13/35. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1159h — Three Monthly Fasts
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
Three Days a Month and the Fast of Dawud
Sahih Muslim : 1159h
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1159h
وَحَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُعَاذٍ، حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ حَبِيبٍ، سَمِعَ أَبَا الْعَبَّاسِ، سَمِعَ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عَمْرٍو، - رضى الله عنهما - قَالَ قَالَ لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عَمْرٍو إِنَّكَ لَتَصُومُ الدَّهْرَ وَتَقُومُ اللَّيْلَ وَإِنَّكَ إِذَا فَعَلْتَ ذَلِكَ هَجَمَتْ لَهُ الْعَيْنُ وَنَهِكَتْ لاَ صَامَ مَنْ صَامَ الأَبَدَ صَوْمُ ثَلاَثَةِ أَيَّامٍ مِنَ الشَّهْرِ صَوْمُ الشَّهْرِ كُلِّهِ " . قُلْتُ فَإِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ . قَالَ " فَصُمْ صَوْمَ دَاوُدَ كَانَ يَصُومُ يَوْمًا وَيُفْطِرُ يَوْمًا وَلاَ يَفِرُّ إِذَا لاَقَى " .
'Abdullah bin 'Amr Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to me: 'Abdullah b. Amr, you fast continuously and stand in prayer for the whole of night. If you do like that, your eyes would be highly strained and would sink and lose sight. There is no (reward for) fasting (for him) who fasts perpetually. Fasting for three days during the month is like fasting, the whole of the month. I said: I am capable of doing more than this, whereupon he said: Observe the fast of David. He used to fast one day and break (the other) day. And he did not turn back in the encounter.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1159hIn-book reference : Book 13, Hadith 242USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 6, Hadith 2592
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1159h
This Hadith connects three major ideas: avoiding strain, fasting three days a month, and the fast of Dawud. The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم told Abdullah b. Amr that fasting continuously and standing all night would strain his eyes and weaken him. He also said that there is no fasting for one who fasts perpetually. Then he explained that fasting three days during the month is like fasting the whole month. When Abdullah said he could do more, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم directed him to the fast of Dawud, who fasted one day and broke the next. For searches about three days fasting every month and fasting of Dawud, this narration gives a clear, balanced answer.
What we learn from this hadith
- Continuous fasting and all-night prayer can harm one’s strength.
- Three monthly fasts are described as like fasting the whole month.
- The fast of Dawud is fasting one day and not fasting the next.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم guided Abdullah away from worship that would overstrain him.
