22/79. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 2402 — The Fast of Dawud
Fasting Five Days of the Month
The Fast of Dawud: One Day Fasting and One Day Resting
Sunan an-Nasai : 2402
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 2402
أَخْبَرَنَا زَكَرِيَّاءُ بْنُ يَحْيَى، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا وَهْبُ بْنُ بَقِيَّةَ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا خَالِدٌ، عَنْ خَالِدٍ، - وَهُوَ الْحَذَّاءُ - عَنْ أَبِي قِلاَبَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي الْمَلِيحِ، قَالَ دَخَلْتُ مَعَ أَبِيكَ زَيْدٍ عَلَى عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو فَحَدَّثَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ذُكِرَ لَهُ صَوْمِي فَدَخَلَ عَلَىَّ فَأَلْقَيْتُ لَهُ وِسَادَةَ أَدَمٍ رَبْعَةً حَشْوُهَا لِيفٌ فَجَلَسَ عَلَى الأَرْضِ وَصَارَتِ الْوِسَادَةُ فِيمَا بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَهُ قَالَ " أَمَا يَكْفِيكَ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ ثَلاَثَةُ أَيَّامٍ " . قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ . قَالَ " خَمْسًا " . قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ . قَالَ " سَبْعًا " . قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ . قَالَ " تِسْعًا " . قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ . قَالَ " إِحْدَى عَشْرَةَ " . قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ . فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لاَ صَوْمَ فَوْقَ صَوْمِ دَاوُدَ شَطْرَ الدَّهْرِ صِيَامُ يَوْمٍ وَفِطْرُ يَوْمٍ " .
Ibn Al-Malih Narrated from:
I entered with Zaid upon 'Abdullah bin Amr and he narrated: 'The Messenger of Allah was told about my fasting, so the entered upon me and I gave him an average-sized leather pillow that was stuffed with palm fibers. He sat in the ground with the pillow between myself and him, and said: "Will it not be sufficient for you to fast three days each months?" I said: O Messenger of Allah! He said: "O Messenger of Allah!" He said: "Eleven." I said: "O Messenger of Allah!" Then the Prophet said: "There is not fast better than the fast of Dawud, half of a lifetime, fasting one day and not next."
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 2402In-book reference : Book 22, Hadith 313English translation : Vol. 3, Book 22, Hadith 2404
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 2402
This hadith about the fast of Dawud gives a clear picture of gradual guidance in voluntary fasting. The Messenger of Allah first asked whether fasting three days each month would be enough. When Abdullah bin Amr kept asking for more, the number was raised step by step to five, seven, nine, and eleven. Then the Prophet said there is no fast better than the fast of Dawud. The text explains it as half of a lifetime: fasting one day and not the next. The lesson is not just about doing more. It is about following a wise pattern. The best voluntary fasting mentioned here has both worship and regular breaks.
What we learn from this hadith
- Three days each month is presented as a sufficient regular fast for many people.
- The Prophet increased the suggested amount gradually when Abdullah asked for more.
- The fast of Dawud is described as one day fasting and one day not fasting.
- More worship should still follow the guidance of the Prophet.
