‘Uthman bin Hakim says: I asked Sa‘id bin Jubayr about fasting in the month of Rajab, what is his opinion about it? He said: Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah bin ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated to me that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) would sometimes begin to fast so frequently that we would think he would not leave off fasting at all, but then he (peace and blessings be upon him) would leave off fasting for such a long period that we would think he would never fast again.

(Second chain) Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) says that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) would sometimes fast so frequently that we would say, "Now he will not stop fasting," but then he (peace and blessings be upon him) would leave fasting for such a long period that we would think, "Now he will not fast." And since he (peace and blessings be upon him) arrived in Madinah Munawwarah, he did not fast for any entire month except Ramadan.

It is narrated from the father or uncle of Mujibah, he says: Once I came to the service of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, for some work. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, asked: Who are you? I said: Do you not recognize me, O Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him? The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, again said: Who are you? He said: I am the same man from the Bahilah tribe who came to you last year. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: When you came at that time, your body, complexion, and appearance were very good. What has happened to you now? He said: By Allah! After leaving your presence, I have not left fasting for a single day, rather I have been fasting continuously. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: Who told you to put yourself in hardship? Who commanded you to put yourself in torment? Who told you to trouble yourself? You should only fast in the month of patience, that is, Ramadan. I said: I have strength, I wish that you, O Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, permit me to fast more than this. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: All right, then fast one day in a month. I said: I can do more than this, I have strength. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: Then fast two days in a month. I said: I have the strength to fast more than this, please allow me to fast more. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: What more do you want besides the fasts of the month of patience, that is, Ramadan, and two fasts in every month? I said: I consider myself strong, so please allow me to fast more than this. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: All right, then fast three days in every month. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, stopped at this, and it seemed that he would not permit more than this. I submitted: I have the strength for more than this, please allow me to do more. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: Then fast and leave fasting in the sacred months.