayer of David. He slept half the night, then stood in prayer one third of it and then slept again one sixth. He would fast one day and not the next. He never retreated in the face of the enemy.

In another narration:

My father had married me to a woman from good family and would inquire from his daughter-in-law about me. She would say: ‘A fine man indeed. Since I have come to him he has not lain down in our bedding nor has he withdrawn a cover.’ When this continued for some time my father mentioned the matter to the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him. He told my father: ‘Send him to me.’ So I went to him. He asked me: ‘How often do you fast?’ I replied: ‘Each day.’ Then he asked me: ‘How often do you concluded the recitation of the Koran?’ I replied: ‘Once a night.’ Then followed that which has already been related.

Muslim with a chain up to Hanzala son of Rabi' Usaidi who related this.