Mukhtasar Muslim

`Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Amr bin As (may Allah be pleased with him) says that` news reached the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) that I observe fasts continuously (without break) and spend the whole night in prayer. So the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) sent someone to me or I met him myself, and he (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: I have been informed that you observe fasts continuously without breaking them and spend the whole night in prayer. Do not do so. For your eyes have a right over you, your own self has a right over you, and your wife has a right over you. So observe fasts and also break them, and offer (voluntary) prayers and also sleep. And fast one day in every ten days, for you will get the reward of (fasting) the remaining nine days as well. I said: I find in myself the strength for more than this. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: Then observe the fast of Dawud (peace be upon him). I said: O Noble Prophet of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)! What was his fast? He (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: He would fast one day and break the fast the next day, and when he faced the enemy, he would never flee (from jihad). Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: O Noble Prophet of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)! How can I attain this not fleeing from the enemy (i.e., this is a matter of great strength and bravery). Ata (the narrator of the hadith) said: Then I do not know how the mention of perpetual fasting came, and the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said regarding this: Whoever fasted perpetually did not fast at all (i.e., did not attain the complete reward). Whoever fasted perpetually did not fast at all.