8/57. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 770 — Fast of Dawud
What Has Been Related About Fasting Consecutive Days
Fast of Dawud: Fasting One Day and Skipping One Day
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 770
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 770
حَدَّثَنَا هَنَّادٌ، حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، عَنْ مِسْعَرٍ، وَسُفْيَانَ، عَنْ حَبِيبِ بْنِ أَبِي ثَابِتٍ، عَنْ أَبِي الْعَبَّاسِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " أَفْضَلُ الصَّوْمِ صَوْمُ أَخِي دَاوُدَ كَانَ يَصُومُ يَوْمًا وَيُفْطِرُ يَوْمًا وَلاَ يَفِرُّ إِذَا لاَقَى " . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ . وَأَبُو الْعَبَّاسِ هُوَ الشَّاعِرُ الْمَكِّيُّ الأَعْمَى وَاسْمُهُ السَّائِبُ بْنُ فَرُّوخَ . قَالَ بَعْضُ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ أَفْضَلُ الصِّيَامِ أَنْ تَصُومَ يَوْمًا وَتُفْطِرَ يَوْمًا . وَيُقَالُ هَذَا هُوَ أَشَدُّ الصِّيَامِ .
'Abdullah bin 'Amr Narrated from:
The Messenger Of Allah Said: "The Most Virtuous Fast Is The Fast Of My Brother Dawud. He Would Fast A Day, And Not Fast (The Next) Day. He Would Not Flee At The Time Of Engagement (With The Enemy)."
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 770In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 89English translation : Vol. 2, Book 3, Hadith 770
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 770
This Hadith describes the fast of Prophet Dawud. Abdullah bin Amr narrated that the Messenger of Allah said the most virtuous fast is the fast of his brother Dawud. He would fast one day and not fast the next day. The Hadith also says he would not flee when meeting the enemy. People search for fast of Dawud hadith, best voluntary fasting in Islam, and fasting alternate days hadith. The message is clear from the text: the fast of Dawud is a noble pattern because it combines fasting with regular breaks. It is not the same as fasting every day. It also connects worship with strength and firmness, as mentioned in the wording about not fleeing.
What we learn from this hadith
- The fast of Dawud is described as fasting one day and not fasting the next.
- This pattern gives fasting a regular rhythm with breaks.
- The Hadith calls this form of fasting highly virtuous.
- The narration also mentions firmness when facing the enemy.
