Hadith 2512

Abu Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that a man came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and asked, "How do you fast?" The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) became angry at his question. When Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) saw his anger, he said, "We are pleased with Allah as our Lord, Islam as our religion, and Muhammad as our Prophet. We seek refuge in Allah from the anger of Allah and His Messenger." Umar kept repeating these words until the Prophet’s anger subsided. Then Umar said, "O Messenger of Allah, what about someone who fasts every day of the year?" The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "He has not fasted nor broken his fast," ⁴ or he said, "He did not fast nor break his fast." Umar asked, "What about someone who fasts two days and breaks his fast on the third day?" The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Can anyone do that?" Umar asked, "What about someone who fasts one day and breaks his fast the next day?" The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "That is the fast of Dawud." Umar asked, "What about someone who fasts one day and breaks his fast for two days?" The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "I wish I were given the strength to do that." Then the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Fasting three days of every month and Ramadan to Ramadan is like fasting the entire year. Fasting the day of Arafah, I hope Allah will expiate the sins of the previous year and the coming year. Fasting the day of Ashura, I hope Allah will expiate the sins of the previous year."