The two Sahīh collections also relate from Abd Allāh ibn Amr that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said to him:

“Have I not been informed that you say, ‘I will fast by day and stand in prayer by night for as long as I live’?”

He replied, “Yes.”

The Prophet said, “Then do not do that.”

In another narration (1), he said:

“Have I not been informed that you fast perpetually and recite the Quran every night?”

I replied, “O Prophet of Allah, I intended nothing but good by doing so.”

He said, “It is enough for you to fast three days out of every month.”

I said, “O Prophet of Allah, I can manage more than that.”

He said, “Your wife has a right over you, your guest has a right over you, and your body has a right over you.”

He said, “Then observe the fast of David, the Prophet of Allah, for he was the most devoted of all people to worship. He would fast one day and break his fast the next. Recite the Quran over the course of each month.”

I said, “I can manage more than that.”

He said, “Recite it in twenty days,” until he ultimately said, “In seven days, and do not do more than that.” Regarding fasting, Abd Allāh also said, “I can manage better than that.” (2)

The two Sahīh collections also relate from Alī, who said:

“The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, came to Fātimah and me at night and asked, ‘Will you not get up and pray?’ I replied, ‘O Messenger of Allah, our souls are in Allah’s hand: if He wills to awaken us, He will awaken us.’”

Alī continued:

“He then turned away, striking his thigh and saying, ‘Yet man is more contentious than any other creature.’” (Surah al-Kahf: 54) (3)

Thus, this