It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) that he said regarding the day of Ashura that it is the ninth day. I asked, "So did Muhammad (peace be upon him) also fast on (the ninth day) like this?"

Imam Abu Bakr (may Allah have mercy on him) says that the hadith of Sayyiduna Abu Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him) from the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that the fast of the day of Arafah becomes an expiation for the sins of the previous year and the coming year, I have already written in the chapter of Ashura.

Sayyiduna Uqbah bin Amir (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The Day of Arafah, the Day of Sacrifice, and the Days of Tashreeq are our days of Eid, the people of Islam, and they are days of eating and drinking."

Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade fasting on the day of Arafah at the place of Arafat.

Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrates from his respected mother, Sayyidah Umm al-Fadl (may Allah be pleased with her), that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) did not fast in Arafat. Milk was brought to him, and he (peace and blessings be upon him) drank it.

It is narrated from Sayyidah Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) did not fast during the ten days of Dhul-Hijjah. In his narration, Abu Bakr mentioned these words: Sayyidah Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) states that I never saw the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) fasting during the ten days of Dhul-Hijjah.

Lady Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) would sometimes abandon an action even though he liked to do it, out of fear that people would begin to perform it regularly and then it would be made obligatory upon them. And the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) liked light and easy obligations for the people.

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Amr (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrates that I was a person who exerted himself greatly in worship. So my respected father got me married. Then he came to visit me and asked my wife, "How have you found your husband?" She replied, "He is a very good and pious man who neither sleeps at night nor leaves fasting during the day." He says that my father scolded me severely and then said, "I have married you to a noble Muslim woman, and you have deprived her of her marital rights." But due to my strength and effort in worship, I paid no heed to my father's words until this matter reached the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). So the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "But I sleep and (also) pray at night. I also fast and sometimes I do not fast. Therefore, you should also sleep (at night) and pray as well. Sometimes leave fasting too. And fast three days every month." I said, "O Messenger of Allah, I have the strength to do more than this." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Then observe the fast of Dawud (peace be upon him). Fast one day and leave one day, and complete the Qur'an once every month." I said, "O Messenger of Allah, I have the strength and determination to do more than this." Mujahid says that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) advised and instructed to complete the Qur'an in seven days, then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Indeed, every action has enthusiasm and desire, and for every enthusiasm and desire there is a period of slackness. So whoever's slackness is according to the Sunnah of the Prophet, he is rightly guided, and whoever's slackness is due to any other reason, he is destroyed." So Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) says, "If I had accepted the concession of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), it would have been more beloved to me than my family and the blessings of wealth and property, and today I have become old and weak. And I dislike abandoning the deed which the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded me to do."

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that I presented myself before the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and asked about fasting. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Fast one day in every month and you will receive the reward for the remaining days as well." I said, "I have the strength to do more than that." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Fast two days in every month and you will receive the reward and recompense for the remaining days as well." I said, "Indeed, I have the strength to do more than that." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Fast three days in every month and you will also receive the reward for the remaining days." I again said, "I find myself capable and strong enough to do more than that." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Fast four days and you will also receive the reward for the remaining days." He said, "Indeed, I find myself capable and strong enough to do more than that." So the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The most beloved fasts are the fasts of Dawud (peace be upon him); he would fast one day and leave (not fast) the next day."