A chief of the Quraysh narrates from his father that he heard these words from the blessed mouth of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him: Whoever fasts in the months of Ramadan and Shawwal, and then fasts on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, will enter Paradise.

(Second chain) The father of a Qurayshi chief narrated that he heard this hadith from the blessed mouth of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him: Whoever fasts in the month of Ramadan and the month of Shawwal, and then on Wednesdays and Thursdays, will enter Paradise.

It is narrated from Sayyida Umm Salama (may Allah be pleased with her) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) used to fast on Saturdays and Sundays more frequently than on other days on which he would fast. He (peace and blessings be upon him) also said regarding them: "These are the festival days of the polytheists, that is, the Jews and Christians, and I wish to oppose them."

Sayyiduna Usama bin Zaid (may Allah be pleased with him) says that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) would fast so frequently and continuously that it would be said that now he will not leave any day without fasting. But then, when he would start leaving fasts, he would do so with such frequency that it would seem as if now he will not fast anymore, except for two days of the week. If those days happened to fall within his continuous fasting, then fine; otherwise, he would fast on those days among the days of not fasting. And the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) used to fast more in the month of Sha’ban than in other months. One day I said: O Messenger of Allah! Sometimes you begin to fast continuously in such a way that it seems you will not leave any day without fasting, but then you start leaving fasts in such a way that it seems you will not fast anymore, except for two days. If those days are included in your fasting, then fine; otherwise, you fast only on those days. He asked: Which two days? I said: Monday and Thursday. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: On these days, the deeds of people are presented before the Lord of the worlds, and I wish that my deeds are presented before Allah while I am in a state of fasting. I said: I see that you fast more in Sha’ban than in other months? The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: This is a month between Rajab and Ramadan, which people are heedless of, although in it the deeds of people are presented before the Lord of the worlds, and I wish that my deeds are presented before Allah while I am in a state of fasting.

It is narrated from Mawla Usama that he was going with Sayyiduna Usama (may Allah be pleased with him) towards Wadi Qura in search of his wealth. He used to fast on Mondays and Thursdays. The servant said to him: Why do you fast on Mondays and Thursdays, when now you have become old and weak? He replied: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) used to fast on these days. When he (peace and blessings be upon him) was asked about this, he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: On Mondays and Thursdays, the deeds of people are presented before Allah Almighty.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) used to fast frequently on Mondays and Thursdays. When he (peace and blessings be upon him) was asked about this, he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: The deeds of people are presented before Allah Almighty on Mondays and Thursdays, and Allah Almighty forgives every Muslim or every believer, except for two men between whom there is a severance of relations. Regarding them, Allah Almighty says: Defer their matter.

When Lady Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) was asked about the fasts of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), she said: He (peace and blessings be upon him) used to fast in the month of Sha'ban and would especially observe fasts on Mondays and Thursdays.

Sadaqa Damashqi says that a man came to Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) and asked about fasting. He said that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: The most virtuous fasts are those of my brother Dawood (peace be upon him); he would fast one day and leave it the next day.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Amr bin al-As (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: The fasts of Dawud (peace be upon him) are the most beloved to Allah Almighty, and likewise, his night prayer is the most preferred by Allah Almighty. He would sleep for half the night, then stand in prayer for one third of the night, and then sleep for one sixth of the night. As for fasting, he would fast one day and leave it the next day.

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Amr bin al-As (may Allah be pleased with him) says: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said to me: I have been informed that you stand in prayer all night and fast every day. I said: Yes, O Messenger of Allah! He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Fast sometimes and leave fasting sometimes, and stand in prayer at night and also sleep, because your body has a right over you, your wife has a right over you, and your guest has a right over you. Fast three days in a month; that is sufficient for you. But I was strict, so the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was also strict with me. I said: O Messenger of Allah! I have the strength for more than that. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Then fast three days every week. But I was strict, so the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was also strict with me, and I said: O Messenger of Allah! I have the strength to fast more than that. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Then fast like the Prophet of Allah, Dawud (peace be upon him), and do not exceed that. I said: O Messenger of Allah! How did Dawud (peace be upon him) fast? He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: He would fast one day and leave fasting the next day.