The Holy Prophet’s ﷺ practice of fasting
Acts of Worship of the Holy Prophet ﷺ
Hadith
عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِکٍ أَنَّهُ سُئِلَ عَنْ صَوْمِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّی اللّٰہُ عَلَیہ وَ آلہِ وَسَلَّم فَقَالَ کَانَ يَصُومُ مِنَ الشَّهْرِ حَتَّی نَرَی أَنْ لا يُرِيدَ أَنْ يُفْطِرَ مِنْهُ وَيُفْطِرُ مِنْهُ حَتَّی نَرَی أَنْ لا يُرِيدَ أَنْ يَصُومَ مِنْهُ شَيْئًا وَکُنْتَ لا تَشَائُ أَنْ تَرَاهُ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ مُصَلِّيًا إِلا رَأَيْتَهُ مُصَلِّيًا وَلا نَائِمًا إِلا رَأَيْتَهُ نَائِمًا۔
شمائل ترمذی (حدیث 278)Translation
It was asked from Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik رضي الله عنه about the fasting of the Noble Prophet ﷺ. He رضي الله عنه replied: “The Beloved Prophet ﷺ would fast in a month with such continuity that we would think he might not intend to break his fast, and at other times he would leave fasting for several days, so much so that we would think he would not intend to fast. And if you wish to see the Noble Prophet ﷺ in the night prayer, you will also see him resting—that is, the Holy Prophet ﷺ would worship at night and also take rest.”
Narration
Sayyidatuna Aisha رضي الله عنها said: I have never seen the Messenger of Allah ﷺ fasting in any month more than Sha'ban (except Ramadan). He ﷺ used to fast most of Sha'ban, almost the entire month. Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Masood رضي الله عنه said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to fast three days at the beginning of each month and used to eat very little for Iftar on Fridays. Sayyidatuna Aisha رضي الله عنها said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ often observed the fasts of Monday and Thursday. Sayyidatuna Aisha رضي الله عنها also said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ (sometimes) fasted three days of each month in a cycle, such as Saturday, Sunday, and Monday one month, and then Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday the next month.