Hadith #341

Arabic Text

English Translation

It was narrated from 'Abdullah ibn 'Amr (رضي الله عنهما) — via 'Abd al-Razzaq and Ibn Bakr, from Ibn Jurayj; and Rawh, from Ibn Jurayj — who heard 'Ata' claiming that Abu al-'Abbas al-Sha'ir (the poet) informed him that he heard 'Abdullah ibn 'Amr say: 'It reached the Prophet ﷺ that I fast perpetually and pray the night [entirely]. He either sent for me or I met him, and he said: "Have I not been informed that you fast without breaking fast and pray all night? Do not do that — for your eyes have a right over you, your soul has a right over you, and your family has a right over you. Fast and break fast, pray and sleep — and fast one day out of every ten with the reward of nine." I said: "I find that I have more strength than that, O Prophet of Allah." He said: "Then fast the fast of Dawud." I asked: "How did Dawud fast, O Prophet of Allah?" He said: "He fasted one day and broke fast one day, and he never fled when he faced [the enemy]." I said: "Who can guarantee that for me, O Prophet of Allah?"' 'Ata' said: 'I do not know how he then mentioned perpetual fasting — and the Prophet ﷺ said: "He has not fasted, the one who fasts perpetually."' 'Abd al-Razzaq and Rawh said in their versions: '"He has not fasted, he has not fasted" — twice.'