'A'isha, the Mother of the Believers (Allah be pleased with her), reported that one day the Messenger of Allah may peace be upon him) said to me:
'A'isha, have you anything (to eat)? I said: 'Messenger of Allah, there is nothing with us. Thereupon he said: I am observing fast. She said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) went out, and there was a present, for us and (at the same time) some visitors dropped in. When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came back, I said to him: Messenger of Allah, a present was given to us, (and in the meanwhile) there came to us visitors (a major Portion of it has been spent on them), but I have saved something for you. He said: What is it? I said: It is hais (a compound of dates and clarified butter). He said: Bring that. So I brought it to him and he ate it and then said: I woke up in the morning observing fast. Talha said: I narrated this hadith to Mujahid and he said: This (observing of voluntary fast) is like a person who sets apart Sadaqa out of his wealth. He may spend it if he likes, or he may retain it if he so likes.
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 6, Hadith 2575
Hadith 1156
Chapter 13: The Book of Fasting - كتاب الصيام
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، أَخْبَرَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ زُرَيْعٍ، عَنْ سَعِيدٍ الْجُرَيْرِيِّ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، بْنِ شَقِيقٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ لِعَائِشَةَ رضى الله عنها هَلْ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَصُومُ شَهْرًا مَعْلُومًا سِوَى رَمَضَانَ قَالَتْ وَاللَّهِ إِنْ صَامَ شَهْرًا مَعْلُومًا سِوَى رَمَضَانَ حَتَّى مَضَى لِوَجْهِهِ وَلاَ أَفْطَرَهُ حَتَّى يُصِيبَ مِنْهُ .
Abdullah b. Shaqiq reported:
I said to'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her): Did the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) fast for a full month besides Ramadan? She said: I do not know of any month in which he fasted throughout, but that of the month of Ramadan and (the month) in which he did not fast at all, till he ran the course of his life.
Ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with both of them) reported:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) did not fast throughout any month except during ramadan. And when he observed fast (he fasted so continuously) that one would say that he would not break (them) and when he Abandoned, he abandoned (so continuously) that one would say: By Allah, perhaps he would never fast.
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 6, Hadith 2583
Hadith 1158
Chapter 34: The Prophet's Fasts at times other than Ramadan; and it is recommended to ensure that no month is free of fasting - كتاب الصيام
وَحَدَّثَنِي زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، وَابْنُ أَبِي خَلَفٍ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا رَوْحُ بْنُ عُبَادَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادٌ، عَنْ ثَابِتٍ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، رضى الله عنه ح.
وَحَدَّثَنِي أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ نَافِعٍ، - وَاللَّفْظُ لَهُ - حَدَّثَنَا بَهْزٌ، حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادٌ، حَدَّثَنَا ثَابِتٌ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، رضى الله عنه أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يَصُومُ حَتَّى يُقَالَ قَدْ صَامَ قَدْ صَامَ . وَيُفْطِرُ حَتَّى يُقَالَ قَدْ أَفْطَرَ قَدْ أَفْطَرَ .
Anas (Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to observe fast till it was said that he had observed fast, he had observed fast (perhaps never to break it), and he did not fast till it was said that he had given up fast, he had given up fast (perhaps never to observe it).
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 6, Hadith 2586
Hadith 1159
Chapter 13: The Book of Fasting - كتاب الصيام
حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو الطَّاهِرِ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ وَهْبٍ، يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ يُونُسَ، عَنِ ابْنِ، شِهَابٍ ح وَحَدَّثَنِي حَرْمَلَةُ بْنُ يَحْيَى، أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي يُونُسُ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي سَعِيدُ بْنُ الْمُسَيَّبِ، وَأَبُو سَلَمَةَ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ أَنَّ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْعَاصِ، قَالَ أُخْبِرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَّهُ يَقُولُ لأَقُومَنَّ اللَّيْلَ وَلأَصُومَنَّ النَّهَارَ مَا عِشْتُ . فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " آنْتَ الَّذِي تَقُولُ ذَلِكَ " . فَقُلْتُ لَهُ قَدْ قُلْتُهُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ . فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " فَإِنَّكَ لاَ تَسْتَطِيعُ ذَلِكَ فَصُمْ وَأَفْطِرْ وَنَمْ وَقُمْ وَصُمْ مِنَ الشَّهْرِ ثَلاَثَةَ أَيَّامٍ فَإِنَّ الْحَسَنَةَ بِعَشْرِ أَمْثَالِهَا وَذَلِكَ مِثْلُ صِيَامِ الدَّهْرِ " . قَالَ قُلْتُ فَإِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ . قَالَ " صُمْ يَوْمًا وَأَفْطِرْ يَوْمَيْنِ " . قَالَ قُلْتُ فَإِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ " صُمْ يَوْمًا وَأَفْطِرْ يَوْمًا وَذَلِكَ صِيَامُ دَاوُدَ - عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ - وَهُوَ أَعْدَلُ الصِّيَامِ " . قَالَ قُلْتُ فَإِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ . قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لاَ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ " . قَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَمْرٍو رضى الله عنهما لأَنْ أَكُونَ قَبِلْتُ الثَّلاَثَةَ الأَيَّامَ الَّتِي قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَحَبُّ إِلَىَّ مِنْ أَهْلِي وَمَالِي .
'Abdullah b. 'Amr b. al-'As reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was informed that he could stand up for (prayer) throughout the night and observe fast every day so long as he lived. Thereupon the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
Is it you who said this? I said to him: Messenger of Allah, it is I who said that. Thereupon the Messenger of Allah may peace be upon him) said: You are not capable enough to do so. Observe fast and break it; sleep and stand for prayer, and observe fast for three days during the month; for every good is multiplied ten times and this is like fasting for ever. I said: Messenger of Allah. I am capable of doing more than this. Thereupon he said: Fast one day and do not fast for the next two days. I said: Messenger of Allah, I have the strength to do more than that. The Prophet (ﷺ), said: Fast one day and break on the other day. That is known as the fasting of David (peace be upon him) and that is the best fasting. I said: I am capable of doing more than this. Thereupon the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: There is nothing better than this. 'Abdullah b. 'Amr (Allah be pleased with them) said: Had I accepted the three days (fasting during every month) as the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had said, it would have been more dear to me than my family and my property.
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 6, Hadith 2587
Hadith 1160
Chapter 36: It is recommended to fast three days of every month, and to fast on the days of 'Arafah and 'Ashura', and to fast on Mondays and Thursdays - كتاب الصيام
حَدَّثَنَا شَيْبَانُ بْنُ فَرُّوخَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَارِثِ، عَنْ يَزِيدَ الرِّشْكِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَتْنِي مُعَاذَةُ، الْعَدَوِيَّةُ أَنَّهَا سَأَلَتْ عَائِشَةَ زَوْجَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَصُومُ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ ثَلاَثَةَ أَيَّامٍ قَالَتْ نَعَمْ . فَقُلْتُ لَهَا مِنْ أَىِّ أَيَّامِ الشَّهْرِ كَانَ يَصُومُ قَالَتْ لَمْ يَكُنْ يُبَالِي مِنْ أَىِّ أَيَّامِ الشَّهْرِ يَصُومُ .
Mu'adha al-'Adawiyya reported that she asked 'A'isha, the wife of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), whether the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) observed fasts for three days during every month. She said:
Yes I said to her: Which were (the particular) days of the month on which he observed fast? She said: He was not particular about the days of the month on which to observe fast.
'Imran b. Husain (Allah be pleased with them) reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to him (or he said to another person and he was listening to it):
O, so and so, did you observe fast in the middle of the month? He said: No. Thereupon he (the Messenger of Allah) said: When you break it, then observe fast for two days.
Abu Qatada reported that a person came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and said:
How do you fast? The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) felt annoyed. When 'Umar (Allah be pleased with him) noticed his annoyance, he said: We are well pleased with Allah as our Lord, with Islam as our code of life, and with Muhammad as our Prophet. We seek refuge with Allah from the anger of Allah and that of His Messenger. 'Umar kept on repeating these words till his (the Prophet's) anger calmed down. Then Umar said: Messenger of Allah, what is the position of one who fasts perpetually? He (ﷺ) said: He neither fasted nor broke it, or he said: He did not fast and he did not break it. 'Umar said: What about him who fasts for two days and does not fast one day? He (ﷺ) said: Is anyone capable of doing that? He ('Umar) said: What is the position of him who fasts for a day and doesn't fast on the other day? Thereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: That is the fast of David (peace be upon him). He ('Umar) said: What about him who fasts one day and doesn't fast for two days. Thereupon he (the Messenger of Allah) said: I wish I were given the strength to do that. Thereafter he (ﷺ) said: Fasting three days every month and that of Ramadan every year is a perpetual fasting. I seek from Allah that fasting on the day of 'Arafa may atone for the sins of the preceding and the coming years, and I seek from Allah that fasting on the day of Ashura may atone for the sins of the preceding year.
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 6, Hadith 2614
Hadith 1165
Chapter 13: The Book of Fasting - كتاب الصيام
وَحَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، قَالَ قَرَأْتُ عَلَى مَالِكٍ عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، - رضى الله عنهما - أَنَّ رِجَالاً، مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أُرُوا لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ فِي الْمَنَامِ فِي السَّبْعِ الأَوَاخِرِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم
" أَرَى رُؤْيَاكُمْ قَدْ تَوَاطَأَتْ فِي السَّبْعِ الأَوَاخِرِ فَمَنْ كَانَ مُتَحَرِّيَهَا فَلْيَتَحَرَّهَا فِي السَّبْعِ الأَوَاخِرِ " .
Ibn 'Umar (Allah be pleased with them) reported that some persons among the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) were shown Lailat- ul-Qadr while sleeping in the last week (of Ramadan). Thereupon Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said:
I see that your dreams agree regarding the last week; so he who wants to seek it should seek it in the last week (during the night).
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 6, Hadith 2617
Hadith 1166
Chapter 40: The virtue of Lailat Al-Qadr and the Exhortation to seek it; When it is and the most likely times to seek it - كتاب الصيام
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الطَّاهِرِ، وَحَرْمَلَةُ بْنُ يَحْيَى، قَالاَ أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي يُونُسُ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، - رضى الله عنه - أَنَّاللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " أُرِيتُ لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ ثُمَّ أَيْقَظَنِي بَعْضُ أَهْلِي فَنُسِّيتُهَا فَالْتَمِسُوهَا فِي الْعَشْرِ الْغَوَابِرِ " . وَقَالَ حَرْمَلَةُ " فَنَسِيتُهَا " .
Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:
I was shown Lailat-ul-Qadr; then some members of my family awoke me up, then I was caused to forget it. So seek it in the last week. Harmala said: (The Prophet did not say:" I was made to forget," but he stated):" But I forgot it."
Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) spent in devotion (in i'tikaf) the middle ten nights of the month of Ramadan, and when twenty nights were over and it was the twenty-first night, he went back to his residence and those who were along with him also returned (to their respective residences). He spent one month in devotion. Then he addressed the people on the night he came back (to his residence) and commanded them as Allah desired (him to command) and then said:
I used to devote myself (observe i'tikaf) during these ten (nights). Then I started devoting myself in the last ten (nights). And he who desires to observe i'tikaf along with me should spend the night) at his place of i'tikaf. And I saw this night (Lailat-ul-Qadr) but I forgot it (the exact night) ; so seek it;In the last ten nights on odd numbers. I saw (the glimpses of that dream) that I was prostrating in water and mud. Abu Sa'id al-Khudri said: It rained on the twenty-first night and the water dripped (from the roof) of the mosque at the place where the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) observed prayer. I looked at him and as he completed the dawn prayer, (I found) his face was wet with mud and water.
'Abdullah b. Unais reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:
I was shown Lailat-ul-Qadr; then I was made to forget it, and saw that I was prostrating in water and clay in the morning of that (night). He (the narrator) said: There was a downpour on the twenty-third night and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) led us in prayer, and as he went back, there was a trace of water and clay on his forehead and on his nose. He (the narrator) said: 'Abdullah b. Unais used to say that it was the twenty-third (night).
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 6, Hadith 2632
Hadith 1170
Chapter 40: The virtue of Lailat Al-Qadr and the Exhortation to seek it; When it is and the most likely times to seek it - كتاب الصيام
وَحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبَّادٍ، وَابْنُ أَبِي عُمَرَ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا مَرْوَانُ، - وَهُوَ الْفَزَارِيُّ - عَنْ يَزِيدَ، - وَهُوَ ابْنُ كَيْسَانَ - عَنْ أَبِي حَازِمٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، - رضى الله عنه - قَالَ تَذَاكَرْنَا لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ
" أَيُّكُمْ يَذْكُرُ حِينَ طَلَعَ الْقَمَرُ وَهُوَ مِثْلُ شِقِّ جَفْنَةٍ " .
Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported:
We were talking about Lailat-ul-Qadr in the presence of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and he said: He who amongst you remembers (the night) when the moon arose and it was like a piece of plate (at the fag end of the month in a state of waning).