عن أَبِي محمّد عبدِ اللّهِ بن عمرو بنِ العاص رضي اللّه عنهما قال: أُخْبرَ النَّبِيُّ صَلّى اللّهُ عَلَيْهِ وسَلَّم أنِّي أَقُول: واللّه لأَصومَنَّ النَّهَارَ، ولأَقُومنَّ اللَّيْلَ ما عشْتُ، فَقَالَ رسُول اللّه صَلّى اللّهُ عَلَيْهِ وسَلَّم: «أَنْتَ الَّذِي تَقُول ذلك؟» فَقُلْت له: قَدْ قُلتُه بأَبِي أَنْتَ وأُمِّي يا رسولَ اللّه. قَال: «فَإِنّكَ لا تَسْتَطِيعُ ذلِكَ، فَصُمْ وأَفْطرْ، ونَمْ وَقُمْ، وَصُمْ مِنَ الشَّهْرِ ثَلاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ فَإِنَّ الْحسنَةَ بعَشْرِ أَمْثَالهَا، وذلكَ مثْلُ صِيامِ الدَّهْر» قُلْت: فَإِنِّي أُطيق أفْضَلَ منْ ذلكَ قال: «فَصمْ يَوْمًا وَأَفْطرْ يَوْمَيْن»، قُلْت: فَإِنِّي أُطُيق أفْضَلَ مِنْ ذلكَ، قَالَ: «فَصُم يَوْمًا وَأَفْطرْ يوْمًا، فَذلكَ صِيَام دَاوُد صلّى اللّه عليه وسلّم، وَهُو أَعْدَل الصِّيَامِ». • وَفي رواية: «هوَ أَفْضَلُ الصِّيامِ» فَقُلْتُ فَإِنِّي أُطِيقُ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ ذلكَ، فقال رسول اللّه صَلّى اللّهُ عَلَيْهِ وسَلَّم: «لا أَفْضَلَ منْ ذلك» وَلَأَنْ أَكُونَ قَبلْتُ الثَّلاثَةَ الأَيَّامِ الَّتِي قال رسولُ اللّه صَلّى اللّهُ عَلَيْهِ وسَلَّم أَحَبُّ إِليَّ منْ أَهْلِي وَمَالِي. رواه البخاري ومسلم • وفي رواية: «أَلَمْ أُخْبَرْ أَنَّكَ تَصومُ النَّهَارَ وتَقُومُ اللَّيْلَ؟» قلت: بلَى يَا رسول اللَّهِ. قال: «فَلا تَفْعل: صُمْ وأَفْطرْ، ونَمْ وقُمْ فَإِنَّ لجَسَدكَ علَيْكَ حقًّا، وإِنَّ لعيْنَيْكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا وَإِنَّ لزَوْجِكَ علَيْكَ حَقًّا، وَإِنَّ لزَوْرِكَ عَلَيْكَ حَقًّا، وإِنَّ بِحَسْبِكَ أَنْ تَصْومَ فِي كُلِّ شَهْرٍ ثَلاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ، فَإِنَّ لَكَ بِكُلِّ حَسَنةٍ عشْرَ أَمْثَالِهَا، فَإِنَّ ذلك صِيَامُ الدَّهْرِ» فشَدَّدْتُ فَشُدِّدَ عَلَيَّ، قُلْتُ: يا رسول اللّه إِنّي أَجِدُ قُوَّةً، قال: «صُمْ صِيَامَ نَبِيِّ اللّهِ داوُدَ وَلا تَزدْ عَلَيْهِ» قلت: وما كَان صِيَامُ داوُدَ؟ قال: «نِصْفُ الدهْرِ» فَكَان عَبْدُ اللّهِ يقول بعْدمَا كَبِر: يا لَيْتَنِي قَبِلْتُ رُخْصةَ رسول اللّه صَلّى اللّهُ عَلَيْهِ وسَلَّم. • وفي رواية: «أَلَمْ أُخْبَرْ أَنَّك تصُومُ الدَّهْرَ وَتَقَرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ كُلَّ لَيْلَة؟» فَقُلْتُ: بَلَى يا رسولَ اللَّهِ، ولَمْ أُرِدْ بذلِكَ إِلّا الْخيْرَ، قَالَ: «فَصُمْ صَوْمَ نَبِيِّ اللَّهِ داودَ، فَإِنَّه كَانَ أَعْبَدَ النَّاسِ، واقْرأِ الْقُرْآنَ في كُلِّ شَهْرٍ» قُلْت: يَا نَبِيَّ اللّه إِنِّي أُطِيق أَفْضل مِنْ ذلِكَ؟ قَالَ: «فَاقْرَأه فِي كُلِّ عِشرِينَ» قُلْت: يَا نبيَّ اللّه إِنِّي أُطِيق أَفْضَل مِنْ ذَلِكَ؟ قَال: «فَاقْرَأْهُ فِي كُلِّ عَشْر» قُلْت: يَا نَبِيَّ اللّهِ إِنِّي أُطِيق أَفْضلَ مِنْ ذلِكَ؟ قَالَ: «فَاقْرَأْه في كُلِّ سَبْعٍ وَلاَ تَزِدْ عَلَى ذَلِكَ» فَشَدَّدْتُ فَشُدِّدَ عَلَيَّ، وقَالَ لِي النَّبِيُّ صَلّى اللّهُ عَلَيْهِ وسَلَّم: «إِنَّكَ لاَ تَدْرِي لَعلَّكَ يَطُول بِكَ عُمُرٌ» قالَ: فَصِرْت إِلَى الَّذِي قَالَ لِي النَّبِيُّ صَلّى اللّهُ عَلَيْهِ وسَلَّم فَلَمَّا كَبِرْتُ وَدِدْتُ أَنِّي كُنت قَبِلْت رخْصَةَ نَبِيِّ اللَّهِ صَلّى اللّهُ عَلَيْهِ وسَلَّم. • وفي رواية: «وَإِنَّ لوَلَدِكَ علَيْكَ حَقًّا» وفي رواية: «لا صَامَ من صَامَ الأَبَدَ» ثَلاثًا. وفي رواية: «أَحَبُّ الصِّيَامِ إِلَى اللّه تَعَالَى صِيَامُ دَاوُدَ، وَأَحَبُّ الصَّلاةِ إِلَى اللّه تَعَالَى صَلاةُ داوُد: كان يَنامُ نِصف اللَّيلِ ويَقومُ ثُلُثَه ويَنامُ سُدُسَه، وكانَ يَصومُ يومًا ويُفطرُ يومًا، ولا يَفِرُّ إذا لاقَى». • وفي روايةٍ قَالَ: أَنْكَحَنِي أَبِي امْرَأَةً ذَاتَ حسَبٍ، وكَانَ يَتَعَاهَدُ كَنَّتَهُ أي: امْرَأَة ولَدِهِ فَيسْأَلُهَا عَنْ بَعْلِهَا، فَتَقُولُ لَهُ: نِعْمَ الرَّجْلُ مِنْ رجُلٍ لَمْ يَطَأْ لنَا فِرَاشًا ولَمْ يُفتِّشْ لنَا كَنَفًا مُنْذُ أَتَيْنَاه، فَلَمَّا طالَ ذَلِكَ عليه ذكَرَ ذلِكَ لِلنَّبِيِّ صَلّى اللّهُ عَلَيْهِ وسَلَّم. فقَالَ: «الْقَني به» فلَقيتُهُ بَعْدَ ذلكَ فَقَالَ: «كيفَ تَصُومُ؟» قُلْتُ كُلَّ يَوْم، قَالَ: «وَكيْفَ تَخْتِم؟» قلتُ: كُلَّ لَيلة، وذَكَر نَحْوَ مَا سَبَق وكَان يقْرَأُ عَلَى بعْض أَهْلِه السُّبُعَ الَّذِي يقْرؤهُ، يعْرضُهُ مِن النَّهَارِ لِيكُون أَخفَّ علَيهِ بِاللَّيْل، وَإِذَا أَراد أَنْ يَتَقَوَّى أَفْطَر أَيَّامًا وَأَحصَى وصَام مِثْلَهُنَّ كَراهِيةَ أَن يتْرُكَ شيئًا فارقَ علَيهِ النَّبِيَّ صَلّى اللّهُ عَلَيْهِ وسَلَّم. ▪كُلُّ هذِه الرِّوَايات صحِيحةٌ، مُعْظَمُهَا فِي الصَّحيحيْنِ وقليلٌ منْها في أَحَدِهِما.
Abu Muhammad Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-As (may Allah be pleased with them both) reported: The Prophet (peace be upon him) was informed that I had said: "By Allah, I will fast during the day and pray throughout the night for as long as I live." The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "Are you the one who said that?" I said: "I did say that, may my father and mother be your ransom, O Messenger of Allah." He said: "You cannot bear that. So fast and break your fast, sleep and pray, and fast three days of each month, for each good deed is multiplied tenfold, and that is equivalent to fasting the entire year." I said: "I am able to do more than that." He said: "Then fast one day and break your fast for two days." I said: "I am able to do more than that." He said: "Then fast one day and break your fast the next day. That is the fast of the Prophet Dawud (peace be upon him), and it is the most balanced of fasts." In another narration: "It is the most virtuous of fasts." I said: "I am able to do more than that." The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "There is nothing more virtuous than that." Abdullah later said: "Had I accepted the three days that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) mentioned, that would have been dearer to me than my family and wealth." Narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim. In another narration: "Were you not informed that you fast all day and pray all night?" I said: "Indeed, O Messenger of Allah." He said: "Do not do that. Fast and break your fast, sleep and pray, for your body has a right over you, your eyes have a right over you, your wife has a right over you, and your visitor has a right over you. It suffices you to fast three days of each month, for every good deed is rewarded tenfold, and that amounts to fasting the entire year." But I insisted on more, and so it was made harder for me. I said: "O Messenger of Allah, I find the strength for it." He said: "Then fast the fast of the Prophet of Allah, Dawud, and do not add to it." I asked: "What was the fast of Dawud?" He said: "Half the year." Abdullah used to say in his old age: "Would that I had accepted the concession of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him)." In another narration: "Were you not informed that you fast the entire year and recite the entire Quran every night?" I said: "Indeed, O Messenger of Allah, and I intended nothing but good by it." He said: "Then fast the fast of the Prophet of Allah, Dawud, for he was the most devout of people. And recite the Quran once a month." I said: "O Prophet of Allah, I am able to do more than that." He said: "Then recite it once every twenty days." I said: "O Prophet of Allah, I am able to do more than that." He said: "Then recite it once every ten days." I said: "O Prophet of Allah, I am able to do more than that." He said: "Then recite it once every seven days, and do not add to that." But I insisted, and so it was made harder for me. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said to me: "You do not know — perhaps your life will be long." Abdullah said: "I ended up at what the Prophet (peace be upon him) had told me, and when I grew old, I wished I had accepted the concession of the Prophet of Allah (peace be upon him)." In another narration: "And your child has a right over you." And in another narration: "He has not fasted who fasts perpetually" — he said it three times. And in another narration: "The most beloved fast to Allah, the Most High, is the fast of Dawud, and the most beloved prayer to Allah, the Most High, is the prayer of Dawud: he would sleep half the night, pray a third of it, and sleep a sixth of it. He would fast one day and break his fast the next. And he would not flee when he met the enemy in battle." In another narration, he said: "My father married me to a woman of noble lineage, and he used to check on his daughter-in-law — that is, his son's wife — asking her about her husband. She would say: 'He is the finest of men, but he has not shared our bed nor uncovered our veil since we came to him.' When this went on for a while, he mentioned it to the Prophet (peace be upon him), who said: 'Bring him to me.' I met him afterward, and he said: 'How do you fast?' I said: 'Every day.' He said: 'How often do you complete the Quran?' I said: 'Every night.'" The rest was similar to what has preceded. He would review the portion he was to recite that night with some of his family during the day to make it lighter for him at night. When he wanted to regain his strength, he would break his fast for a number of days, then count them and fast an equal number, disliking to abandon anything he had agreed upon with the Prophet (peace be upon him). All of these narrations are authentic; most are in both Sahihs, and a few are in one of them.
الشرح · explanation
لا تستطيع ذلك: المراد لا تُطيقه، لِمَا فيه من التكلّف والمشقّة. لِزَورِك: لضَيفِك الزائر. وإنّ بحسبِك: أي كافيك. لا صام من صام الأبد: هذا خبر عمّن خالف ولم يَمتثِل أمر الشارع الحكيم. لا يفرّ إذا لاقى: لا يهرب إذا لاقى العدوّ في الحرب، لقوّة نفسه. أنكَحَني: زَوَّجَني. الكنَّة: هي امرأة ابن الرجل، وامرأة أخيه. عن بعلها: عن زوجها. لم يطأ لنا فراشًا: كناية عن عدم المضاجعة والنوم معها على الفراش. لم يُفتِّش لنا كنفًا: أي لم يكشف لنا سترًا، عبّرت بذلك عن امتناعه عن الفراش.
"You cannot bear that" means you will not be able to sustain it, due to the strain and hardship involved. "Your visitor" (zawrika) refers to your guest who visits you. "It suffices you" (bi-hasbika) means it is enough for you. "He has not fasted who fasts perpetually" — this is a statement about one who disobeys and does not comply with the command of the Wise Lawgiver. "He would not flee when he met the enemy" means he would not run away when he encountered the enemy in battle, due to the strength of his spirit. "Married me" (ankahani) means he arranged my marriage. "Daughter-in-law" (kannah) refers to the wife of a man's son, or the wife of his brother. "About her husband" (ba'liha) means about her husband. "Has not shared our bed" is a euphemism for not sleeping with her in the bed. "Has not uncovered our veil" (lam yufattish lana kanafan) means he has not lifted our covering — she expressed thereby his abstention from the bed.
الدروس · lessons
الأخذ بالرفق للنّفْس التي يُخشى منها السآمة. التزام حدّ الاعتدال في العبادة. فضل عبد اللّه بن عمرو بن العاص رضي اللّه عنهما ووفاؤه لمّا فارق رسول اللّه صلى اللّه عليه وسلّم عليه. الترغيب في التهجّد وقيام اللّيل. كمال توزيع اللّيل أن ينام الإنسان نصفه الأول ثم يستيقظ جزءًا منه ثم ينام آخره، وهذا ما أثبتته الدراسات الطبّيّة الحديثة، خلافًا لما اعتاده معظم الناس في هذا العصر فخسروا كثيرًا. لا رهبانيّة في الإسلام. مُضاعَفة الحسنات من خصائص هذه الأمة. الإكثار من النوافل يكون ممدوحًا بشرط ألّا يشْغل الإنسان عن وظائفه الشرعيّة والدنيويّة. الإسلام يدعو إلى العمل للدنيا والآخرة.
Being gentle with the soul that one fears may become weary. Adhering to the limit of moderation in worship. The virtue of Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-As (may Allah be pleased with them both) and his faithfulness to what the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) had parted with him upon. Encouragement to perform the night prayer (tahajjud). The ideal distribution of the night is to sleep the first half, then wake for a portion of it, then sleep its last part — this is what modern medical studies have confirmed, contrary to what most people in this age have become accustomed to, and they have lost much thereby. There is no monasticism in Islam. The multiplication of good deeds is a distinctive merit of this Ummah. Increasing voluntary acts of worship is commendable on the condition that it does not distract a person from his religious and worldly duties. Islam calls for striving for both this world and the Hereafter.