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Sahih MuslimThe Book of Fasting

Sahih Muslim 1159m

Chapter: Prohibition of Fasting for a lifetime for the one who will be harmed by that or who will neglect other duties, or does not break his fast on the two 'Ids or during the days of At-Tashriq; It is better to fast alternate days

Authentic hadith of Sahih Muslim Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih Muslim 1159m

Narrator:Abdullah ibn Amr

وَحَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، أَخْبَرَنَا خَالِدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنْ خَالِدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي قِلاَبَةَ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي أَبُو الْمَلِيحِ، قَالَ دَخَلْتُ مَعَ أَبِيكَ عَلَى عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو فَحَدَّثَنَا أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ذُكِرَ لَهُ صَوْمِي فَدَخَلَ عَلَىَّ فَأَلْقَيْتُ لَهُ وِسَادَةً مِنْ أَدَمٍ حَشْوُهَا لِيفٌ فَجَلَسَ عَلَى الأَرْضِ وَصَارَتِ الْوِسَادَةُ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَهُ فَقَالَ لِي ‏"‏ أَمَا يَكْفِيكَ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ ثَلاَثَةُ أَيَّامٍ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ خَمْسًا ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ سَبْعًا ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ تِسْعًا ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ أَحَدَ عَشَرَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏

لاَ صَوْمَ فَوْقَ صَوْمِ دَاوُدَ شَطْرُ الدَّهْرِ صِيَامُ يَوْمٍ وَإِفْطَارُ يَوْمٍ ‏"

Abu Qatada reported that Abu al Malih informed me:

I went along with your father to 'Abdullah b. Amr, and he narrated to us that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was informed about my fasting and he came to me, and I placed a leather cushion filled with fibre of date-palms for him. He sat down upon the ground and there was that cushion between me and him, and he said to me: Does three days' fasting in a month not suffice you? I said: Messenger of Allah, (I am capable of observing more fasts). He said: (Would) five (not suffice for you)? I said: Messenger of Allah, (I am capable of observing more fasts) He said: (Would) seven (fasts) not suffice you? I said: Messenger of Allah, (I am capable of observing more fasts). He (the Holy Prophet) then said: (Would) nine (fasts not suffice you)? I said: Messenger of Allah, (I am capable of observing more fasts). He said: (Would) eleven (fasts not suffice you)? I said: Messenger of Allah, (I am capable of observing more fasts than these). Thereupon the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: There is no fasting (better than) the fasting of David which comprises half of the age, fasting a day and not fasting a day.

Reported by Muslim (No. 1159m), Al-Bukhari (No. 6277) and An-Nasa’i (No. 2402).

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Classical commentary

An-Nawawi — Sharh Sahih Muslim

قَوْله : ( فَأَلْقَيْت لَهُ وِسَادَةً ) فِيهِ : إِكْرَام الضَّيْف وَالْكِبَار وَأَهْل الْفَضْل. قَوْله : ( فَجَلَسَ عَلَى الْأَرْض وَصَارَتْ الْوِسَادَة بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَهُ ) فِيهِ : بَيَان مَا كَانَ عَلَيْهِ النَّبِيّ صَلَّى اللَّه عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مِنْ التَّوَاضُع , وَمُجَانَبَةِ الِاسْتِئْثَارِ عَلَى صَاحِبِهِ وَجَلِيسِهِ.…

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Scholars’ grades

Grade taken from the status of the collection (Sahih Muslim).

Other versions

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih al-Bukhari 6277

The news of my fasting was mentioned to the Prophet (ﷺ) . So he entered upon me and I put for him a leather cushion stuffed with palm-fibres. The Prophet (ﷺ) sat on the floor and the cushion was between me and him. He said to me, "Isn't it sufficient for you (that you fast) three days a month?" I…

لاَ صَوْمَ فَوْقَ صَوْمِ دَاوُدَ، شَطْرَ الدَّهْرِ، صِيَامُ يَوْمٍ، وَإِفْطَارُ يَوْمٍ ‏"

Narrated by Abdullah ibn Amr

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sunan an-Nasa'i 2402

"I entered with Zaid upon 'Abdullah bin Amr and he narrated: 'The Messenger of Allah was told about my fasting, so the entered upon me and I gave him an average-sized leather pillow that was stuffed with palm fibvers. He sat in the ground with the pillow between myself and him, and said: "Whill it…

"‏ لاَ صَوْمَ فَوْقَ صَوْمِ دَاوُدَ شَطْرَ الدَّهْرِ صِيَامُ يَوْمٍ وَفِطْرُ يَوْمٍ ‏"

Narrated by Abdullah ibn Amr

Not graded Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Al-Adab al-Mufrad 1176

'Abdullah ibn 'Amr reported his fasting was mentioned to the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. He said, "The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, came to visit me and I threw him a leather cushion stuffed with palm fibre, but he sat on the ground. The cushion…

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللهِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، قَالَ‏:‏ حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ عَوْفٍ، قَالَ‏:‏ حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللهِ، عَنْ خَالِدٍ عَنْ أَبِي قِلاَبَةَ قَالَ‏:‏ أَخْبَرَنِي أَبُو الْمَلِيحِ قَالَ‏:‏ دَخَلْتُ…

Also reported by… (6)
  • الأدب المفرد للبخاري (1156)لا صَوْمَ فَوْقَ صَوْمِ دَاوُدَ شَطْرَ الدَّهْرِ ، صِيَامُ يَوْمٍ وَإِفْطَارُ يَوْمٍ
  • السنن الكبرى للنسائي (2684)لا صَوْمَ فَوْقَ صَوْمِ دَاوُدَ ، شَطْرَ الدَّهْرِ ، صِيَامُ يَوْمٍ وَفِطْرُ يَوْمٍ
  • المسند المستخرج على صحيح مسلم لأبي نعيم (2404)لا صَوْمَ فَوْقَ صَوْمِ دَاوُدَ ، شَطْرُ الدَّهْرِ ، صِيَامُ يَوْمٍ ، وَإِفْطَارُ يَوْمٍ
  • شرح السنة (3237)ذُكِرَ لَهُ صَوْمِي ، فَدَخَلَ عَلَيَّ ، فَأَلْقَيْتُ لَهُ وِسَادَةً مِنْ أَدَمٍ حَشْوُهَا لِيفٌ ، فَجَلَسَ عَلَى الأَرْضِ ، وَصَارَتِ الْوِسَادَةُ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَهُ ، فَقَالَ : أَمَا يَكْفِيكَ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ ثَلاثَةُ أَيَّامٍ ؟ قَالَ : قُلْتُ : يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ . قَالَ : خَمْسًا ، قُلْتُ : ي
  • صحيح ابن حبان (3723)لا صَوْمَ فَوْقَ صَوْمِ دَاوُدَ ، شَطْرُ الدَّهْرِ صِيَامُ يَوْمٍ ، وَإِفْطَارُ يَوْمٍ
  • مستخرج أبي عوانة (2331)لا صَوْمَ فَوْقَ صَوْمِ دَاوُدَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ ، شَطْرُ الدَّهْرِ : صِيَامُ يَوْمٍ ، وَإِفْطَارُ يَوْمٍ

On the same subject

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih al-Bukhari 1976

There is no fasting superior to the fast of my brother Dawūd; fasting half of one's life by fasting one day and eating one day

‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Amr ibn al-‘Ās (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was told that I had said: "By Allah, I will fast every day and pray every night for as long as I live." The Messenger (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon…

فَصُمْ وَأَفْطِرْ، وَقُمْ وَنَمْ، وَصُمْ مِنَ الشَّهْرِ ثَلاَثَةَ أَيَّامٍ، فَإِنَّ الْحَسَنَةَ بِعَشْرِ أَمْثَالِهَا، وَذَلِكَ مِثْلُ صِيَامِ الدَّهْرِ ‏"

Narrated by Abdullah ibn Amr + 21 other versions Explained

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih al-Bukhari 1979

No fasting counts for the one who fasts continuously. Fasting three days is like fasting the entire year

"You fast continuously and stand in prayer at night?" I said: Yes. He said: "If you do that, your eyes will become weak, and your soul will become weary. No fasting counts for the one who fasts continuously. Fasting three days is like fasting the entire year". I said: Indeed, I am capable of more…

يَصُومُ يَوْمًا وَيُفْطِرُ يَوْمًا، وَلاَ يَفِرُّ إِذَا لاَقَى ‏"

Narrated by Abdullah ibn Amr + 11 other versions Explained

Authentic Sunan Abu Dawud 1389

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to me: Keep fast for three days of month, and finish the recitation of the Qur'an in one month. I and he differed among ourselves on period of time. He said: Fast one day and give it up other day. The narrator 'Ata said: The people differed from my father (in…

صُمْ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ ثَلاَثَةَ أَيَّامٍ وَاقْرَإِ الْقُرْآنَ فِي شَهْرٍ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ فَنَاقَصَنِي وَنَاقَصْتُهُ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ صُمْ يَوْمًا وَأَفْطِرْ يَوْمًا ‏"

Narrated by Abdullah ibn Amr + 9 other versions

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sunan an-Nasa'i 2391

"The Messenger of Allah entered my apartment and said: "I have been told that you stand all night (in prayer) and fast all day.' I said: 'Yes (I do).' He said: 'Do not do that. Sleep and stand (in prayer); fast and break your fast. For your eyes have a right over you, your body has a right over…

"‏ أَلَمْ أُخْبَرْ أَنَّكَ تَقُومُ اللَّيْلَ وَتَصُومُ النَّهَارَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ بَلَى ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ فَلاَ تَفْعَلَنَّ نَمْ وَقُمْ وَصُمْ وَأَفْطِرْ فَإِنَّ لِعَيْنِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا وَإِنَّ لِجَسَدِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا…

Narrated by Abdullah ibn Amr + 8 other versions

Authentic Sahih Muslim 1159n

Observe fast for a day and there would be reward for you for the rest (of the days). He said: I am capable of doing more than this. He then said: Observe fast for two days, and there would be reward for you for the rest (of the days). He said: I am capable of doing more than this. He (the Holy…

صُمْ أَفْضَلَ الصِّيَامِ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ صَوْمَ دَاوُدَ - عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ - كَانَ يَصُومُ يَوْمًا وَيُفْطِرُ يَوْمًا ‏"

Narrated by Abdullah ibn Amr + 4 other versions