Arabic (Original)
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مُصْعَبٍ حَدَّثَنَا الْأَوْزَاعِيُّ عَنْ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو قَالَ قَالَ لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لَقَدْ أُخْبِرْتُ أَنَّكَ تَقُومُ اللَّيْلَ وَتَصُومُ النَّهَارَ قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ نَعَمْ قَالَ فَصُمْ وَأَفْطِرْ وَصَلِّ وَنَمْ فَإِنَّ لِجَسَدِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا وَإِنَّ لِزَوْجِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا وَإِنَّ لِزَوْرِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا وَإِنَّ بِحَسْبِكَ أَنْ تَصُومَ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ قَالَ فَشَدَّدْتُ فَشُدِّدَ عَلَيَّ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي أَجِدُ قُوَّةً قَالَ فَصُمْ مِنْ كُلِّ جُمُعَةٍ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ قَالَ فَشَدَّدْتُ فَشُدِّدَ عَلَيَّ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي أَجِدُ قُوَّةً قَالَ صُمْ صَوْمَ نَبِيِّ اللَّهِ دَاوُدَ وَلَا تَزِدْ عَلَيْهِ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَمَا كَانَ صِيَامُ دَاوُدَ قَالَ كَانَ يَصُومُ يَوْمًا وَيُفْطِرُ يَوْمًا.
English Translation
Muhammad ibn Mus'ab narrated to us: al-Awza'i narrated from Yahya from Abu Salamah ibn Abd al-Rahman from Abdullah ibn Amr who said: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said to me: "I have been informed that you stand in prayer all night and fast all day." I said: "Yes, O Messenger of Allah." He said: "Then fast and break your fast, pray and sleep, for your body has a right over you, your wife has a right over you, and your visitors have a right over you. It is sufficient for you to fast three days of every month." He said: So I pushed for more and more was demanded of me. I said: "O Messenger of Allah, I find that I have strength." He said: "Then fast three days of every week." I said: So I pushed for more and more was demanded of me. I said: "O Messenger of Allah, I find that I have strength." He said: "Then fast the fast of the Prophet of Allah, Dawud (David), and do not exceed it." I said: "O Messenger of Allah, what was the fasting of Dawud?" He said: "He used to fast one day and break his fast one day."