FASTING CHAPTER · 53 – FASTING THE WHOLE YEAR
It is narrated from Abu Katada that he said:
A man came to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and said, "O Messenger of Allah, how do you fast?" This statement angered the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him. Seeing this, Umar said, “We are content with Allah as our Lord, Islam as our religion, and Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, as our Prophet. We seek refuge in Allah from the anger of Allah and His Messenger.” Umar repeated this until the anger of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, subsided. Umar then said, “O Messenger of Allah, what is the situation of one who fasts the entire year?” The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, "He has neither fasted nor eaten."
Musaddad said, “He neither fasted nor ate, or he did not fast but did eat.” Gaylan doubted. Umar then said, “O Messenger of Allah, what is the situation of one who fasts two days and eats one day?” The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, "Can anyone endure that?" Umar said, “O Messenger of Allah, what is the situation of one who eats one day and fasts one day?” The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “That is the Fast of David.” Umar then said, “O Messenger of Allah, what is the situation of one who fasts one day and eats two days?” The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, "I wished I could endure it." Then the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Fasting three days in each month, from Ramadan to Ramadan, is equivalent to fasting the entire year. And I hope that the fast of ‘Arafa will atone for the sins of the past year and the coming year. And I hope that the fast of Ashura will be an atonement for the sins of the previous year.”
Abu Katada related the preceding hadith, adding therein: Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "O Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, what do you command regarding fasting on Mondays and Thursdays?" The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, replied, “I was born on a Monday. Revelation came to me on that day.”
Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-As (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) encountered me and said, "Do you think I did not hear that you say, 'I will pray the nights and fast the days'?"
Abu Salama said: I think Abdullah replied, “Yes, O Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him), indeed I spoke those words.”
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) said, "Pray the night prayer and sleep, and fast some days of the daytime and eat others. Fast three days each month; this is like a year [of fasting]."
Abdullah said: O Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him), I think I am capable of more than that. Thereupon the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) said, “Fast one day and break your fast for two.” He said: I think I am capable of more than that. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) said, "Fast one day and break your fast for one; this is the most moderate fasting, and it was the fasting of David." He said: I think I am capable of more than that.
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) said, “I do not find a faster more virtuous than this.”