22/77. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 2394 — Best Fasting Before Allah
Mention of fasting more or less, and mentioning the differences reported in the narration Of 'Abdullah Bin 'Amr About That
Best Kind of Fasting Before Allah and the Fast of Dawud
Sunan an-Nasai : 2394
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 2394
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدٌ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ زِيَادِ بْنِ فَيَّاضٍ، سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عِيَاضٍ، يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ لَهُ " صُمْ يَوْمًا وَلَكَ أَجْرُ مَا بَقِيَ " . قَالَ إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَكْثَرَ مِنَ ذَلِكَ . قَالَ " صُمْ يَوْمَيْنِ وَلَكَ أَجْرُ مَا بَقِيَ " . قَالَ إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ . قَالَ " صُمْ ثَلاَثَةَ أَيَّامٍ وَلَكَ أَجْرُ مَا بَقِيَ " . قَالَ إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ . قَالَ " صُمْ أَرْبَعَةَ أَيَّامٍ وَلَكَ أَجْرُ مَا بَقِيَ " . قَالَ إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ . قَالَ " صُمْ أَفْضَلَ الصِّيَامِ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ صَوْمَ دَاوُدَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ كَانَ يَصُومُ يَوْمًا وَيُفْطِرُ يَوْمًا " .
'Abdullah bin 'Amr Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to him: "Fast one day, and you will have the reward of what is left." He said: "I am able to do more than that." He (ﷺ) said: "Fast two days, and you will have the reward of what is left." He said: "I am able to do more than that." He (ﷺ) said: "Fast three days and you will have the reward of what is left." He said: "I am able to do more than that." He (ﷺ) said: "Fast four days and you will have the reward of what is left." He said: "I am able to do more than that." He (ﷺ) said: "Observe the best kind of fasting before Allah, the fast of Dawud, peace be upon him; he used to fast one day and break his fast for one day."'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 2394In-book reference : Book 22, Hadith 305English translation : Vol. 3, Book 22, Hadith 2396
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 2394
This hadith about the best kind of fasting before Allah shows the Prophet guiding Abdullah bin Amr step by step. He told him to fast one day and have the reward of what is left. Abdullah said he could do more. The Prophet then mentioned fasting two days, then three days, then four days, while Abdullah kept saying he was able to do more. Finally, the Prophet told him to observe the best kind of fasting before Allah: the Fast of Dawud, peace be upon him. The hadith explains that Dawud used to fast one day and break his fast one day. The teaching is not simply about doing more; it is about reaching the balanced pattern praised in the text.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet guided Abdullah through different fasting amounts.
- Abdullah’s ability was considered in the conversation.
- The final guidance was the Fast of Dawud.
- The Fast of Dawud means fasting one day and breaking one day.
