The Best Type of Fasting: The Fast of Prophet Dawud
Some of the companions loved worship so much that they wanted to fast every single day. The Prophet ﷺ guided them to something better: the fast of Prophet Dawud, fasting one day and eating the next. He called it the most beloved fasting to Allah, and he also gave a much lighter option that almost anyone can keep.
At a glance
- Source: Sahih al-Bukhari 1131, Sahih al-Bukhari 1979 and Sahih Muslim 1159a
- Narrated by: ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr ibn al-‘As (may Allah be pleased with him)
- Grade: Sahih (Bukhari and Muslim)
- Topic: Voluntary fasting and moderation
- Put it into practice: Start with three days a month; build up only if you can keep it
The most beloved fasting to Allah
أَحَبُّ الصَّلاَةِ إِلَى اللَّهِ صَلاَةُ دَاوُدَ ـ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ ـ وَأَحَبُّ الصِّيَامِ إِلَى اللَّهِ صِيَامُ دَاوُدَ، وَكَانَ يَنَامُ نِصْفَ اللَّيْلِ وَيَقُومُ ثُلُثَهُ وَيَنَامُ سُدُسَهُ، وَيَصُومُ يَوْمًا وَيُفْطِرُ يَوْمًا
Allah’s Messenger ﷺ said, “The most beloved prayer to Allah is that of David and the most beloved fasts to Allah are those of David. He used to sleep for half of the night and then pray for one third of the night and again sleep for its sixth part and used to fast on alternate days.”
Sahih al-Bukhari 1131 · Narrated by ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr ibn al-‘As · Translation from Sunnah.com
Prophet Dawud (peace be upon him) balanced worship with rest. He prayed part of the night and slept the rest, and he fasted every other day. That balance is exactly what made his worship beloved.
The companion who wanted to fast every day
‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) was fasting every day and praying all night. The Prophet ﷺ said to him:
إِنَّكَ إِذَا فَعَلْتَ ذَلِكَ هَجَمَتْ لَهُ الْعَيْنُ وَنَفِهَتْ لَهُ النَّفْسُ، لاَ صَامَ مَنْ صَامَ الدَّهْرَ، صَوْمُ ثَلاَثَةِ أَيَّامٍ صَوْمُ الدَّهْرِ كُلِّهِ
“If you keep on doing this, your eyes will become weak and your body will get tired. He who fasts all the year is as he who did not fast at all. The fasting of three days (a month) will be equal to the fasting of the whole year.”
Sahih al-Bukhari 1979 · Narrated by ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr ibn al-‘As · Translation from Sunnah.com
When ‘Abdullah said he could do more, the Prophet ﷺ told him to fast like Dawud, “who used to fast on alternate days and would never flee from the battlefield on meeting the enemy” (Sahih al-Bukhari 1979). His fasting did not stop him from standing firm when it mattered.
In Imam Muslim’s narration, ‘Abdullah kept asking for more, and the Prophet ﷺ answered:
صُمْ يَوْمًا وَأَفْطِرْ يَوْمًا وَذَلِكَ صِيَامُ دَاوُدَ – عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ – وَهُوَ أَعْدَلُ الصِّيَامِ
“Fast one day and break on the other day. That is known as the fasting of David (peace be upon him) and that is the best fasting.”
Sahih Muslim 1159a · Narrated by ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr ibn al-‘As · Translation from Sunnah.com
When he asked for more still, the Prophet ﷺ said there is nothing better than that. Later in life ‘Abdullah said that if he had accepted the three days a month, as the Prophet ﷺ had suggested, it would have been more dear to him than his family and his property.
Moderation in worship
The lesson is not “do less”. It is “do what you can keep doing”. The Prophet ﷺ cared about our bodies, our families and our long-term worship. A fast we can sustain for years is better than one that burns us out in weeks, which is the same lesson as the hadith about consistency.
Three ways to follow this sunnah
- Three days every month: the Prophet ﷺ said this is like fasting the whole year (Sahih al-Bukhari 1979). See the white days and Mondays and Thursdays.
- Mondays and Thursdays, which the Prophet ﷺ made sure to fast.
- The fast of Dawud, one day on and one day off, for those who are able to keep it up.
All of these are voluntary fasts. If you have a health condition, speak to your doctor first, and ask a qualified scholar about the days on which fasting has special rulings, such as the two Eids.
Reflection: the Prophet ﷺ offered the lighter option first. Three days a month is a beautiful place to start.
Key lessons
- The most beloved fasting to Allah is that of Prophet Dawud: one day on, one day off.
- Fasting three days a month is like fasting the whole year.
- The Prophet ﷺ advised against fasting every day and praying all night.
- Choose the worship you can keep up for years.
Questions people ask
What is the best type of fasting in Islam?
Besides the obligatory fast of Ramadan, the Prophet ﷺ said the most beloved fasting to Allah is the fasting of Dawud (Sahih al-Bukhari 1131), and called it the best fasting (Sahih Muslim 1159a).
What is the fast of Prophet Dawud (puasa Daud)?
Fasting one day and not fasting the next, on alternate days (Sahih al-Bukhari 1131, Sahih Muslim 1159a).
Is it good to fast every day?
The Prophet ﷺ advised ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr against it, saying his eyes would weaken and his body would tire, and guided him to three days a month or the fast of Dawud (Sahih al-Bukhari 1979). For your own situation, ask a qualified scholar.
May Allah make it easy for us to follow the sunnah of fasting with balance, and accept our fasts.
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