Hadith #347

Arabic Text

English Translation

It was narrated from 'Abdullah ibn 'Amr ibn al-'As (رضي الله عنهما) — via Ya'qub, from his father, from Muhammad ibn Ibrahim ibn al-Harith, from Abu Salama ibn 'Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Awf — who said: 'I entered upon 'Abdullah ibn 'Amr ibn al-'As at his home. He asked about my lineage, thinking I was from the sons of Umm Kulthum bint 'Uqba. I said to him: "I am [the son] of the Kalbiyya bint al-Asbagh — and I have come to ask you about what the Messenger of Allah ﷺ enjoined upon you, or said to you." He said: "In the time of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, I used to say: I will surely read the Quran every single day and night, and I will surely fast perpetually. That reached the Messenger of Allah ﷺ from me, so he came to me and entered my house. He said: 'Has it not reached me, O 'Abdullah, that you say: I will fast perpetually and read the Quran every day and night?' I said: 'Yes — I said that, O Prophet of Allah.' He said: 'Then do not do so. Fast three days of every month.' I said: 'I have the strength for more than that.' He said: 'Then fast Monday and Thursday.' I said: 'I have the strength for more than that, O Prophet of Allah.' He said: 'Then fast one day and break fast one day — for it is the most balanced fast before Allah — and it is the fast of Dawud (عليه السلام) — and he would not break his word and would not flee when he faced [the enemy]. And read the Quran once per month.' I said: 'I have the strength for more than that, O Prophet of Allah.' He said: 'Then read it once every half month.' I said: 'I have the strength for more than that, O Prophet of Allah.' He said: 'Then read it in every seven days — do not add more than that.' Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ departed."'