The best voluntary fast is the fast of Dawud
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was informed that I was saying, “By Allah, I will certainly fast by day and stand in prayer by night as long as I live.” So I said to him, “I did say it; may my father and mother be sacrificed for you.” He said: “You will not be able to do that. So fast and break your fast, stand in prayer and sleep, and fast three days of the month; for a good deed is multiplied by ten like it, and that is like fasting for a lifetime.” I said, “I am able to do better than that.” He said: “Then fast one day and break your fast for two days.” I said, “I am able to do better than that.” He said: “Then fast one day and break your fast one day; that is the fasting of Dawud, ﷺ , and it is the best fasting.” I then said, “I am able to do better than that.” So the Prophet ﷺ said: “There is nothing better than that.”
أُخْبِرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَنِّي أَقُولُ: وَاللَّهِ لأَصُومَنَّ النَّهَارَ وَلأَقُومَنَّ اللَّيْلَ مَا عِشْتُ، فَقُلْتُ لَهُ: قَدْ قُلْتُهُ، بِأَبِي أَنْتَ وَأُمِّي. قَالَ: «فَإِنَّكَ لاَ تَسْتَطِيعُ ذَلِكَ، فَصُمْ وَأَفْطِرْ، وَقُمْ وَنَمْ، وَصُمْ مِنَ الشَّهْرِ ثَلاَثَةَ أَيَّامٍ؛ فَإِنَّ الْحَسَنَةَ بِعَشْرِ أَمْثَالِهَا، وَذَلِكَ مِثْلُ صِيَامِ الدَّهْرِ». قُلْتُ: إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ. قَالَ: «فَصُمْ يَوْمًا وَأَفْطِرْ يَوْمَيْنِ». قُلْتُ: إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ. قَالَ: «فَصُمْ يَوْمًا وَأَفْطِرْ يَوْمًا؛ فَذَلِكَ صِيَامُ دَاوُدَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ، وَهْوَ أَفْضَلُ الصِّيَامِ». فَقُلْتُ: إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ. فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ: «لاَ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ».
Sign in from the top menu to add or reply to reflections.