The Best Type of Fasting: The Fast of Prophet Dawud

What is the best type of fasting after Ramadan? The Prophet ﷺ answered this himself: the fast of Prophet Dawud (peace be upon him), fasting one day and eating the next. Yet when a companion wanted to fast every single day, the Prophet ﷺ first pointed him to something much lighter that almost anyone can keep.

The best type of fasting in the hadith

‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr ibn al-‘As (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:

In another narration of the same conversation, the Prophet ﷺ named it the best fasting outright:

The Arabic word used here, a‘dal, also carries the meaning of the most balanced fast. Notice the balance in both halves of the first hadith: Prophet Dawud prayed part of the night and slept the rest, and he fasted one day and ate the next.

The companion who wanted to fast every day

‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr was fasting every day and praying through every night. When the Prophet ﷺ heard of it, he told him not to, and said:

In another narration, he ﷺ warned what would happen if ‘Abdullah carried on, and gave him a far lighter goal:

‘Abdullah said he could do more, so the Prophet ﷺ raised it step by step until he reached the fast of Dawud, who “used to fast on alternate days and would never flee from the battle field, on meeting the enemy” (Sahih al-Bukhari 1979). When ‘Abdullah asked for more still, he ﷺ said there is nothing better than that (Sahih Muslim 1159a), and in another narration told him not to fast more than that (Sahih al-Bukhari 1975).

Years later, when he had grown old, ‘Abdullah wished he had accepted the easier option of three days a month that the Prophet ﷺ first offered him (Sahih al-Bukhari 1975, Sahih Muslim 1159a).

What it means

The explanation on HadeethEnc (hadith 4542) notes that ‘Abdullah had resolved to fast every day and pray all night for the rest of his life. The Prophet ﷺ guided him to a balanced routine and three days a month first, and only raised it to the fast of Dawud because ‘Abdullah kept asking for more good. The aim was worship he could keep up.

Reflection: the best fast is not the hardest one. The Prophet ﷺ cared about our bodies, our families and the long road of worship. A fast we can keep for years is better than one that burns us out in weeks, which is the same lesson as the hadith about consistency.

How to practice the fast of Dawud, step by step

1. Start with three days a month. The Prophet ﷺ said this is equal to fasting the whole year (Sahih al-Bukhari 1979). See the three daily sunnahs the Prophet ﷺ advised.

2. Add Mondays and Thursdays. ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said the Prophet ﷺ used to try to fast on Mondays and Thursdays (Jami’ at-Tirmidhi 745, Sahih (Darussalam)). Usamah ibn Zayd (may Allah be pleased with him) reported the reason:

3. Move to the fast of Dawud only if you can keep it. Fast one day and not the next, and do not go beyond it (Sahih al-Bukhari 1975). The hadith does not set a start day or a length of time. How it fits around Fridays, the two Eids and other special days is a question for a qualified scholar.

All of these are voluntary fasts. If you have a health condition, are pregnant or nursing, or take regular medication, speak to your doctor first.

Questions people ask

Key lessons

• The most beloved fasting to Allah is the fast of Prophet Dawud: one day on, one day off.
• Fasting three days a month is like fasting the whole year.
• Your body, your eyes, your family and your guests all have a right over you.
• The Prophet ﷺ advised against fasting every day and praying all night.
• Choose the worship you can keep up for years.

One step for today: choose three days this month to fast, and mark them on your calendar. May Allah accept our fasts and make them easy to keep.

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