سنن نسائی · Hadith 2400

It was narrated from ‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr bin Al-’As that it was mentioned to the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم that he had said: “I will Certainly stand all night (in prayer) and fast every day for as long as I live.” The Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم said: “Are you the one who said that?” “I said: ‘I said it, Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم.’ The Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم said: ‘You cannot do that. Fast and break your fast, sleep and stand (in prayer), and fast three days of each month. For a good deed is equal to ten like it, and that is like fasting for a lifetime.’ I said: ‘But I am able to do better than that.’ He said: ‘Fast for one day and break your fast for two days.’ I said: ‘I am able to do better than that, Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم.’ He said: ‘Then fast for one day and break your fast for one day, and that is the fast of Dawud and it is the best kind of fasting.’ I said: ‘I am able to do better than that.’ The Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم said: ‘There is nothing better than that.” ‘Abdullah said: “If I had accepted the three days that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم said, that would be dearer to me than my family and my wealth.” (Sahih)