Lu'lu' wal-Marjan

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that it was conveyed to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) that, by Allah, I will fast during the day for my entire life and spend the whole night in worship. I (Abdullah) submitted (to the Messenger of Allah), “May my parents be sacrificed for you, yes, I have said this.” He said, “But you do not have the strength for this. Therefore, fast and also refrain from fasting, worship and also sleep, and keep fasts for three days in a month. The reward of good deeds is tenfold, so it will be as if you have fasted for your whole life.” I said, “I have the strength for more than this.” He said, “Then fast one day and leave fasting for two days.” I again said, “I have the strength for more than this.” He said, “Alright, then fast one day and do not fast the next day, for this was the fast of Dawud (David), peace be upon him, and this is the best way of fasting.” I still said the same, “I have the strength for more than this.” But this time he said, “There is no fast better than this.”