It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Amr bin al-As (may Allah be pleased with them both) that he said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was informed that I was saying: "I will certainly fast perpetually and I will certainly stand (in prayer) the whole night." So the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said to me: "Are you the one who says: 'As long as I live, I will certainly fast perpetually and stand (in prayer) the whole night'?" I said: "O Messenger of Allah, I did say that." So the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said to me: "You will not be able to do that. So fast and also break the fast, stand (in prayer) and also sleep, and fast three days of every month, for a good deed is rewarded tenfold; in this way that will be equal to perpetual fasting." I said: "I am capable of something better (than that)." The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Fast one day and break the fast one day; that is the fasting of Sayyiduna Dawud (peace be upon him), and it is the most balanced fasting." I said: "O Messenger of Allah, I am capable of something better than that." He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "There is no (fasting) better than that."