English translation
1975. Narrated 'Abdullāh bin 'Amr bin Al-'Ās: Allāh's Messenger ﷺ said to me, "O 'Abdullāh! Have I not been informed that you observe Saum (fast) during the day and offer Salāt (prayer) all the night." 'Abdullāh replied, "Yes, O Allāh's Messenger!" The Prophet ﷺ said, "Don't do that; observe Saum (fast) for few days and then give it up for few days, offer Salāt (prayer) and also sleep at night, as your body has a right on you, and your wife has a right on you, and your guest has a right on you. And it is sufficient for you to observe Saum (fast) three days in a month, as the reward of a good deed is multiplied ten times, so it will be like fasting throughout the year." I insisted (on fasting) and so I was given a hard instruction. I said, "O Allāh's Messenger! I have strength.” The Prophet ﷺ said, “Observe Saum (fast) like the fasting of the Prophet Dāwūd (David) عليه السلام and do not observe fast more than that.” I asked “How was the fasting of the Prophet of Allāh, David عليه السلام?” He said, “Half of the year,” (i.e., he used to observe fast on every alternate day). Afterwards when ‘Abdullāh became old, he used to say, “It would have been better for me if I had accepted the permission of the Prophet ﷺ [hich he gave me i.e., to observe Saum (fast) only three days a month].”