22/76. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 2393 — Best Fasting Before Allah
Fasting one day, and not fasting one day, and the difference in the wording of the transmitters Of The Narration Of 'Abdullah Bin 'Amr About It
Best Kind of Fasting Before Allah: The Fast of Dawud
Sunan an-Nasai : 2393
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 2393
أَخْبَرَنِي أَحْمَدُ بْنُ بَكَّارٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدٌ، - وَهُوَ ابْنُ سَلَمَةَ - عَنِ ابْنِ إِسْحَاقَ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، قَالَ دَخَلْتُ عَلَى عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو قُلْتُ أَىْ عَمِّ حَدِّثْنِي عَمَّا قَالَ لَكَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ يَا ابْنَ أَخِي إِنِّي كُنْتُ أَجْمَعْتُ عَلَى أَنْ أَجْتَهِدَ اجْتِهَادًا شَدِيدًا حَتَّى قُلْتُ لأَصُومَنَّ الدَّهْرَ وَلأَقْرَأَنَّ الْقُرْآنَ فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ وَلَيْلَةٍ فَسَمِعَ بِذَلِكَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَأَتَانِي حَتَّى دَخَلَ عَلَىَّ فِي دَارِي فَقَالَ " بَلَغَنِي أَنَّكَ قُلْتَ لأَصُومَنَّ الدَّهْرَ وَلأَقْرَأَنَّ الْقُرْآنَ " . فَقُلْتُ قَدْ قُلْتُ ذَلِكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ . قَالَ " فَلاَ تَفْعَلْ صُمْ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ ثَلاَثَةَ أَيَّامٍ " . قُلْتُ إِنِّي أَقْوَى عَلَى أَكْثَرَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ . قَالَ " فَصُمْ مِنَ الْجُمُعَةِ يَوْمَيْنِ الاِثْنَيْنِ وَالْخَمِيسَ " . قُلْتُ فَإِنِّي أَقْوَى عَلَى أَكْثَرَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ . قَالَ " فَصُمْ صِيَامَ دَاوُدَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ فَإِنَّهُ أَعْدَلُ الصِّيَامِ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ يَوْمًا صَائِمًا وَيَوْمًا مُفْطِرًا وَإِنَّهُ كَانَ إِذَا وَعَدَ لَمْ يُخْلِفْ وَإِذَا لاَقَى لَمْ يَفِرَّ " .
Abu Salamah bin 'Abdur-Rahman Narrated from:
I entered upon 'Abdullah bin 'Amr and said: O uncle, tell me what the Messenger of Allah said to you. He said: O son of my brother, I had resolved to strive very hard until I said: I will fast for the rest of my life and I will read the whole Quran every day and night. The Messenger of Allah heard about that, and came in to me in my house, and said: I have heard that you said, I will fast for a lifetime and will read the Quran. I said: I did say that, O Messenger of Allah. He said; Do not do that. Fast three days of each month. I said: I am able to do more than that. He said: fast two days of each week, Monday and Thursday. I said: I am able to do more than that. He said; Observe the fast of Dawud, peace be upon him, for it is the best kind of fasting before Allah; one day fasting, and one day not fasting. And when he made a promise he did not break it, and when he met (the enemy in battle) he did not flee.'Ata said: "someone who heard him told me that Ibn 'Umar (said) that the Prophet said: 'Whoever fasts every day of his life, then he has not fasted."
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 2393In-book reference : Book 22, Hadith 304English translation : Vol. 3, Book 22, Hadith 2395
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 2393
This narration gives a detailed report from Abdullah bin Amr about his strong plan for worship. He said he had resolved to fast for the rest of his life and read the whole Quran every day and night. When the Messenger of Allah heard about that, he came to him and told him not to do it. He first advised fasting three days each month. When Abdullah said he could do more, he advised fasting two days each week, Monday and Thursday. When Abdullah again asked for more, the Prophet directed him to the fast of Dawud, peace be upon him. It is described as the best kind of fasting before Allah: one day fasting and one day not fasting.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet corrected a plan of constant fasting and daily full Quran reading.
- Three days each month is presented first as a guided fasting practice.
- Monday and Thursday fasting is mentioned for one who can do more.
- The Fast of Dawud is described as the best kind of fasting before Allah.
