Observe fast for a day and there would be reward for you for the rest (of the days). He said: I am capable of doing more than this. He then said: Observe fast for two days, and there would be reward for you for the rest (of the days). He said: I am capable of doing more than this. He (the Holy Prophet) said: Observe fast for three days and there would be reward for you for the rest of the days. He said: I am capable of doing more than this, whereupon he said: Observe fast for four days and there would be reward for you for the rest of the days. He said: I am capable of doing more than this. Thereupon he said: Then observe fast (which is the) best in the eye of Allah, the fast of David عليه السلام ; he used to observe fast one day and break on the other day.
Source: Sahih Muslim — repository translation · Imam Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj al-Naysaburi — authenticity/grade metadata requires independent source review · Sunnah.comHadith 9903
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي 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 بَقِيَ " . قَالَ إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ . قَالَ " صُمْ يَوْمَيْنِ وَلَكَ أَجْرُ مَا بَقِيَ " . قَالَ إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ . قَالَ " صُمْ ثَلاَثَةَ أَيَّامٍ وَلَكَ أَجْرُ مَا بَقِيَ " . قَالَ إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ . قَالَ " صُمْ أَرْبَعَةَ أَيَّامٍ وَلَكَ أَجْرُ مَا بَقِيَ " . قَالَ إِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ . قَالَ " صُمْ أَفْضَلَ الصِّيَامِ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ صَوْمَ دَاوُدَ - عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ - كَانَ يَصُومُ يَوْمًا وَيُفْطِرُ يَوْمًا " .
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Source: Sahih Muslim — repository arabic · Imam Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj al-Naysaburi · Sunnah.com