Sahih Muslim Book - 13, Hadith - 2742

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِى شَيْبَةَ حَدَّثَنَا غُنْدَرٌ عَنْ شُعْبَةَ ح وَحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ عَنْ زِيَادِ بْنِ فَيَّاضٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عِيَاضٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو - رضى الله عنهما - أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- قَالَ لَهُ « صُمْ يَوْمًا وَلَكَ أَجْرُ مَا بَقِىَ ». قَالَ إِنِّى أُطِيقُ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ. قَالَ « صُمْ يَوْمَيْنِ وَلَكَ أَجْرُ مَا بَقِىَ ». قَالَ إِنِّى أُطِيقُ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ. قَالَ « صُمْ ثَلاَثَةَ أَيَّامٍ وَلَكَ أَجْرُ مَا بَقِىَ ». قَالَ إِنِّى أُطِيقُ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ. قَالَ « صُمْ أَرْبَعَةَ أَيَّامٍ وَلَكَ أَجْرُ مَا بَقِىَ ». قَالَ إِنِّى أُطِيقُ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ. قَالَ « صُمْ أَفْضَلَ الصِّيَامِ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ صَوْمَ دَاوُدَ - عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ - كَانَ يَصُومُ يَوْمًا وَيُفْطِرُ يَوْمًا ».

It was narrated from ‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr [may Allah be pleased with them] that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said to him: “Fast one day and you will have the reward of the rest.” He said: “I am able to do more than that.” He said: “Fast two days and you will have the reward of the rest.” He said: “I am able to do more than that.” He said: “Fast three days and you will have the reward of the rest.” He said: “I am able to do more than that.” He said: “Fast four days and you will have the reward of the rest.” He said: “I am able to do more than that.” He said: “Observe the best fast before Allah, the fast of Dawud. He used to fast one day and not the next.”