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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 fine.‟ 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 advice
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.”