سنن نسائی · Hadith 2408

It was narrated that Ibn Al Malih said: “I entered with Zaid upon ‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr and he narrated: ‘The Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم was told about my fasting, so he 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 month?” I said: “Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم!” He said: “Five.” I said: “Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم!” He said: “Seven.” I said: “Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم!” He said: “Nine.” I said: “Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم!” He said: “Eleven.” I said: “Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم!” Then the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم said: “There is no fast better than the fast of Dawud, half of a lifetime, fasting one day and not the next.” (Sahih)