Azami 8449

Narrated by Bukhari in the Chapters on the Prophets (1980) and Muslim in the Book of Fasting (1159), both through various routes from Abdullah bin Amr bin As, who related it. The wording given here is Bukhari's. In another wording from Bukhari, "Abdullah, have I not been told that you fast during the day and stand in prayer during the night?" I said, "Yes, Messenger of Allah." He said, "Do not do that. Fast and break your fast, stand in prayer and sleep, for your body has a right over you, your eye has a right over you, your wife has a right over you, and your visitor has a right over you. It is enough for you to fast three days each month, for you will have for every good deed ten times its like, and that is equivalent to fasting the whole year." I pressed for more and he pressed harder upon me. I said, "Messenger of Allah, I have the strength for more." He said, "Then fast as the prophet of Allah, Dawud , used to fast, and do not exceed that." I said, "What was the fasting of the prophet of Allah, Dawud ?" He said, "Half the time." Abdullah used to say after he had grown old, "I wish I had accepted the concession offered by the Prophet ﷺ."Muslim's version follows a similar course, adding after the words "Then fast as Dawud fasted," "for he was the most devoted worshipper among people," and after the words "What was the fasting of Dawud," "he used to fast one day and break his fast the next."In another wording from Muslim, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was told that he had said, "I will stand in prayer all night and fast all day for as long as I live." The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Are you the one who says that?" I said to him, "I have indeed said it, Messenger of Allah." The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "You will not be able to do that, so fast..." and he related something similar to what has already been mentioned from Sahih Bukhari.In it as well, I said, "I am capable of more than that." He said, "Fast one day and break your fast two days..." then he related something similar to Bukhari's version. He said regarding Dawud's fasting, "It is the most balanced fasting." He said, I said, "I am capable of more than that." The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "There is nothing better than that."In another of Muslim's wordings, after the words, "How did Dawud used to fast, prophet of Allah?" he said, "He would fast one day and break his fast the next, and he would not flee when he met the enemy." He said, "Who can manage this, prophet of Allah?"Ata said, I do not know how the fasting of perpetuity was mentioned, but the Prophet ﷺ said, "He who fasts perpetually has not truly fasted, he who fasts perpetually has not truly fasted, he who fasts perpetually has not truly fasted." This is Muslim's wording, and Bukhari related something similar (1977), saying, "He who fasts perpetually has not truly fasted," twice.In another wording from Muslim as well, "The most beloved fasting to Allah is the fasting of Dawud, and the most beloved prayer to Allah is the prayer of Dawud . He used to sleep half the night, stand in prayer a third of it, and sleep a sixth of it, and he used to fast one day and break his fast the next." In another of his wordings, "He used to sleep for half the night, then stand in prayer, then sleep during the last part of it, standing for a third of the night after its half had passed." This wording sets out the sequence of his sleeping and prayer. Bukhari's account is similar to the first one (1131) but without this sequence expressed with "then."In another wording from Muslim, "Fast one day and you will have the reward of what remains." He said, "I am capable of more than that." He said, "Fast two days and you will have the reward of what remains." He said, "I am capable of more than that." He said, "Fast three days and you will have the reward of what remains." He said, "I am capable of more than that." He said, "Fast four days and you will have the reward of what remains." He said, "I am capable of more than that." He said, "Fast the best of fasting in the sight of Allah, the fasting of Dawud , he used to fast one day and break his fast the next."