Mukhtasar Muslim

Narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him) that a man came to the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and asked, "How do you fast?" At this, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) became angry (because this question was inappropriate; he should have asked, 'How should I fast?'). Then, when Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) saw the Prophet's anger, he said, "We are pleased with Allah as our Lord, with Islam as our religion, and with Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) as our Prophet, and we seek refuge in Allah and His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) from anger." Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) kept repeating these words until the Prophet's anger subsided. Then Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "O Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)! What about the one who fasts every day?" The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "He neither fasted nor broke his fast." Then he asked, "What about the one who fasts two days and breaks his fast one day?" The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "Who has the strength for that?" Then he asked, "What about the one who fasts one day and breaks his fast one day?" The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "This is the fast of Dawud (peace be upon him)." Then he asked, "What about the one who fasts one day and breaks his fast two days?" The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "I wish I had the strength for that (meaning, this is also good if one has the strength)." Then the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "Three fasts every month and the fasts of Ramadan, from one Ramadan to the next, this is like perpetual fasting (in reward)." And the fast of the day of Arafah, I hope from Allah that it will be an expiation for the sins of the previous year and the coming year, and from the fast of Ashura, I hope it will be an expiation for the previous year."