“The Messenger of Allah [saws] would not break the fast on the days of Al-Bidh [thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth day of any Islamic month] whether he was a resident or travelling.”[86]
“The Messenger of Allah [saws] used to fast three days in the middle of every month and he rarely did not fast on Fridays.”[87]
“A rabbit that a man had grilled was brought to the Prophet [saws] and when he offered it to him he said, ‘O Messenger of Allah [saws] I saw some blood on it.’ The Messenger of Allah [saws] did not eat it, but he said to those who were with him, ‘Eat; if I felt like it, I would have eaten it.’ There was a man sitting and the Messenger of Allah [saws] said, ‘Come and eat with the people.’ He said, ‘O Messenger of Allah [saws] I am fasting.’ He said, ‘Why don’t you fast Al-Bidh?’ He said, ‘What are they?’ He said, ‘The thirteenth fourteenth and fifteenth.’”[88]
Fasting on alternate days
“The Messenger of Allah [saws] said, ‘The dearest of fasting to Allah [swt] is the fast of Dawud [as] and the dearest of prayer to Allah [swt] is the prayer of Dawud [as]. He used to sleep for half of the night get up and pray for one-third of it and sleep for one-sixth of it, and he used to fast one day and not the next.’”[89]
“The Messenger of Allah [saws] was told that I [‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr bin Al-‘As (ra)] had said, ‘I shall most certainly spend my nights in standing [in prayer] and my days fasting for as long as I live.’ The Messenger of Allah [saws] said, ‘Are you the one who said that?’ I said to him, ‘I did say it O Messenger of Allah [saws].’ The Messenger of Allah [saws] said, ‘You are not able to do that. Fast and break your fast sleep and get up [to pray]. Fast three days every month for each deed brings a tenfold reward, and that will be like fasting for a lifetime.’ I said, ‘I am able to do better than that.’ He said, ‘Fast one day and break your fast for two days.’ I said, ‘I am able to do better than that O Messenger of Allah [saws].’ He said, ‘Fast one day and break your fast one day. That is the fast of Dawud peace be upon him, and it is the best of fasting.’ I said, ‘I am able to do better than that.’ The Messenger of Allah [saws] said, ‘There is nothing better than that.’ If I had accepted the three days that the Messenger of Allah [saws] spoke of that would have been dearer to me than my family and my wealth.”[90]
“The Messenger of Allah [saws] entered my apartment and said, ‘I have been told that you stand all night [in prayer] and fast all day.’ I [‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr bin Al-‘As (ra)] said, ‘Yes.’ He said, ‘Do not do that. Sleep and stand [in prayer]; fast and break your fast. For your eyes have a right over you, your body has a right over you, your wife has a right over you, your guest has a right over you and your friend has a right over you. I hope that you will have a long life and that it will be sufficient for you to fast three days of each month. That is fasting for a lifetime because a good deed is equal to ten like it.’ I said, ‘I feel able to do more.’ I was strict, so I was dealt with strictly. He said, ‘Fast three days each week.’ I said, ‘I am able to do more than that.’ I was strict, so I was dealt with strictly. He said, ‘Observe the fast of the Prophet of Allah [swt], Dawud peace be upon him.’ I said, ‘What was the fast of Dawud?’ He said, ‘Half of a lifetime.’”[91]